Corporate Business Bank Accounts
- ✓Compare corporate banking solutions from high street banks to corporate specialists
- ✓Find corporate accounts that match your business scale & ambitions
- ✓Use our quick & simple comparison tool to find the best account for you
Promoted
Virgin Money M Account for Business
- •Free day-to-day online business banking*
- •Designed for businesses with a turnover of less than £1million
- •Earn 0.25% Cashback on debit card purchases. Terms and exclusions apply
Corporate Business Bank Accounts
- ✓Compare corporate banking solutions from high street banks to corporate specialists
- ✓Find corporate accounts that match your business scale & ambitions
- ✓Use our quick & simple comparison tool to find the best account for you
24 Products Compared
-
Monthly Fee
Free -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
Free for one year*Free bank transfers for one year, 20p thereafter -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online- No cheque facilities
- Cash deposits via Post Office (0.5% fee, minimum £2.50) and PayPoint (3% fee)
*To be eligible for the £200 Cashback offer, open both a Tide Instant Saver and Tide Business Bank Account. Ts&Cs Apply. New Tide members receive a 0.77% AER boost on the standard 3.04% AER on unlimited balances until 01/06/25, after that the standard rate applies with no interest earned on balances over £75,000.
Product Features
- Create and send invoices for free
- Multi-business – hold up to 5 business accounts
- Automated 30-day cash flow forecasts
Eligibility Criteria
- For registered business account: you must be registered with UK Companies House as a director of that company or partnership
- For sole trader account: you must be a UK based sole trader/freelancer
- For all accounts: you must be aged 18+, have a valid UK phone number and address, and hold compatible device registered to a UK App or Google Play store
-
Monthly Fee
Free -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
FreeDirect debits, Faster Payments, BACS: Free | CHAPS and International payments: Fees apply -
Overdraft
Rate is negotiable. -
Access
App/Online/Branch
*excluding CHAPS and international payments
Product Features
- Free day-to-day online business banking (excluding CHAPS and international payments)
- Earn 0.25% Cashback on debit card purchases. Terms and exclusions apply
- Manage all your business data in one place using Virgin Money’s M-Track insights platform. Link up your business to market leading tools, such as Sage, Xero, Google, Shopify and more, to track them from one simple dashboard
Eligibility Criteria
- Available for eligible businesses with up to £1m annual turnover
- Must be based and operated in the UK (excluding Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Northern Ireland)
- All owners, directors, senior managers and account signatories must be over 18 years old
-
Monthly Fee
FreeNo monthly fee for first 25 months, then £6.50 thereafter -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
FreeNo fees for first 25 months, excludes international and CHAPS payments -
Overdraft
Rate is negotiable. -
Access
App/Online/Branch
25 months’ fee free day-to-day banking
Product Features
- Debit Card Cashback – automatically earn up to £500 per calendar year when using your Debit Card for purchases. Some exclusions apply
- If you’re a new business or just new to Virgin Money, you could qualify for 25 months free day-to-day banking when you open or switch to this business current account
- Digital Money Management Tools – helping you manage cash flow, budgets and invoices
Eligibility Criteria
- Available for eligible businesses with up to £6.5m annual turnover
- Must be based and operated in the UK (excluding Channel Islands, Isle of Man and Northern Ireland)
- All owners, directors, senior managers and account signatories must be over 18 years old
-
Monthly Fee
Contact Revolut -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
Contact Revolut -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/OnlineNo cash or cheque facilities
Revolut is not a fully licensed bank in the UK. Your money is held in a safeguarded account with a regulated bank or high quality liquid assets. Your savings are deposited with partner banks and eligible deposits are protected up to £85k per bank.
Product Features
- Multi-currency accounts – recieve payments and exchange in 25+ currencies
- Control and monitor team spending with multiple debit and virtual cards, manage permissions and levels of access and more
- Various payment facilities including Tap to Pay on iPhone (fees apply)
- Earn annual interest daily with a linked business savings account
- Tailored for larger businesses
Eligibility Criteria
- Available for limited companies, PLCs, LLPs, Partnerships & unlimited companies
- Currently available for companies registered in and with a physical presence within the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, UK and US
-
Monthly Fee
£79 -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
1,000 free per month- 1000 free local transfers per month, then 20p thereafter
- International transfers: £5
-
Overdraft
-
Access
App/OnlineNo cash or cheque facilities
Revolut is not a fully licensed bank in the UK. Your money is held in a safeguarded account with a regulated bank or high quality liquid assets. Your savings are deposited with partner banks and eligible deposits are protected up to £85k per bank.
Product Features
- Multi-currency accounts – recieve payments and exchange in 25+ currencies
- Control and monitor team spending with multiple debit and virtual cards, manage permissions and levels of access and more
- Various payment facilities including Tap to Pay on iPhone (fees apply)
- Earn annual interest daily with a linked business savings account
- 2 complimentary metal cards
Eligibility Criteria
- Available for limited companies, PLCs, LLPs, Partnerships & unlimited companies
- Currently available for companies registered in and with a physical presence within the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, UK and US
-
Monthly Fee
£19 -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
100 free per month- 100 free local transfers per month, then 20p thereafter
- International transfers: £5
-
Overdraft
-
Access
App/OnlineNo cash or cheque facilities
Revolut is not a fully licensed bank in the UK. Your money is held in a safeguarded account with a regulated bank or high quality liquid assets. Your savings are deposited with partner banks and eligible deposits are protected up to £85k per bank.
Product Features
- Multi-currency accounts – recieve payments and exchange in 25+ currencies
- Control and monitor team spending with multiple debit and virtual cards, manage permissions and levels of access and more
- Various payment facilities including Tap to Pay on iPhone (fees apply)
- Earn annual interest daily with a linked business savings account
Eligibility Criteria
- Available for limited companies, PLCs, LLPs, Partnerships & unlimited companies
- Currently available for companies registered in and with a physical presence within the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland, UK and US
-
Monthly Fee
£8.50*12 months free, £8.50 per month thereafter -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
100 electronic payments out free per month***- *UK Bank Transfers out – First 100 electronic payments out free.
- UK Bank Transfers in – Free.
-
Overdraft
Subject to status and credit checks -
Access
Full
*After 12 months, there’s a monthly fee of £8.50. Some fees and transaction charges will apply as soon as the account is open. This offer only applies to the business’s first current account
**You must be registered for Online for Business or Commercial Banking Online. UK based businesses only
***100 electronic payments out free per month, 20p thereafter
**You must be registered for Online for Business or Commercial Banking Online. UK based businesses only
***100 electronic payments out free per month, 20p thereafter
Product Features
- Digital banking with no account fee for 12 months*
- Free invoicing and accounting software available to business account holders. T&Cs Apply**
- Bank in whatever way suits your business – online, with our mobile app, over the phone or in branch
- Support from our UK-based relationship team
Eligibility Criteria
- To qualify for this account you need to be a sole trader, partner or company director
- You must have a turnover of less than £25m
- Must be 18 years old or over
- Must not already have a Lloyds Bank business account for this business
- Overdraft: Debit interest is charged monthly and monthly usage or annual fees will apply depending on your credit limit. Where you exceed your Overdraft limit, unauthorised interest and charges will apply
- All lending is subject to status. Security may be required. A guarantee may be required for Limited Companies and Limited Liability Partnerships
-
Monthly Fee
Free**Free banking means no account maintenance fee and all day-to-day, standard transactions are free on your primary current account, any additional or secondary accounts will be charged in line with the Small Business Banking Account. -
Card Purchases
FreeNon-Sterling Transaction fee – 2.99% of the
sterling amount of the transaction, minimum
£3. Cash Fee – 2.99% of the amount advanced,
minimum £3. -
Bank Transfers
Free- Direct Debits & Internal Transfers: Free
- CHAPS: £20 to another HSBC Group bank
account, £30 to a non-HSBC Group bank
account via by phone or in-branch banking.
-
Overdraft
-
Access
FullOnline, app, call, branch, Post Office®
*Free banking means no account maintenance fee and all day-to-day, standard transactions are free on your primary current account, any additional or secondary accounts will be charged in line with the Small Business Banking Account.
Product Features
- Free banking for 12 months*, £8 thereafter
- Free accounting tools to stay on top of invoices, cashflow and tax.
- Business borrowing solutions to suit you. T&Cs and fees apply.
Eligibility Criteria
- Sole traders, limited companies, unlimited companies, partnerships, limited liability partnerships and non-charitable clubs/associations/societies can all apply
- Must be a tax resident in the UK but not the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man
- The HSBC Small Business Bank Account is for small businesses with a maximum turnover of £6.5million
-
Monthly Fee
Free*£19 p/month or £0 p/month if you deposit at least £10,000 per month or hold a minimum balance of £10,000. -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
FreeSWIFT payments vary £10-£20 -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online
*10% cashback on your first $1,000 USD equivalent in eligible international card spend.
Product Features
- Open multiple accounts per entity. Collect and hold in 20+ currencies
- Expense management for cards and reimbursements
- Free local transfers to 120+ countries and domestic transfers. Access to interbank FX rates and batch transfers
- Multi-currency and employee cards with zero international fees
- Includes 5 free employee card users and up to 10 company cards
- Online card and local payment method acceptance globally
- Bank feeds sync with Xero. ApprovalMax, WorkflowMax by BlueRock Integrations
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be at least 18 years old
- Be a sole trader, partner in a partnership, or company
- Your business is registered in the UK. More markets are available with different Airwallex entities. Details can be found on the Airwallex website.
-
Monthly Fee
Custom**contact sales for custom pricing -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
FreeSWIFT payments vary £10-£20 -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online
*10% cashback on your first $1,000 USD equivalent in eligible international card spend.
Product Features
- High-volume businesses
- Custom API implementations
- Embedded finance integrations to launch your own financial products
- Dedicated account management support
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be at least 18 years old
- Be a sole trader, partner in a partnership, or company
- Your business is registered in the UK. More markets are available with different Airwallex entities. Details can be found on the Airwallex website.
-
Monthly Fee
£999 -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
FreeSWIFT payments vary £10-£20 -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online
*10% cashback on your first $1,000 USD equivalent in eligible international card spend.
Product Features
- Consolidated Finances across global entities
- Single sign-on (coming soon)
- Netsuite integration including expenses and bills sync
- HRIS platform integrations (coming soon)
- Dedicated account manager and onboarding support
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be at least 18 years old
- Be a sole trader, partner in a partnership, or company
- Your business is registered in the UK. More markets are available with different Airwallex entities. Details can be found on the Airwallex website.
-
Monthly Fee
£49**One month free trial -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
FreeSWIFT payments vary £10-£20 -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online
*10% cashback on your first $1,000 USD equivalent in eligible international card spend.
Product Features
- 5 free active spend users per month and up to 50 free company cards
- Track cards and reimbursements with Expense Management
- Manage domestic and international bills with Bill Pay
- Automated receipt and bill data extraction and customisable, multi-layer spend approvals
- Xero expenses and bills integration
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be at least 18 years old
- Be a sole trader, partner in a partnership, or company
- Your business is registered in the UK. More markets are available with different Airwallex entities. Details can be found on the Airwallex website.
-
Monthly Fee
Free -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
Free -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online/Phone- Postal facility for cheques
- Cash paid in at PayPoint (£1 fee)
*Limited time offer, apply by 31 March 2025. After that, Pro is £9 a month & Team starts at £25 a month. New customers only. Ts&Cs apply.
Product Features
- Free, instant UK bank transfers
- 24/7 customer support
- Mobile and web access
- The Monzo banking essentials
Eligibility Criteria
- Only sole traders or limited company directors in the UK can apply. Ts&Cs apply.
-
Monthly Fee
£25 -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
Free -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online/Phone- Postal facility for cheques
- Cash paid in at PayPoint (£1 fee)
Monzo Business Team customers get the cloud accounting platform for 8 months free, up to £472 value.
*Limited time offer, apply by 31 March 2025. After that, Team starts at £25 a month. New customers only. Ts&Cs apply.
*Limited time offer, apply by 31 March 2025. After that, Team starts at £25 a month. New customers only. Ts&Cs apply.
Product Features
- Expense Cards
- Bulk Payments
- Access for up to 15 team members
- Set payment approval limits
- Plus everything included in our Pro and Lite accounts
Eligibility Criteria
- First 6 team members are included with Team Account, then it’s an extra £5/month per team member.
- Only sole traders or limited company directors in the UK can apply.
- Monzo Business Team starts from £25/month. Ts&Cs apply.
-
Monthly Fee
Free*No monthly account fee for the first 12 months, for new customers, then £8.50 per month. T&Cs apply. -
Card Purchases
FreeCharges for some bank transfers and card payments apply. -
Bank Transfers
FreeCharges for some bank transfers and card payments apply. -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online/Branch
*Businesses with existing Barclays business current accounts aren’t eligible for this offer. After 12 months, you’ll pay £8.50 per month. Fees and charges will apply in line with the business account tariff which may be subject to change.
**Terms and conditions apply per partner, see partner website for details
**Terms and conditions apply per partner, see partner website for details
Product Features
- No monthly account fee* plus access to discounted services via key partners to help you set up and run your business effectively, worth over £5,000**
- A UK-based team of business managers to help you manage and grow your business
- Simple and secure online banking with group payments and cash collection booking tools
Eligibility Criteria
- Businesses with existing Barclays business current accounts aren’t eligible for this offer. After 12 months, you’ll pay £8.50 per month. Fees and charges will apply in line with the business account tariff which may be subject to change.
- Your turnover must be between £400,000 and £6.5 million per year
- Must be over 18, a UK resident and a sole trader or the director of a limited company
- Overdrafts are subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history.
-
Monthly Fee
£9 -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
Free -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online/Phone- Postal facility for cheques
- Cash paid in at PayPoint (£1 fee)
Monzo Business Pro customers get the cloud accounting platform for 6 months free, up to £354 value.
*Limited time offer, apply by 31 March 2025. After that, Pro is £9 a month. New customers only. Ts&Cs apply.
*Limited time offer, apply by 31 March 2025. After that, Pro is £9 a month. New customers only. Ts&Cs apply.
Product Features
- Automatically put money aside for tax
- Connect accounting tools
- Auto-export transactions, invoices and statements
- Virtual cards, access for 3 team members, invoicing and more
- Plus everything included in our Lite Account
Eligibility Criteria
- Only sole traders or limited company directors in the UK can apply.
- Monzo Business Pro is £9/month. Ts&Cs apply.
Free package of 300 virtual cards with zero fees or limitations
Product Features
- Free package with 300 free virtual cards and an unlimited number of free physical cards
- Free multifunctional dashboard for tracking and managing expenses
- No top-up fee (in EUR), no transaction fees, no usage fee, no issuance fee, and no fee for adding extra users
- App included and API for integrations with any CRM accounting software
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be at least 18 years old
- Be a sole trader, partner in a partnership, or company
- Must have an eligible business bank account
-
Monthly Fee
Free*No monthly account fee for the first 12 months, for new customers, then £8.50 per month. T&Cs apply. -
Card Purchases
FreeCharges for some bank transfers and card payments apply. -
Bank Transfers
FreeCharges for some bank transfers and card payments apply -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online/Branch
*Businesses with existing Barclays business current accounts aren’t eligible for this offer. After 12 months, you’ll pay £8.50 per month. Fees and charges will apply in line with the business account tariff which may be subject to change.
**Terms and conditions apply per partner, see partner website for details
**Terms and conditions apply per partner, see partner website for details
Product Features
- No monthly account fee* plus access to discounted services via key partners to help you set up and run your business effectively, worth over £5,000**
- A UK-based team of business managers to help you manage and grow your business
- Simple and secure online banking with group payments and cash collection booking tools
Eligibility Criteria
- Businesses with existing Barclays business current accounts aren’t eligible for this offer. After 12 months, you’ll pay £8.50 per month. Fees and charges will apply in line with the business account tariff which may be subject to change.
- Your turnover must be between £1,000 and £400,000 per year
- Must be over 18, a UK resident and a sole trader or the director of a limited company
- Overdrafts are subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history.
-
Monthly Fee
Free*No monthly account fee for the first 12 months, for new customers, then £8.50 per month. T&Cs apply. -
Card Purchases
FreeCharges for some bank transfers and card payments apply. -
Bank Transfers
FreeCharges for some bank transfers and card payments apply. -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online/Branch
*Businesses with existing Barclays business current accounts aren’t eligible for this offer. After 12 months, you’ll pay £8.50 per month. Fees and charges will apply in line with the business account tariff which may be subject to change.
**Terms and conditions apply per partner, see partner website for details
**Terms and conditions apply per partner, see partner website for details
Product Features
- No monthly account fee* plus access to discounted services via key partners to help you set up and run your business effectively, worth over £5,000**
- A UK-based team of business managers to help you manage and grow your business
- Simple and secure online banking with group payments and cash collection booking tools
Eligibility Criteria
- Businesses with existing Barclays business current accounts aren’t eligible for this offer. After 12 months, you’ll pay £8.50 per month. Fees and charges will apply in line with the business account tariff which may be subject to change.
- Must be over 18, a UK resident and a sole trader or the director of a limited company
- Overdrafts are subject to application, financial circumstances and borrowing history.
-
Monthly Fee
Free -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
FreeFees apply CHAPS, SWIFT and SEPA transactions. -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online
*Rate includes standard rate of 3.58% AER (minimum balance applies) plus a 0.5% boost each month if you make 15 bank transfers out of the account in the previous month, and a 0.5% boost for six months if you complete a switch with CASS. Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply.
Product Features
- Up to 4.58% AER (variable) on integrated Instant Access Savings Pot.
- Up to 1.5% cashback on eligible card spend. View Business Rewards Account Terms and Conditions on Allica bank website
- UK based dedicated relationship manager
- Eligible customers are covered by FSCS up to £85,000
- Direct accounting integrations with Sage and Xero
Eligibility Criteria
- Businesses must be incorporated for at least 12 months
- Businesses keeping less than £50,000 in their account will earn a reduced rate of interest and may incur fees.
-
Monthly Fee
FreeFree for 12 months, £5 per month thereafter -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
FreeFees apply for cash, CHAPS, SWIFT and SEPA transactions. -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online
*The £5 monthly fee is waived for 12 months for new Business Current Account openings. The offer is available for a limited time only. Cynergy Bank reserves the right to withdraw the offer at any time. T&Cs apply.
Product Features
- 2.50% AER variable (2.47% gross p.a.) for balances up to and including £25,000, and 0.25% AER variable on balances above £25,000 (0.25% gross p.a.).
- Make international payments in up to seven major currencies, with option to open EUR or USD accounts.
- Customise workflows for account management and transaction approvals requiring more than one account user to sign-off.
- Bulk payment processing.
- Online application for businesses with up to 10 directors.
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be a sole trader, partnership, limited liability partnership (LLP) or limited company (LTD)
- Must be registered and eligible to pay tax in the UK
- Have a maximum of 10 directors
-
Monthly Fee
£49.90- £49.90 + VAT per month
- Or £499 a year +VAT if billed annually
-
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
From free- Domestic: unlimited free transfers
- International: 4 free SWIFT payments per month, then £5 per payment
-
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online- No cheque facilities
- Cash accepted via PayPoint with no fees
ANNA Business comes with invoice generator tools, HMRC recognised Tax calculator and filing. Automate your bookkeeping with ANNA.
Product Features
- Unlimited free debit cards – 1% cashback on selected categories
- Personal payment link for accepting payments online with no fees
- Instant invoice generator and savings pots facility
- Landlords / property investors get a free 12 month subscription to the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA)
- FastTrack to Credit – Boost your credit score and get access to credit after 3 months activity
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be a Sole Trader, Director of a Limited Company (and listed on Companies House), or a Partner in a Limited Liability Partnership
- Business must be located within the UK and you also need to have a UK residential address
- Not available to charities
-
Monthly Fee
Free -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
FreeDirect Debits, BACS, Faster Payments: Free
CHAPS: £25 via phone; £15 via online banking -
Overdraft
-
Access
Full
Charges apply for cash and cheque transactions and other special services e.g. foreign and CHAPS payments. You can deposit cash in branch and in the Post Office for £1.50 per cheque or £1.50 per £100 of cash deposited.
An overdraft arrangement fee applies and where security is required, additional security fees may apply.
Application subject to status (including credit checks and an assessment of your financial circumstances), eligibility and T&Cs.
An overdraft arrangement fee applies and where security is required, additional security fees may apply.
Application subject to status (including credit checks and an assessment of your financial circumstances), eligibility and T&Cs.
Product Features
- Ideal for start ups and growing businesses who bank digitally
- Free everyday digital business banking. No monthly fee. No charges for all automated credits, cash withdrawals and debit card purchases
- Integrate your accountancy software like Xero, Sage or Quickbooks within your online banking
- Online and in-person banking including mobile, instant secure messaging, UK based contact centre, and in branch
- Most receive their account details within three days
- Co-operative Bank business customers get free, unlimited access to the Go Get Paid app – the fast, simple and secure way to get paid
- Customers can also access selected Clover payment terminals for £1 a month for their first 12 months (fees apply).
Eligibility Criteria
- Must be a UK resident with a business address in the UK
- Must be 18 or over
-
Monthly Fee
Free -
Card Purchases
Free -
Bank Transfers
Free for one year*Free bank transfers for one year, 20p thereafter -
Overdraft
-
Access
App/Online- No cheque facilities
- Cash deposits via Post Office (0.5% fee, minimum £2.50) and PayPoint (3% fee)
*Complete the application and spend £500 within 60 days of opening your account to receive a £150 cashback from TIDE. Enter code 150BOOST when you sign up. T&C apply.
Product Features
- Create and send invoices for free
- Multi-business – hold up to 5 business accounts
- Automated 30-day cash flow forecasts
Eligibility Criteria
- For registered business account: you must be registered with UK Companies House as a director of that company or partnership
- For sole trader account: you must be a UK based sole trader/freelancer
- For all accounts: you must be aged 18+, have a valid UK phone number and address, and hold compatible device registered to a UK App or Google Play store
Types of business bank accounts available
How to compare business bank accounts…
Step One
Understand your requirements
How you do business will effect the type of account you need. How many transactions will you have each month? Do you need to pay in cash? Do you need a local branch?
Step Two
Check eligibility
Most providers have a range of business accounts to suit different types of businesses. Check the eligibility of each account to make sure if suited to your business.
Step Three
Compare the latest deals and offers
There are numerous offers and deals to attract new customers which can be compared with our handy tool above. Always consider the cost of the account once the free period ends
Corporate Business Bank Accounts Guide
Navigating the complexities of corporate business banking requires a clear understanding of unique needs, the demand for specialised services, and the intricacies associated with larger business operations. For established enterprises and growing corporations in the UK, having the right banking partner can be key. This guide offers an overview of corporate business bank accounts tailored for larger businesses in the UK.
1. The Essence of Corporate Banking
Unlike standard business bank accounts tailored for small businesses or sole traders, corporate accounts cater to the advanced needs of more significant entities. These can range from the multinational operations to larger local enterprises. They accommodate higher transaction volumes, international operations, and a suite of tailored banking solutions.
2. Why Opt for a Specialised Corporate Account?
- Volume Handling: Corporate accounts are designed to manage large volumes of transactions efficiently.
- Tailored Services: From specialised credit facilities to bespoke payment solutions, corporate accounts usually offer tailored banking solutions.
- Dedicated Support: Given the complexity and volume of transactions, many banks offer dedicated account managers for corporate accounts.
3. Key Features to Prioritise
- International Capabilities: For businesses operating on a global scale, the ability to handle multiple currencies and international transactions seamlessly is essential.
- Advanced Digital Solutions: Ensure the bank provides state-of-the-art online and mobile banking solutions, facilitating real-time financial management, bulk payment authorisations, and integrations with corporate finance systems.
- Credit and Financing: Look for banks that offer favourable credit terms, tailored financing solutions, and specialist advice on capital markets.
- Risk Management Tools: Given the scale of operations, tools to manage risks like foreign exchange exposure can be invaluable.
4. The Fee Structure
While corporate accounts offer a multitude of features, they often come with a different fee structure:
- Transaction Fees: Understand the costs associated with high-volume transactions, both domestic and international. Read our article on understanding business banking fees for further information.
- Service Fees: This could include charges for account maintenance, accessing specialised services, or even the support of a dedicated account manager.
- Custom Arrangements: Given the size and scale of corporate operations, some banks may be open to negotiating custom fee arrangements.
5. Seamless Integrations
For efficient operations, the bank account should integrate seamlessly with:
- Accounting Software: To ensure real-time financial updates and reporting.
- Payment Gateways: If your business operates online, seamless integration with payment gateways is essential.
- ERP Systems: Larger businesses often rely on advanced ERP systems, and banking integration can streamline financial processes.
6. Security and Compliance
Given the scale of transactions and financial operations:
- Top-Tier Security: Opt for banks that prioritise state-of-the-art security measures, including encrypted communications, fraud detection mechanisms, and two-factor authentication.
- Regulatory Compliance: Ensure the bank is well-versed in the regulatory environment pertinent to your industry and can provide guidance or solutions to ensure compliance.
7. Making the Right Choice
- Industry Specialisation: Some banks have expertise in specific sectors. If available, an industry-specific corporate account can be beneficial.
- Bank Reputation: A well-established bank with a robust reputation can offer reliability, stability, and better global reach.
- Feedback and Reviews: Seek feedback from businesses of similar size or in the same industry to gauge the quality of service and support.
For larger businesses in the UK, a corporate business bank account isn’t just a financial tool; it’s a strategic partnership. It’s important to select a banking partner that understands the scale, complexity, and nuances of corporate operations. By focusing on tailored solutions, advanced integrations, and robust support, large businesses can ensure that their banking operations are not just seamless but also contribute to their strategic growth ambitions.
About This Information
Our articles, guides & reviews are provided as generic information only. Any expressed view, product or service mentioned within these does not constitute as financial advice or recommendation by us.
Be mindful that information may have changed since publication.