Comments on: Please help me choose a business bank

By: Justin Souter

Justin Souter — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:43:20 +0000

Andrew – thanks for this. I am off to Newcastle this afternoon to sign up with HSBC.

A&L Leicester phoned me to say that one of their Business Bankers (based in Leeds) was going to call me. He didn't, so they got struck off the list. Then again, I didn't fancy having my contact in Leeds – too far away.

I also went to see Lloyds, but felt that HSBC were in better financial shape to help me, going forward.

By: justingsouter

justingsouter — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 16:43:20 +0000

Andrew – thanks for this. I am off to Newcastle this afternoon to sign up with HSBC.

I also went to see Lloyds, but felt that HSBC were in better financial shape to help me, going forward.

By: Andrew Upton

Andrew Upton — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 22:23:12 +0000

One think I remember when I had a Business account in the UK is to watch the hidden charges. Most personal banking is free but the banks can make substantial money from Bussiness ascount.

Double-check what the real charges are likely to be.

By: justingsouter

justingsouter — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:47:24 +0000

btw, Stephen Slater of RMT also mentioned HSBC & Alliance and Leicester. fyi info re Stephen - http://www.r-m-t.co.uk/news/more01.php?id=17

By: saratpediredla

saratpediredla — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 01:44:00 +0000

No problem Justin. I have no idea about Lloyds TSB. They seem a safe bet. I agree that keeping your personal and business dealings separate.

By: justingsouter

justingsouter — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 23:52:33 +0000

Sarat – brilliant, thanks for your feedback!

The one thing I didn't say is that the advice at the Managing Money course on Friday suggested keeping your Business and Personal monies separate.

What about Lloyds as an alternative to Barclays, d'you know anything about them?

By: saratpediredla

saratpediredla — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 22:59:51 +0000

We tried a few until we stuck to Barclays. I am not entirely satisfied with them yet but they seemed so much better (WAY BETTER) than Natwest/RBS.

I wouldn't go for HBOS either as I have had terrible pre-sales advice from them and their support is non-existant.

Barclays has a great Free Automated Transaction Tariff that is great if you do a lot of transactions online and/or pay electronically etc.

They are pretty good with small business, with a Business Manager you can actually speak to (I still dont know who it was at Natwest).

The only gotcha with Barclays are high borrowing rates (if you need it), and some business managers persistent on selling you their "value add-ons".