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Business Bank Account

Our Business Bank Account for small businesses including start-ups, sole traders and limited companies with up to £2m turnover a year

Open a Business Bank Account in store

Pop-in store for face to face business banking. We can do same-day account opening for most of our business customers.

Alternatively, choose ‘Request a callback’ to book an in-store appointment before you visit.

Find your nearest store   Request a callback

There are a few documents you will need to bring with you to open an account in store. 

Terms, conditions and eligibility criteria apply. Download our Business Bank Account (PDF) and Service Relationship (PDF) for more details. 

Open a Business Bank Account online

Apply online now   Resume your application

Got an invite code? If your Business Bank Account application is for a business with multiple directors, enter your unique code to complete your part of the application. 

Key features of our Business Bank Account

With our Business Bank Account, we offer in-person support for your business banking needs. Whether you're a sole trader, start-up, small or medium business, as long as you're based in the UK we're here to help.

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Local Business Managers

In every store, dedicated to help and support you with your business banking. No appointment needed.

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Simple pricing

No monthly account fee if your balance stays above £6,000 for the whole month, plus you’ll get 30 free UK transactions for that month.

More about account fees

Business Overdraft

You could be eligible to borrow up to £60,000 with our Business Overdraft.

Terms and conditions

Looking to switch?

Visit a store to switch your existing business account to us - it's easy and straightforward. If your business has fewer than 50 employees and an annual turnover below £6.5m, we guarantee to have everything transferred within 7 days.

Benefits of our Business Bank Account

We aim to make business banking easy for our customers with a range of perks and benefits.

  • Visit us at your local store. Get expert support when you need it
  • Rated #1 for business store service*
  • Save time and get paid quicker with free access to Invoice It
  • Stay organised and save time with our business accounting tools
  • Easy-to-use Online Banking options
  • UK-based contact centres
  • Five-star-rated App** 

*Independent CMA survey carried out in Great Britain, July 2023 to June 2024 – Overall Service Quality. Results at www.bva-bdrc.com.

**Metro Bank App rating on Apple’s UK App Store September 2024.

How we support our business customers

Fiona Hornsby decided to take the leap and become her own boss. She now runs two award-winning pubs in Liverpool.

Dr Sipra Deb secured Recovery Loan Scheme funding to grow her childcare business.

Invoice It

A digital tool designed to help small businesses and sole traders get paid quickly and securely.

Supporting women in business

Access to resources and networking opportunities for our female business community.

What you need to know about our Business Bank Account

Eligibility

To apply for a Business Bank Account you need to:

  1. be aged 18 or over
  2. have a turnover and/or annual balance sheet total that does not exceed £2 million
  3. be one of the following: sole trader, limited company, limited guarantee, or limited liability partnership. 

If you are a sole trader/sole signatory you need to be a UK resident to open this account. If there is more than one signatory, director or beneficial owner associated with the account, at least half of them must be UK residents.

Your business must be owned only by individuals and not a parent company. A parent company controls or owns other companies, by holding the majority of their voting stock.

Documents we need to open your account

We will need proof of identity and proof of UK address for everyone involved in opening the business account. The other documents we need will depend on your business type.

Documents you need to apply for a Business Bank Account

Fees

There’s no monthly account fee for our Business Bank Account, as long as the balance remains above £6,000 every day within the month.

Account fees

Your daily balance Account fee UK transaction fees
£6,000 or more Zero 30 free per month, then £0.30 each
Under £6,000 £8.00 £0.30 each

Using your debit card abroad

We don’t charge fees for non-sterling transactions or purchases in most European countries. Outside of these European countries the card purchase fee is 2.99% and the cash withdrawal fee is 2.99% + £1.50.

Download our full list of transaction and service charges, including international and CHAPS payments.

If you’ve had an email from us with a unique code and details about completing your part of a Business Bank Account application, click below to get started.

Enter your code

Apply online now

Applying is easy and works best on your mobile phone

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What is your annual turnover?

Our Commercial Current Account is designed for your high turnover business - you can find more information here.

Will this be the only Metro Bank account for the business?

Not a problem.

Give us a call on 0203 402 8054 or email us at TBM@metrobank.plc.uk, and we’ll be in touch to discuss your needs.

How is your business set up?

Sole trader

If you’re self-employed, run your own business as an individual and haven’t registered it at Companies House, you’re likely to be a sole trader.

Limited company

Limited companies are registered at Companies House.

Limited by guarantee

A ‘limited by guarantee’ company will be registered at Companies House. Unlike a standard limited company, there are no shares or shareholders. Instead the company is owned by guarantors who agree to pay a set amount of money towards company debts.

Limited liability partnership (LLP)

LLPs are registered at Companies House. Unlike ordinary partnerships, members aren’t personally liable for any debts the business can’t pay.

Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)

Deposits are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £85,000 for eligible businesses.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to apply for a Business Bank Account?

You can apply online for a Business Bank Account. Or you can apply in store. There are a few documents you need to bring with you to open a Business Bank Account.

As part of our account opening process, we ask applicants about who they are and what they do to help us understand our customers better. We undertake checks over the information you provide, and we will let you know the outcome of our checks.

Do I need a business bank account if I’m self employed?

You may not need a business bank account if you’re self employed or a sole trader, as your business isn’t a separate legal entity from you as an individual.

Read our blog about the benefits of a separate business bank account

Are business bank accounts protected?

Deposits are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £85,000 for eligible businesses.

How old do I have to be to open a Business Bank Account?

All directors and shareholders must be 18+.

How do I switch to Metro Bank?

Switching your current account to Metro Bank is simple and hassle-free. We guarantee to have your account switched in 7 days if your annual turnover is below £6.5 million. Simply visit your local store to make the switch.

How do I apply as a multiple director company?

Go to ‘Apply online now’ above, answer a few questions about your business and select ‘Get started’ to go to the start of the application. You’ll be asked if there are other directors in your company, and whether you want to give them account access.

Please note:

  • When you apply online you can only give account access to directors. You can add others – e.g. your accountant – by popping into store.
  • Each director you add will be emailed an invite with a link, so they can go and fill out their part of the application
  • Any director that you give access to will be an authorised signatory and have full account access
  • Directors with account access can use Online Banking to make payments up to the daily limit of £21,000
  • Each director with account access will be given their own debit card for the account. All directors, shareholders and key account users must be 18 or over and UK residents.
Can I get an overdraft with my business account?

You can apply for a business overdraft with your business account – just talk to your Local Business Manager.

Does Metro Bank offer a business credit card?

Yes, our Business Credit Card has no fees, a simple low rate and no transaction fees in most European countries. To apply, visit your Local Business Manager in store – no appointment necessary.

Frequently asked questions for existing customers

How can I reduce my bank charges?

Keep your account balance above £6,000 for any whole month and for that month you’ll pay no monthly fee – plus we’ll give you 30 free transactions.

If your balance falls below £6,000 at the close of business on any day you’ll pay the low monthly fee of £8, plus £0.30 per transaction for that month.

Can I use my debit card abroad?

You can use your debit card within Europe with no fees for card purchases or cash withdrawals. If you’re using your card outside of Europe there will be a fee for purchases and withdrawals.

More information on using your debit card abroad

How do I pay-in cash?

How do I pay money into my account?

There are a few different ways you can pay money into your Metro Bank account, the fastest being electronic payment from one bank to another.

You can also deposit cheques or pay cash into your account at your nearest store. Please note, we may ask you a few questions about the source of the funds to help keep your money safe.

There are daily limits on the amount of cash customers can pay into their account via a Metro Bank Store. The daily limit for business accounts is £10,000 and commercial accounts £20,000

Visit your local store

Not near a store? You can register for Metro Bank Post Office Services to pay in cash and cheques or use the change giving services at Post Office® branches across the country.

Simply contact your Relationship Manager or visit us in store and we’ll give you everything you need to get started (there is a daily cash deposit limit of £10,000 per day at the Post Office). Find out more about everyday banking at the Post Office.

If you are a commercial customer and require alternative arrangements for your cash, please contact your Relationship Manager.


Who can pay in cash?

To pay cash into a Metro Bank account you must either:

  • be named on the account

  • have authority to manage the account – e.g. power of attorney

  • or be an employee paying into a business or commercial account for your employer, using a pre-printed paying-in slip issued to the account holder.


Exchanging cash

You can only exchange cash over the counter if you’re a Metro Bank customer.

Important documents for your Business Bank Account application

Download our full list of transaction and service charges, including international and CHAPS payments.

Read our terms & conditions.