Open a business bank account in the U.K: Expand your business to the U.K.

Having a UK business account gives you easy access to one of the biggest free market economies in the world.

If you want to expand your trade and open a business bank account in the UK, you are in the right place. Below, you will find everything you need to know about opening business accounts around the United Kingdom.  

You will also discover a few alternatives, like Payoneer, that may work better for your specific business than traditional business bank accounts.

Types of business bank accounts in the U.K.

There are several types of bank accounts in the UK Each allows you to perform different kinds of transactions. Understanding what these accounts offer will help you select the option that best meets your specific financial needs.

Current account 

Current accounts are the most popular accounts in the UK. You can open a current business bank account in the UK and use it to fulfill daily banking needs, such as:

• Cash deposits and withdrawals
• Receiving different types of payments, like salaries
• Setting up direct debits to make recurring payments, like paying bills, easier.

Most current accounts are free to open and maintain, but others may have a nominal monthly cost. There are also options for premium accounts that come with additional benefits (with a monthly fee). 

An example of a premium account is a packaged account, which can cost around £10 to £15 per month. Packaged premium accounts offer benefits for businesses, such as travel insurance, ID fraud insurance to protect your account, interest-free or discounted overdraft when you need it.

Basic account

Basic accounts have features for essential everyday banking services only. They limits you to various direct debit payment options and debit cards. 

You cannot access credit cards or loans with this type of account. Basic accounts are free to open and maintain. They are suitable for individuals with poor credit or those struggling to open current accounts. 

If you’re a freelancer or sole trader, you can use your basic account for business purposes, although it’s not advisable. It’s always best to keep your personal and business expenses separate. Alternatively, you can start with a basic, then upgrade to a checking account, later.

Savings account 

As the name indicates, savings accounts are for saving, not regular daily use, as with a checking account. You simply deposit money you want to put aside for savings into the account, and earn interest from it. 

The amount you get back in interest depends on the interest rates offered by your bank and the amount of money you have deposited. The higher the interest rates and deposit amount, the more money you can earn.

There are several different savings accounts available, such as notice savings accounts, easy-access savings, and fixed-rate bonds. 

International/Non-residential account

Most major banks in the UK allow you to open and operate current accounts from overseas (more information about this is below).

Digital account

Almost all UK banks have adopted modern fintech solutions to provide their services online – via official bank websites and mobile banking applications. This means that you can open and run your account remotely. The UK is also home to several banks that are digital-only, meaning they do not have a physical branch location, all transactions are done online or via a mobile app.

Offshore account

Most mainstream banks in the UK offer offshore banking services which allow you to open checking accounts overseas. These accounts operate in a similar way to standard checking accounts. However, they are more flexible and typically have higher interest rates than standard checking accounts. You can also potentially benefit from the low tax rates associated with offshore accounts. 

How do business accounts work in the UK?

Business accounts help separate your business and personal finances, making it easier to track your profits and business expenditures and to comply with tax laws, without putting your personal finances at risk.

The main differences between business and personal accounts can be found in :

• The rates and prices
• The limitations for creating an account
• The time it takes to open an account

Rates and prices 

Business accounts may charge higher fees and have fees associated with certain transactions  that are typically free for personal users. For instance, you could pay a small fee for the amount of monthly  money transfers you make.

Other fees may include:

Monthly fees

Also commonly referred to as a service fee, some banks charge a monthly fee for maininting your account. Some banks waive these fees if you can maintain a specific minimum account balance. 

ATM fees

Nearly 95% of ATM withdrawals, using your debit card, are free of charge in the UK However, some prepaid cards do incur a fee at ATMs. 

International transaction fees

UK banks charge approximately 3% for almost all foreign transactions. These may include international withdrawals or making purchases abroad. Some banks apply a flat fee of approximately £1 to £3 for every transaction.

The common name for these fees is a non-sterling transaction fee or load fee.

Account closure fees 

You may have to pay early closure fees if you close your account too soon after opening it, with some UK bank accounts.

Annual card fees

A few banks, especially those which offer exclusive cashback or rewards, charge an annual fee. The amount varies and can be approximately £100 to £250. 

Poor foreign exhange rates when transferring money

Trading rates of the pound against the dollar fluctuate daily. You may incur high fees when transferring money because of poor foreign exchange rates.

Some of the hidden fees for international transfers may include:

• One-off request fees
• Same-day transfer fees
• Card replacement fees
• Overdraft fees
• Bank notary fees
• Incorrect information fees
• Minimum balance requirement penalties and minimum deposit rates

It’s advisable to check all the costs a bank charges before you open a business bank account in UK You may also want to consider the following:

1. The range of features and services a provider offers. These features may include borrowing options and investment opportunities.

2. Flexibility and ease of use. You want to operate your business in the UK with ease. An online bank account may be the best option so that you have access 24/7.

3. International scope. Confirm whether the provider offers multi-currency account options that suit your business.

4. Customer support. It’s good to make sure there is an easily-accesible support line with various modes of contact, in case of any issue with your banking.

Limitations of opening a business bank account

By law, UK banks must perform Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks before opening a business bank account for you. 

For this reason, most banks have additional requirements beyond those needed to open a standard personal account. You should check what these requirements are before applying, to simplify and speed up the process.

Time to open a bank account

Overall, opening  business accounts takes longer than opening  personal ones. It could be a few hours, days, weeks, or months, depending on the institution you want to partner with and your specific financial circumstances.

Essentials for opening a business bank account in the UK 

The UK’s business regulations and entrepreneurial culture favor small and medium-sized businesses . There is government support for local and international businesses to invest in the region and thrive. This is why SMBs account for nearly 99.9% of the UK’s business population.

A few essential documents or details are necessary to open a UK bank account, including: 

Proof of identification

You can use any of the following government-issued national identification documents to prove your identity:

• Identification photo card (I.D.)
• Valid passport
• Driving license

You also have to provide the usual contact details – your personal and business phone numbers, as well as email addresses.

Proof of UK address

Different banks accept various documents as evidence of your personal and business address in the U.K, including:

• Recent utility bills (less than six months old)
• Bank or credit card statement (less than three months old)
• UK mortgage statement (less than a year old)
• Current council tax bill (less than a year old)

Business verification documents

You will need business verification documents if you operate a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or Limited Liability Partnership (LLP). These documents may include:

• Your estimated annual turnover
• The total number of your employees
• Companies House registration number or a valid certificate of incorporation
• Business plan (in some cases)
• Details of company directors who own over 10% of the business
• Your business’s tax information. This includes your national insurance number or Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR*). 

*A UTR is a 10-digit unique reference number you receive once you register your company with the Companies House, as is legally required. Your UTR helps you with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) correspondence

Expectation of opening a UK bank account

If you want to open a business bank account in the UK, there are three corporate entities the country legally accepts:

• Sole traders
• Limited Companies
• Business Partnerships

The specific details of each business structure vary from country to country. For example, an LLP in Scotland works differently from one in England. 

If you have all the business documents ready, you will find it a very straightforward verification process to open a UK business account in different regions. 

However, there are a few situations where it could potentially be more difficult to open your business account. 

Opening an account with bad credit

You can open a business account, even if you have a poor credit history or no credit history at all. There are banks that may want to know about your personal finances before offering their business banking services to you. Most of these banks will hesitate to open a business account for you if you have bad credit.

Other banks may agree, but your access to the account’s features will be limited. A few essential services, like earning interest on your money, may not be available.

Opening an account from overseas

It’s possible to open a UK bank account from the U.S. or other countries, although it may not be so easy. Banks are typically cautious due to potential fraud and money laundering concerns. The situation may be more simple if you’re a UK resident living abroad. 

If you’re looking to open a UK bank account from within the United States, you will need to prove that:

• You are the director of a business registered with Companies House in the UK. 
• You have a UK residential address

For non-residents living abroad, this process may be more challenging, though still doable.

Opening an account as a non-resident 

To open a UK bank account, you will need identification and proof of current address. The bank you choose may offer a range of accounts, but there may be certain restrictions on them. 

You can also ask your home bank to help you establish an account in the UK Many large international banks have banking operations in the UK and can help you set up in the region, at a an extra cost. 

However, the best alternative for you may be using a traditional banking alternative, like Payoneer. 

Payoneer: The best alternative to a bank account

Payoneer is one of the most reliable and affordable UK bank account alternatives. It is an online banking service that provides international banking services at affordable rates.

Your business will have access to over 67 million UK residents without having to worry about unconventional fees for performing international business transactions. You can also skip the hassle of trying to open a UK bank account from the U.S. by registering online within a few minutes. 

Payoneer is a payment-service dedicated to businesses only, using the most advanced technologies to provide banking solutions to businesses of all sizes. It will take approximately three business days to get approved so that you can start using the global payment service solution to start making online transactions. 

Looking to receive payments like a local? Open an international business payment account in the UK, and enjoy one of the most flexible, multi-currency account services for businesses available today. Multi-currency accounts help business owners navigate price fluctuation issues for UK sellers. You will be able to receive payments in GBP the same way you would with a traditional banking account. 

In addition to operating your business in the UK, Payoneer allows you to expand and access customers in over 200 countries worldwide.

Comparison: Payoneer vs U.K. bank accounts

	Payoneer	UK Bank Account
UK Bank Details Included
Free Debit Card
3D Secure
Overdraft	(Cost-efficient, no overdraft fees)	(Overdraft fees may apply)
Free Multi-Director Access
Invoicing Included
Integrated Accounting	(Integrates with Quickbooks)	(No integration)
Multi-Currency Accounts
UK Bank Transfer Fee	(free to other Payoneer account holders)
Currency Transfer Fee
Int’l Card Transaction Fee
Deposit Protection	(Partners with FDIC members)	(Protected by FSCS)
Customer Service	(In multiple languages)

Grow your business in the UK today

Knowing how to open online bank accounts in the UK is beneficial for any international business person. When looking at your options, it’s important to understand the benefits and disadvantages of opening a traditional bank account. Avoid the hidden bank fees and access all the essential services your business requires to operate in the UK, faster, with Payoneer. Register and try Payoneer today!