Online business bank account?

[DecaDance]

Hi,

I've used the search function to see if this has been answered before (and I have to say I'm very proud that I didn't indulge in a little rant against banks whilst reading various threads) but can't find anything...

Does anyone know of a totally online business bank account please? The only ones I can find are all personal accounts.

Without going into details about the inadequacy of the arrangement with our current bank - because I may as well bang my head against a brick wall, and most of their staff agree the situation is bonkers - it would help if we could communicate with the bank via email and perhaps have a phone number for a business manager rather than a random bod at a call-centre who we have to explain the situation to from scratch and who promises to get our business manager to call us, but he never does ... Ooops, I've started to rant haven't I? Sorry

 

[Richard10002]

I have 4 accounts with NatWest. All are accessible online. One is a purely business account, and another is a business savings account.

Not that I can recommend NatWest..... But I get the impression that they are all very similar, in a negative way

 

[DecaDance]

I have 4 accounts with NatWest. All are accessible online. One is a purely business account, and another is a business savings account.

Thanks Richard - our account is accessible online - but that's about it!

Not that I can recommend NatWest..... But I get the impression that they are all very similar, in a negative way

Yup - all as bad as each other, but don't get me started again, grrrr!

 

[Boo2]

Does anyone know of a totally online business bank account please?

I'm with Cater Allen who have been OK. You can do everything I've ever needed to do via their website banking and I can't say I've had any problems with them so...

Hth,

Boo2

 

[Blue5]

Co-Op Bank have online access for business a/c's.

 

[rtchina]

And so do Lloyds TSB which I have found to be pretty good.

 

[martinrh]

Second recommendation for Cater Allen.
Online works fine, if you need anything else, their telephone service is excellent.

I've used them for 10+ years without a problem.

 

[Skysail]

Bank of Scotland has been OK for me.

 

[Dreamcatcher]

HSBC, has online facility and dedicated account managers.

 

[seanfoster]

Another vote for Natwest business banking online, very good service, never had a problem with them.

 

[DecaDance]

And so do Lloyds TSB which I have found to be pretty good.

It's Lloyds TSB I'm with at the moment! , but thanks

 

[DecaDance]

Thanks for the rest of the recommendations, much appreciated - I'll investigate them before I head back to the boat.

 

[Richard10002]

Another vote for Natwest business banking online, very good service, never had a problem with them.

Never had a problem with their online service, except that you can't make international payments. Just got their new iPhone App, where you can transfer money between accounts - can't make payments though.

Still don't like the Bank itself, or it's attitude but, as above, I don't think here are any much better alternatives.

 

[Roaring Girl]

Since moving aboard and setting up my own business within 3 months in 2003 I have ha our business account with what was Abbey National (now Santander) business account. Free banking, reasonable service, does everything I need. It won't handle cash deposits though if that's essential for you.

We do everything online including all account management plus VAT returns etc.

 

[xcw]

I use Santander who offer free business banking. Absolute pain to set up account (took 2 MONTHS!!) due to their inefficiency/poor admin but now it's operating it's fine. Full internet access for transfers, balances etc.

 

[DecaDance]

Thanks everyone - the biggest question for me is "do these banks correspond via email rather than post?". Email at all would be good (which Lloyds don't currently do), total email and no letters would be perfect - maybe not possible for legal reasons for business account?

 

[Roaring Girl]

With the AN/Santander, I have managed it all by email/online for years.

Have to agree that setting it up was a total pain - and after a long complaint they gave us £50 in compensation. But since then, absolutely no need for paper correspondence at all. Mind you I don't actually interact with them very much other than checking and downloading statements etc, so I can't swear to it if a problem, but even when I've queried transactions on the phone, it's been no problem.

 

[Frontier]

HSBC, has online facility and dedicated account managers.

Second that, HSBC seem to be fine, and can email the account manager if I have a problem, but not had many problems so cant say how well they would handle anything difficult. Had some question initially and they were responsive.

 

[PhilipF]

I'm with Cater Allen who have been OK. You can do everything I've ever needed to do via their website banking and I can't say I've had any problems with them so...

Hth,

Boo2

Second recommendation for Cater Allen.
Online works fine, if you need anything else, their telephone service is excellent.

I've used them for 10+ years without a problem.

Interesting this. I used to use Cater Allen many years ago. At one time I think they were called Tyndale, and based in Clifton, Bristol.

Thought they'd gone out of business or been taken over!

I use Santander for my business banking. May be wrong, but TBH I cannot think any bank would be willing to communicate with customers via email.