[8weekly]

We come off the two year free offer in March. It's going to be 35p for a bank transfer in and 70p for a cheque. 

At a conservative estimate £3k a year!

Santander, here we come. £7.50 a month. I was told over the phone that was unlimited cheques and electronic transfers, but I'm sure I've read otherwise so I'll investigate first.

[CleanClear]

There was quite a lot of posts about Nat West not to long ago. They bumped their charges up massivley. I know someone who has gone over to Santander, they've got a good Rep. Plenty of positive comments about them on here too. The other option for you to consider is joining the FSB and you get free banking with the CoOp .

[Tom-01]

We use Barclays. £6.50 per month, free on BACS transfers and £1.50 per cheque. Most cheques are from bigger management company jobs so not really a problem and now starting to charge regular customers £1.50 for cheque payments.

[martin hulstone]

Santander 7.50 a month and no other charges as long as you don't pay in more than 1000 pounds cash each month.
I too was with natwest and could not believe their price increases, I can only think they no longer wanted to bank with small businesses as my charges went from around 24 pounds a month to 85, seemed a polite way of saying look elsewhere.

[8weekly]

Santander 7.50 a month and no other charges as long as you don't pay in more than 1000 pounds cash each month.
I too was with natwest and could not believe their price increases, I can only think they no longer wanted to bank with small businesses as my charges went from around 24 pounds a month to 85, seemed a polite way of saying look elsewhere.

That's I disagreeumption. That they no longer want businesses like ours.

[Stoots]

I'm with santander at 7.50 a month and yes there doesn't seem to be any other fees involved. I only have transfers and cheques going in not much cash so dunno about cash limits
 
You should get a year or 2 free if you switch over.

[NWH]

As I've said before if
You keep paying in cheques that are for business or start to look like business your account will be highlighted and you will get pulled up on it I've looked right into it,NatWest now charge me 60p per cheque 30p per online transactions well over £100 a month from £25 flat rate. If your paying in pennies a month I wouldn't worry but if
You've thousands going in and out every 4 weeks or so you won't get away with it,and that's coming from someone I know that's been with em over 15 years or so,to start you will get away with it but after a time your account will be flagged as not being used as a general current account more like a business hence the charges.

[8weekly]

As I've said before if
You keep paying in cheques that are for business or start to look like business your account will be highlighted and you will get pulled up on it I've looked right into it,NatWest now charge me 60p per cheque 30p per online transactions well over £100 a month from £25 flat rate. If your paying in pennies a month I wouldn't worry but if
You've thousands going in and out every 4 weeks or so you won't get away with it,and that's coming from someone I know that's been with em over 15 years or so,to start you will get away with it but after a time your account will be flagged as not being used as a general current account more like a business hence the charges.

I do have a business account. I had two years free banking when we went limited, but in the meantime they've whacked up the charges to the point where they are plain daft. They are obviously saying that they don't want businesses like ours.

[Arnold Palmer]

As I've said before if
You keep paying in cheques that are for business or start to look like business your account will be highlighted and you will get pulled up on it I've looked right into it,NatWest now charge me 60p per cheque 30p per online transactions well over £100 a month from £25 flat rate. If your paying in pennies a month I wouldn't worry but if
You've thousands going in and out every 4 weeks or so you won't get away with it,and that's coming from someone I know that's been with em over 15 years or so,to start you will get away with it but after a time your account will be flagged as not being used as a general current account more like a business hence the charges.

£100 monthly + 60 per cheque and 30p per online transaction is far too much, business account or otherwise. Time for you to shop around.

[NWH]

Other banks will give you free banking for 18months then they are similar rates to NatWest,I don't want to change account numbers sort codes etc complete nightmare changing it all over. I've heard others say you don't need a business account blaa blaa if you've got a lot of transactions going through each month you won't get away with it.

[Arnold Palmer]

Other banks will give you free banking for 18months then they are similar rates to NatWest,I don't want to change account numbers sort codes etc complete nightmare changing it all over. I've heard others say you don't need a business account blaa blaa if you've got a lot of transactions going through each month you won't get away with it.

I have a business account. I don't pay anything like what you are being charged. Have you considered negotiating with your current bank? I would if I were you.

[NWH]

You get charged on what your paying in or the activity on your account I pay over £100 a month now from £25

[Cookie]

One of the best pieces of advice I received when I started up my business a couple of years ago (as a sole trader) was not to open a business bank account - I just have a standard account. I pay in all my cheques at the end of the month & have a good proportion of customers paying online now. So far I haven't been pulled up on this by my bank...

However had my first bounced cheque today... It may just be a matter of time ...

[DaveG]

I've just opened a business account with Santander, a month ago and yes no other charges apart from 50p per £100  cash paid in (after the first £1000 per month). No limits on cheques or BACS payments.

They even gave me free banking for 18 months because this is my first business account! 

[8weekly]

I've just opened a business account with Santander, a month ago and yes no other charges apart from 50p per £100  cash paid in (after the first £1000 per month). No limits on cheques or BACS payments.

They even gave me free banking for 18 months because this is my first business account! 

Yes. I think we'll pay for the next level - still only £10 for up to £3000 cash a month. It's madness to pay 60p or 70p a cheque. And internet credits of 35p are scandalous in my opinion. There is no processing fee at all really. That said, they have obviously made a business decision that they don't want our sort of business. It's their business and up to them.

[p1w1]

Ive recently changed to Santander , the only real gripe i have is you cant pay into a business account over the counter (my branch anyway) so you have to use the machines which can take forever if paying everything at the end of the month. They just spit back money that has any corners turned over etc, also they say the cheque machine can do up to 20 cheques at a time, lucky if i can get it to do 3, so be prepared to spend 20 mins paying everything into the machines.

[DaveG]

Ive recently changed to Santander , the only real gripe i have is you cant pay into a business account over the counter (my branch anyway) so you have to use the machines which can take forever if paying everything at the end of the month. They just spit back money that has any corners turned over etc, also they say the cheque machine can do up to 20 cheques at a time, lucky if i can get it to do 3, so be prepared to spend 20 mins paying everything into the machines.

That's strange. I've paid into 2 different branches over the counter.

[Splash & dash]

I bank with lloyds and have done for 35 years  they tried to get me to have a business account  when they told me the charges I said you are having a laugh , if you are going to charge me I'll take all my business else where , that was 18 years ago and haven't been pestered since , just tell them straight and usually they will back down

[trippyboy]

Im with Santander

[brianbarber]

Was with natwest
They told me all advantage accounts would be changed to std terms...
I.e. Set £25 a month up to estimated they said £81 a month

With Santander now £7.50

Boom!