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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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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) |
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| 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:
- Up to £800 incentive for new accounts opened by 30 November 2026***
- 3.50% AER on balances up to £35,000, plus 0.50% bonus for 3 months**
- Hold GBP, EUR and USD; pay in up to seven currencies
- Integrates with Xero, Sage and FreeAgent
| EMI safeguarded |
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| FSCS protection |
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| Limit FSC Protection | £120,000 |
| Regulator & FRN | Cynergy Bank plc, authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and PRA, FRN 575105 |
| Promotion | Up to £800 for new accounts opened 1 Oct–30 Nov 2026: £200 (£10k+), £400 (£35k+), £800 (£100k+) |
| Disclaimer | *£5 monthly fee, refunded if your average cleared balance in the previous calendar month was at least £35,000. **Free UK transfers exclude cash, CHAPS, SWIFT and SEPA transactions, which are charged. 4.00% AER variable on balances up to £35,000, including a 0.50% AER bonus for up to 3 months for customers maintaining an average balance of £35,000 or more; base rate 3.50% AER; 0.10% AER variable on balances above £35,000. ***Open a Business Current Account between 1 October and 30 November 2026 and deposit from an external account within 30 days: £200 for a balance of £10,000+, £400 for £35,000+, £800 for £100,000+, based on your balance at the end of day 30. Maintain the balance for six months; paid in two equal instalments after 3 and 6 months. If your balance falls below your tier, future payments are reduced. Not available to sole traders. T&Cs apply. |
| Best for | UK limited companies, LLPs and partnerships holding larger balances |
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| Eligible business types | Limited companies, LLPs and partnerships (not sole traders) |
| Documents required | Photo ID and business details; Companies House registration where applicable |
| Monthly fee & plans | £5/month, refunded if previous month’s average balance is £35,000+ |
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| UK transfers | Free** |
| International / SWIFT payments | Payments in up to 7 currencies; CHAPS, SWIFT and SEPA fees apply |
| 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 | Visa Business Debit Card |
| UK branches |
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| Multi-currency |
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| Supported Currency | GBP, EUR and USD accounts; payments in up to 7 currencies |
Monthly Fee:
Fee Transfers / Month:
Interest Rate (AER):
Features:
Features:
- Free multi-currency World Account: get paid in 20+ currencies
- World Card: up to 1.2% cashback, no FX fees in 15 currencies
- New customers: 0.30% FX rate for the first 6 months
- £100 World Card bonus for new customers (T&Cs apply)
| EMI safeguarded |
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| FSCS protection |
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| Limit FSC Protection | Not FSCS-protected (funds safeguarded) |
| Regulator & FRN | World First UK Limited, Electronic Money Institution (FCA, FRN 900508) |
| Disclaimer | *No account opening, subscription or maintenance fees. Payment fees apply: £0.31 per GBP payment in the UK, £0.27 per EUR SEPA payment, from £4.62 for international payments; payments to other World Accounts are free. FX conversion up to 0.50% for major currencies (0.30% for new customers for the first 6 months). World Card: up to 1.2% cashback; no FX fees when paying in 15 supported currencies; ATM withdrawals 2% (min £1). WorldFirst is not a bank: funds are held as e-money and safeguarded, not protected by the FSCS. T&Cs apply. |
| Best for | UK businesses paying suppliers or getting paid internationally, including e-commerce sellers |
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| Eligible business types | Ltd, sole traders, partnerships, LLPs |
| Documents required | Photo ID, proof of address and business details |
| Monthly fee & plans | Free: no setup, subscription or maintenance fees |
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| UK transfers | £0.31 per GBP payment (Faster Payments or CHAPS) |
| International / SWIFT payments | GBP abroad £4.62; other currencies £4.62–£23; SEPA £0.27; FX up to 0.50% (0.30% for new customers for 6 months) |
| 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 25 free virtual cards; up to 5 physical cards (£5 shipping each) |
| UK branches |
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| Multi-currency |
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| Supported Currency | Hold and receive 20+ currencies; send in 100+ |
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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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 |
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| 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) |
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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 | 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 |
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 |
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| 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 |
Other details?
International payments and multi-currency accounts
Companies dealing with overseas customers or suppliers should consider the cost and availability of international payments.
Relevant factors can include:
supported currencies;
foreign exchange charges;
international transfer fees;
local account details for receiving foreign currency payments; and
card charges when spending abroad.
Some providers offer multi-currency functionality, while others focus primarily on sterling transactions.
Cash and cheque deposits
Companies that regularly receive cash should check whether cash deposits are supported and how they can be made. Some providers use branches, Post Office locations or other third-party networks, while some digital accounts may have limited or no cash deposit facilities. Fees and deposit limits may also apply.
Overdrafts and business borrowing
Not every business account includes access to an overdraft or other borrowing facilities. If your company may need short-term borrowing, check whether an overdraft is available and review the provider's eligibility requirements, interest rates and fees. Opening a current account does not necessarily mean your company will qualify for credit facilities.
Account protection
Check how money held in the account is protected — whether through FSCS deposit protection or, for electronic money institutions, safeguarding arrangements. See "Bank or e-money provider: what's the difference?" below for a full explanation.
Want to know more?
Can a new limited company open a business bank account?
Newly incorporated limited companies can apply for business bank accounts, subject to the provider's eligibility and verification requirements. Providers may need to verify both the company and the individuals associated with it before opening an account. Being newly incorporated does not necessarily prevent a company from opening an account, but the provider may ask for information about the business, its activities and how the account is expected to be used.
What documents do you need to open a limited company bank account?
Requirements vary between providers, but an application may require information about both the company and the people who own or control it.
This can include:
the registered company name and company number;
the registered office and business address;
details of the company's activities;
information about directors;
information about people with significant control (PSCs);
proof of identity and address for relevant individuals;
expected turnover or account activity; and
information about where the company expects to receive or send money.
Providers carry out their own identity, eligibility and business verification checks and may request additional information.
Can you open a limited company business account online?
Some providers allow limited companies to apply online or through a mobile app. The provider will still need to complete the required checks before approving the account. Depending on the company structure and information provided, an application may be processed quickly or require additional documentation and manual review.
Can a limited company get a free business bank account?
Some providers offer business accounts for limited companies with no monthly account fee.
However, an account advertised as "free" or having "no monthly fee" does not necessarily mean that every transaction or service is free.
Depending on the provider, charges may apply for:
bank transfers;
cash deposits;
international payments;
foreign currency transactions;
ATM withdrawals;
additional cards; or
optional business tools and services.
Some providers may also waive the monthly fee for an introductory period before moving the account onto standard pricing.
When comparing free business bank accounts for limited companies, check both the monthly fee and the charges associated with the transactions your company expects to make.
Bank or e-money provider: what's the difference?
Not every provider offering a business account is itself a bank. UK-authorised banks and electronic money institutions operate under different regulatory frameworks, and this can affect how customer money is protected. Eligible deposits held with a UK-authorised bank, building society or credit union may qualify for FSCS protection, subject to the scheme's eligibility rules and protection limit. Electronic money institutions generally protect relevant customer funds through safeguarding arrangements instead. Safeguarding and FSCS deposit protection are different forms of protection and should not be treated as equivalent. Some business account brands may also provide accounts or services through another regulated institution or partner bank. Before opening an account, check which legal entity provides the service, where the company's money is held and what protection applies.
Compare limited company business accounts based on how your company operates
Different companies have different banking requirements — match the account to how yours actually operates rather than to the account with the most features. Check the provider's latest fees, eligibility requirements, account features, terms and protection arrangements before applying.
Our verified bank partners
We compare products from selected UK providers