Updated: November 2nd 2026
The Best Bank business accounts in 2026
- Explore UK business bank accounts and compare essential banking features side by side.
- Find an account that fits your business, from everyday payments to expense management.
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Monthly Fee:
Fee Transfers / Month:
Interest Rate (AER):
Features:
Features:
- Free business account, open in minutes in the app
- Companies House registration via Tide
- Instant Saver: up to 4.25% AER for 4 months (conditions apply)
- Free Making Tax Digital tools
| EMI safeguarded |
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|---|---|
| FSCS protection |
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| Limit FSC Protection | £120,000 (across all ClearBank accounts) |
| Regulator & FRN | Tide Platform Ltd (FCA, FRN 900843). Accounts powered by ClearBank Ltd (PRA/FCA, FRN 754568) |
| Disclaimer | *Free plan has no monthly fee and includes 5 bank transfers per month; paid plans from £12.49/month. International card payments on the Free plan carry a 2.75% FX fee. Tide is not a bank: Tide Business Accounts are powered by ClearBank Ltd and eligible deposits are protected by the FSCS up to £120,000 across all ClearBank accounts. Some members hold e-money accounts with PrePay Technologies Ltd, which are safeguarded rather than FSCS-protected. Instant Saver rates: up to 4.25% AER for 4 months with a CASS switch of £10,000+, then plan rate (1.5% AER on Free). T&Cs apply. |
| Best for | Sole traders, freelancers and small UK businesses |
|---|---|
| Eligible business types | Sole traders and limited companies |
| Documents required | Valid photo ID and selfie verification in the app |
| Monthly fee & plans | Free; Smart £12.49, Pro £27.49, Max £69.99 per month |
|---|---|
| UK transfers | 5/month on Free, 30 on Smart, unlimited on Pro and Max |
| Overdraft Available (EAR) |
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| Mobile App |
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|---|---|
| Multi Users / team cards |
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| Invoicing tools |
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| Tax tools (MTD / VAT) |
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| Card included | 1 business card; team cards on paid plans (1–3) |
| UK branches |
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| Multi-currency |
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| Supported Currency | GBP account; international payments available |
Monthly Fee:
Fee Transfers / Month:
Interest Rate (AER):
Features:
Features:
- Global Accounts to collect and hold 20+ currencies
- Up to 10 free multi-currency company cards
- No international fees on Airwallex card spending
- Sync with Xero and QuickBooks
| EMI safeguarded |
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|---|---|
| FSCS protection |
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| Limit FSC Protection | Not FSCS-protected (funds safeguarded) |
| Regulator & FRN | Airwallex (UK) Limited, Electronic Money Institution (FCA, FRN 900876) |
| Disclaimer | *Explore plan: £19/month (ex VAT), waived if you deposit at least £10,000 a month or hold a balance of at least £10,000. Free domestic transfers in GBP, EUR and CHF; SWIFT transfers £10–20; FX conversions 0.5% above interbank for major currencies, 1% for others. Additional spend users from £5/month. Airwallex is not a bank: funds are held as e-money and safeguarded, not protected by the FSCS. T&Cs apply. |
| Best for | UK businesses that pay or get paid in multiple currencies |
|---|---|
| Eligible business types | Limited companies, LLPs, partnerships and sole traders |
| Documents required | Photo ID, proof of address and business details (e.g. Companies House number) |
| Monthly fee & plans | Explore £0 or £19/month; Grow £49/month (ex VAT) |
|---|---|
| UK transfers | Free |
| International / SWIFT payments | Local transfers to 120+ countries; SWIFT £10–20 per transfer; FX 0.5% (major) / 1% (other) above interbank |
| Overdraft Available (EAR) |
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| Mobile App |
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|---|---|
| Multi Users / team cards |
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| Invoicing tools |
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| Tax tools (MTD / VAT) |
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| Card included | Up to 10 free company cards on Explore |
| UK branches |
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| Multi-currency |
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| Supported Currency | 20+ currencies |
Monthly Fee:
Fee Transfers / Month:
Interest Rate (AER):
Features:
Features:
- Send, spend and exchange in 30+ currencies
- FX at interbank rate up to £1,000/month
- Unlimited team members; up to 3 physical and 50 virtual cards each
- Integrates with Xero, QuickBooks and other accounting software
| EMI safeguarded |
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|---|---|
| FSCS protection |
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| Limit FSC Protection | £120,000 |
| Regulator & FRN | Revolut Bank UK Ltd, authorised by the PRA, regulated by the FCA and PRA (FRN 981170) |
| Promotion | *Get a £100 welcome bonus when you sign up through our link and add at least £0.01 to your new account by 31/12/2026. Fees, promotion terms and T&Cs apply |
| Disclaimer | *Basic plan £10/month. **10 free local transfers per month, then £0.20 each; international transfers £5 each. Currency exchange at interbank rate up to £1,000/month, then 0.6% fee (1% outside market hours). Other charges may apply, including card fees and paid add-ons such as expense management (£8 per user per month). Business accounts are provided by Revolut Bank UK Ltd (FRN 981170); eligible deposits are protected by the FSCS up to £120,000. Some accounts may still be held with Revolut Ltd (e-money, safeguarded) while transitioning. T&Cs apply. |
| Best for | UK companies that pay, spend and get paid in multiple currencies |
|---|---|
| Eligible business types | Limited companies, LLPs and partnerships (sole traders: see Freelancer plans) |
| Documents required | Photo ID, proof of address and business details |
| Monthly fee & plans | Basic £10; Grow from £30; Scale from £90 per month; Enterprise custom |
|---|---|
| UK transfers | 10 free per month, then 20p each |
| International / SWIFT payments | £5 per international transfer; FX free up to £1,000/month, then 0.6% (1% outside market hours) |
| Overdraft Available (EAR) |
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| Mobile App |
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|---|---|
| Multi Users / team cards |
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| Invoicing tools |
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| Tax tools (MTD / VAT) |
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| Card included | Up to 3 physical and 50 virtual cards per team member |
| UK branches |
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| Multi-currency |
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| Supported Currency | 30+ currencies |
Monthly Fee:
Fee Transfers / Month:
Interest Rate (AER):
Features:
Features:
- Instant Saver: 3.25% AER for new members, up to 4.25% with a CASS switch of £10,000+
- Instant access: no notice period, no withdrawal penalty
- Savings FSCS-protected via ClearBank
- Access business insurance
| EMI safeguarded |
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|---|---|
| FSCS protection |
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| Limit FSC Protection | £120,000 per depositor, across all ClearBank accounts (current and savings combined) |
| Regulator & FRN | Tide Platform Ltd (FCA, FRN 900843). Current and savings accounts powered by ClearBank Ltd (PRA/FCA, FRN 754568) |
| Promotion | Instant Saver: 3.25% AER for new members, up to 4.25% AER with a CASS switch of £10,000+, for 4 months |
| Disclaimer | *New Tide members get 3.25% AER (variable), rising to up to 4.25% AER (variable) with a full CASS switch transferring £10,000+ into a Tide Business Account within 14 days of joining. The promotional rate applies for 4 months, then the Instant Saver rate of your Tide plan applies. Rates are tiered, with the top rate on balances up to £1M. A Tide Business Account is required. Free plan has no monthly fee and includes 5 bank transfers per month (20p each after); paid plans from £12.49/month. Tide is not a bank: current and savings accounts are powered by ClearBank Ltd and eligible deposits are protected by the FSCS up to £120,000 across all ClearBank accounts. Rates correct as of 15/10/2026. T&Cs apply. |
| Best for | Sole traders and small UK businesses who want to earn interest on spare cash |
|---|---|
| Eligible business types | Sole traders and limited companies (Tide Business Account required) |
| Documents required | Valid photo ID and selfie verification in the app |
| Monthly fee & plans | Free; Smart £12.49, Pro £27.49, Max £69.99 per month |
|---|---|
| UK transfers | 5/month on Free (then 20p each), 30 on Smart, unlimited on Pro and Max |
| Overdraft Available (EAR) |
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| Mobile App |
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|---|---|
| Multi Users / team cards |
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| Invoicing tools |
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| Tax tools (MTD / VAT) |
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| Card included | 1 business card; team cards on paid plans (1–3) |
| UK branches |
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| Multi-currency |
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| Supported Currency | GBP account; international payments available |
Monthly Fee:
Fee Transfers / Month:
Interest Rate (AER):
Features:
Features:
- Corporate Visa cards linked to multi-currency IBAN accounts (GBP, EUR, USD + 7 more)
- 300 free virtual cards and unlimited physical cards on the free plan
- Real-time spending limits and expense management
- Open to sole traders and companies
| EMI safeguarded |
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|---|---|
| FSCS protection |
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| Limit FSC Protection | Not FSCS-protected (funds safeguarded) |
| Regulator & FRN | Wallester UK Ltd, Electronic Money Institution (FCA, FRN 1040163) |
| Disclaimer | *Free plan has no monthly fee; Premium €199/month and Platinum €999/month. Wallester Business offers multi-currency IBAN accounts (10 currencies) with Visa corporate cards. Card spend in currencies you don't hold: Visa exchange rate + 2%. ATM withdrawals: 2% (min €2) in Europe, €2 + 2% elsewhere. Physical card delivery from €5. Accounting integrations (Xero, QuickBooks) are available on Premium and above. Wallester UK Ltd is authorised by the FCA as an Electronic Money Institution (FRN 1040163): funds are safeguarded, not protected by the FSCS. T&Cs apply. |
| Best for | Businesses issuing many corporate cards for team, online and subscription spend |
|---|---|
| Eligible business types | Sole traders, limited companies, LLPs and partnerships |
| Documents required | Photo ID, phone verification and business registration details |
| Monthly fee & plans | Free €0; Premium €199/month; Platinum €999/month |
|---|---|
| UK transfers | GBP account to send and receive payments; bulk payments supported |
| International / SWIFT payments | International and SEPA payments supported. Card spend in currencies you don't hold: Visa rate + 2% |
| Overdraft Available (EAR) |
|
| Mobile App |
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|---|---|
| Multi Users / team cards |
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| Invoicing tools |
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| Tax tools (MTD / VAT) |
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| Card included | 300 virtual cards on Free (3,000 Premium, 18,000 Platinum); unlimited physical cards (delivery from €5) |
| UK branches |
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| Multi-currency |
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| Supported Currency | Hold 10 currencies: GBP, EUR, USD, SEK, NOK, DKK, PLN, CZK, HUF, RON |
What to Look for in a Business Bank Account
A business bank account can help you keep company finances separate and manage everyday transactions more efficiently. When comparing UK providers, consider the services your business actually needs.
Everyday banking: Check whether the account supports the payments, transfers and standing orders your business uses regularly.
Account access: Look at online and mobile banking features, card availability and whether multiple team members can access the account.
Banking protection: Not all business account providers are banks. Check whether eligible deposits are covered by the FSCS or whether different safeguarding arrangements apply.
Opening requirements: Eligibility criteria and application processes vary depending on your business structure, trading history and the provider.
Who Can Benefit from a Business Bank Account?
Sole Traders and Freelancers
For sole traders and freelancers, a dedicated business account can make managing income and expenses more straightforward. Keeping business transactions separate from personal spending helps simplify bookkeeping, track client payments and prepare financial records for tax purposes.
Many providers offer online account management, payment tools and integrations with accounting software. When comparing options, consider monthly fees, transaction limits and whether the account supports the way you work.
Startups and Small Businesses
Startups and small businesses often need flexible banking solutions that can adapt as their operations grow. A business account can help manage customer payments, supplier transactions and recurring expenses from one place.
Depending on the provider, additional features may include employee cards, expense tracking and accounting integrations. It's worth checking eligibility requirements, available payment methods and potential charges as your transaction volume increases.
Limited Companies
Limited companies are legally separate from their owners, making a dedicated company account important for keeping business finances distinct. It provides a central place to receive payments, manage operating costs and maintain clear financial records.
When choosing an account, company directors should consider access permissions, payment capabilities, banking protection and compatibility with existing accounting systems. Some providers also offer tools for managing multiple users and monitoring company spending.
FAQ
Many UK providers allow businesses to apply online. You may need to provide identification, company details and information about your business activities. Approval and verification requirements vary.
Yes, many providers accept applications from newly established businesses, including startups and sole traders. However, eligibility depends on the provider and the type of business.
No. FSCS protection depends on the provider, the type of account and eligibility. Some business account providers are electronic money institutions rather than banks and use safeguarding arrangements instead of deposit protection.
Who wrote this content?
Written and reviewed by our team
Every MoneyCompare guide is written by people who follow the UK banking market every day, and checked against the providers’ own terms before it is published.
We review our content regularly, so fees, features and protection details stay as accurate as possible.
Senior Finance Editor
“Claudio Tuteri is an economist and financial analyst specialising in UK financial products. He analyses features, costs, returns and terms to help readers understand and compare their options with clarity.”
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