Best Business Bank for Tradesmen

[Dan]

Best Business Bank for Tradesmen

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What bank are you with, and why?

Are you trading as a Sole Trader, Limited Company, or something else? Perhaps worth letting us know when you respond.

Also may be good to know how long you've been with them perhaps?

(Side note: apparently it's worth shopping around as much as annually to make sure you're getting the most benefit price-wise. But if you do, would that lack on service as you've not got to know your manager(s)?)

 

[rd99]

Was previously with Santander. Completely free but all my transactions are done electronically, i.e no cheques, cash handling, overdrafts etc. Never had a problem with Santander in 4 years.

Long story but now with HSBC, free for 18 months but again all my transactions will be electronic.

 

[Dan]

Why are all your transactions electronic? Do you have a card reader of some sort?

 

[John Benton]

I'm with Halifax/Lloyds and have been for 7 years now. Had a load of trouble with them when they merged trying to speak to anyone at a call centre. Threatened to leave and they told me a shortcut on the dial pad to speak to a 'customer service agent' straightaway.

All has been good since then.

 

[Dan]

I bank with Natwest and you have a bank manager to call, normally one that covers 3 or more branches, but they still answer.

Was free for a while but then went ltd so its now all costing a bit. Wrongly or rightly I've not found a reason to shop around yet.

Wondering if this thread will change my mind though.

 

[Rookery]

I've been with Santander for about 6/7 years. Basically a phone and ATM based service and its always been good. Another plus point is that its free for life though they did try and change that last year but did a u-turn following the bad publicity that caused. Prior to that I was with HSBC who were shockingly bad.

 

[High Peak Tiling]

going to give RBS a whirl.. as long as their accounts don't have charges!

 

[Concrete guy]

Cyrrent bank - Barclays - Limited company. We find them just fine especially as I can make international transfers from my lap top and don't have to trapse to the branch - in fact I find them quite straightforward and helpful.

Been with Lloyds - simply shocking, Incompetence on a systemic level, it got so bad we ended up taking them through the Financial Ombudsman and being awarded compensation.

Natwest - got all the accounts open, waited for a debit card only to be told Natwest didn't have an arrangement with Visa for debit cards on Limited company accounts - I kid you not - I turned the air blue at that point. All to do with RBS/Natwest at the time - again shockingly incompetent at basic things.

 

[High Peak Tiling]

Cyrrent bank - Barclays - Limited company. We find them just fine especially as I can make international transfers from my lap top and don't have to trapse to the branch - in fact I find them quite straightforward and helpful.

Been with Lloyds - simply shocking, Incompetence on a systemic level, it got so bad we ended up taking them through the Financial Ombudsman and being awarded compensation.

Natwest - got all the accounts open, waited for a debit card only to be told Natwest didn't have an arrangement with Visa for debit cards on Limited company accounts - I kid you not - I turned the air blue at that point. All to do with RBS/Natwest at the time - again shockingly incompetent at basic things.

I have been told to avoid lloyds as they are nicking money

 

[Artisan998]

I was with Barclays but there fee's are uncompetitive so im now with HSBC...........just finsihed my 18 month free banking period and the fee's are quite good.........................at the moment