Small businesses can apply online

Small businesses can apply online

If your business has an annual turnover of under £3m, you can apply online for a business bank account.

Apply now

Why switch your business account to us?

  • 12 months’ free day-to-day business banking¹ with simple pricing plan beyond that
  • Designated business management team to help and support your business
  • Manage your business account and stay in touch with your finances with our business mobile app2
  • Useful guides and practical business tools to help you grow
  • Guaranteed switch in 7 working days from when your account is opened using the Current Account Switch Service
  • Apply for up to £25,000 across a Business Overdraft or Business Credit Card*.

Please take some time to read the product terms and conditions.

  • When your 12-month free banking period ends, the pricing below will apply.

    Estimate with our calculator how much your account could cost.

    Monthly FeeA fixed fee for operating your account.

    £7.00

    Electronic payments (in or out)Includes online, automated and debit card payments.

    Free

    Cash payments (in or out)Cash you pay in to or withdraw from your account using our branch counter or Depositpoint™. We don’t charge for Cashpoint® withdrawals.

    The first  £1500 per month - £1.00 per £100

    Anything over £1500 per month - £0.90 per £100

    Cheques (in or out)Any cheque you pay in or out of your current account via any of these: a branch counter Depositpoint™ bulk or other cheque deposit service, including cheque imaging via the business mobile banking app.

    £0.85

    Credit inWe charge a fee when you pay in a credit of cheques or cash: at the branch counter through other cheque or cash deposit services. We do not charge this fee when you pay in via any of these: Depositpoint™, Night Safe, Bank of Scotland Business mobile app cheque imaging, Post Office® counter Immediate Deposit Machine.

    £0.85

  • ¹Free day-to-day business banking includes:

    • Electronic payments
    • Cheques
    • Cash
    • Deposits and withdrawals.

    All we ask is that you operate your account in credit or within agreed limits.

    Free electronic payments include:

    • Direct debits
    • standing orders
    • debit card transactions
    • Bank of Scotland/Other Bank ATM Withdrawals as indicated 
    • Internet/Phonebank Debits/Credits
    • Faster Payments debits and credits
    • internet bulk payments
    • automated credits.

    1Applies to small businesses, including individuals setting up their first business bank account.

    2You'll need iOS or Android. The app is not compatible with some older versions of these operating systems. Please check the Apple App Store or Google Play. You'll need to have registered for Business Internet Banking. Terms and conditions apply.

Switching to us is easy

We'll

  • arrange for your old bank to close your previous account and transfer any credit balance to your new Bank of Scotland account
  • transfer all incoming and outgoing payments within the seven-working-day guarantee
  • redirect all payments to and from your old account to your new account for at least three years
  • refund you for any interest or charges incurred on your old or new account as a result of an unlikely delay caused by us.

Current Account Switch Guarantee (PDF, 65KB)

Current Account Switch Guide (PDF, 71KB)

Borrow up to £25,000 to grow your business

You could borrow up to £25,000 across a Business Overdraft or Business Credit Card when you switch to us. This could help you manage cash flow, grow your business and be ready for any unexpected costs.

*Apply online once your new Business Current Account is set up and you’ll get an instant decision. Eligibility for lending will be assessed as part of a separate application, and there is no guarantee of lending being granted. All lending is subject to status. 

Apply

What you need to know

To apply for an account as a small business, you need to:

  • be a sole trader, partner or company director
  • be aged 18 or over
  • have an annual turnover of less than £3 million
  • not already have a Bank of Scotland business account for this business.

 

If your annual turnover is above £3 million, please see our accounts for larger businesses.

If you already have a business account for this business, please visit our support page.

Details and documents to prepare

Please have the following ready:

  • a copy or photograph of your signature
  • The name, date of birth and three-year personal address history (including month and year of moving dates) for everyone connected to the account and the mobile number and email address of the Key Account Party
  • your business name, address, details of your activities and estimated turnover.
  • For limited company accounts, companies house must be up to date before we can progress an application. Please allow 3 days from the date of Companies House registration before applying online or over the phone.

 

UK Finance business account opening guide

Before applying

Keep in mind:

  • If you’re applying for a loan, please make sure you have the loan agreed before opening an account. You do not need to open a Business Current Account to apply for a loan, you can open a Loan Servicing Account.
  • If you’ve already started an application, you can continue or check the status of your application at any time that suits you.
FSCS Logo

Financial Services Compensation Scheme

Eligible deposits with Bank of Scotland plc are protected up to a total of £85,000. Due to eligibility criteria, not all business customers will be covered.

Apply for a Business Current Account

Apply for a Business Current Account

Access your account on the go anytime with our business mobile app2.

Apply now

Resume application

Pick up where you left off

If you’ve already started an application, you should have received your ‘Welcome’ email.

You can continue or check the status of your application at any time that suits you. To log in you will need the mobile phone number and email address you provided in your application.

Independent service quality survey results

Business current accounts

 

Published August 2023

As part of a regulatory requirement, an independent survey was conducted to ask approximately 1,200 customers of each of the 15 largest business current account providers if they would recommend their provider to other small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs*). The results represent the view of customers who took part in the survey.

Overall service quality

We asked customers how likely they would be to recommend their business current account provider to other SMEs.

*SMEs include businesses, clubs, charities and societies with an annual turnover/income of up to £25m (exclusive of VAT and other turnover-related taxes).

Ranking

Business current accounts Overall service quality survey results.  Ranking 1st place Monzo 84%, 2nd place Starling Bank 82%, 3rd place Handelsbanken 74%, 4th place tide 73%, 5th place Metro Bank 63%, equal 8th place Bank of Scotland 54%

View the full set of results

The requirement to publish the Financial Conduct Authority Service Quality Information for Business current accounts can be found here.

Cashpoint® is a registered trademark of Lloyds Bank plc.