Best Business BANK ?

[golfman]

I’ll start the ball rolling.

Bank of Scotland. www.bankofscotland.co.uk/business/index.html

Note – NOT ‘the royal bank of scotland’. Two completely different banks.

You get a ‘relationship’ manager with direct contact via a mobile phone and email etc. no messing about going to ‘branches’. Great service, also the only bank to help with our commercial mortgage...

No bank charges at all if your account is in credit by more than 5k.

I used to be with the HSBC. Bank manager was a tosser, and the charges were ridiculous.

I haven’t personally ‘visited’ a bank for about 3 years now it’s great! Internet and free envelopes do it all for you, plus the bank manager comes to me!

First Direct for personal banking. Also very good.


Any better suggestions?

[Size Nine Elm]

golfman said:

Bank of Scotland.

Currently have an account with them. It took them 6 months to open the account with the overdraft facility we had verbally agreed beforehand.

Circa 1991 was with another fledgling company in a business centre, and another company there asked who we banked with - where 4 major banks were all on the high street within 5 mins walk. Told them which one, and they asked if it was better service, or better rates, or ... no, its 35 yards nearer.

The world needs banking, but it sure doesn't need banks.

[simpo two]

I can certainly tell you that Nat West are/were a bunch of bastards. I went to take £30 cash from my business account and they wanted to charge me £5 to do so.

Never went back, never will.

[Muncher]

golfman said:

I’ll start the ball rolling. Bank of Scotland. www.bankofscotland.co.uk/business/index.html Note – NOT ‘the royal bank of scotland’. Two completely different banks. You get a ‘relationship’ manager with direct contact via a mobile phone and email etc. no messing about going to ‘branches’. Great service, also the only bank to help with our commercial mortgage... No bank charges at all if your account is in credit by more than 5k. I used to be with the HSBC. Bank manager was a tosser, and the charges were ridiculous. I haven’t personally ‘visited’ a bank for about 3 years now it’s great! Internet and free envelopes do it all for you, plus the bank manager comes to me! First Direct for personal banking. Also very good. Any better suggestions?

Am also with Bank of Scotland, very pleased so far.

[icamm]

Abbey have a pretty good deal for business accounts. No charges if you have a smallish number of transactions a month (can't remember the exact number) and you get two acounts. A high interest "reserve" account and a normal interest current account. All managed by phone and internet.

Edited to say: No minimum balance required either.

>> Edited by icamm on Sunday 10th October 19:23

[mondeoman]

icamm said:

Abbey have a pretty good deal for business accounts. No charges if you have a smallish number of transactions a month (can't remember the exact number) and you get two acounts. A high interest "reserve" account and a normal interest current account. All managed by phone and internet. Edited to say: No minimum balance required either. >> Edited by icamm on Sunday 10th October 19:23

But that only lasts for 18 months, then they start charging you. And I couldn't find it in the original small print . But you do get good interest on reserve accounts, which is nice.

[poorcardealer]

Im with HSBC and have just come out of a free period with them......the charges are now kicking in and they are ridiculous..........if I take £10K cash out or pay £10K cah in it costs me £50.yes £50.....this was negotiated down from £72.....I have a letter here which states...."these are the very lowest charges we can charge you and I have had to get this authorised by HQ" Bollocks.............Im looking to change my account which is something I really didnt want to do.

[icamm]

mondeoman said:

icamm said: Abbey have a pretty good deal for business accounts. No charges if you have a smallish number of transactions a month (can't remember the exact number) and you get two acounts. A high interest "reserve" account and a normal interest current account. All managed by phone and internet. Edited to say: No minimum balance required either. >> Edited by icamm on Sunday 10th October 19:23 But that only lasts for 18 months, then they start charging you. And I couldn't find it in the original small print . But you do get good interest on reserve accounts, which is nice.

That's their "Fixed rate banking" tariff. They do have a "free banking forever" tariff (which is as it says). The last one has much lower limits before charges kick in (and then higher charges) but if you have a really low cash/cheque transaction rate then it is worth a look. See www.anbusiness.com/services/charges_interest.shtml

[simpo two]

poorcardealer said:

Im with HSBC and have just come out of a free period with them......the charges are now kicking in and they are ridiculous..........

That's because their fund managers have been known to spend £1K on a bottle of wine (with a meal, not to collect). So I guess they need as much of your money as possible.