Business bank accounts

If you run a small business, there are various benefits to having a business bank account with Bank of Scotland:​ 

• Separate business from personal transactions to make business accounting easier​ 
• Access expert resources and support to grow your business skills 
• Manage your accounts using online business banking.​ 

If you’ve already started an online application, you can continue or check the status of your application at any time using the log on button in your welcome email, which you’ll get once you’ve provided your personal details.

Whether you're a freelancer, small business, sole trader or limited company having a dedicated business account has lots of benefits. Keeping business finances separate from your personal income and having all your business transactions in one place can make managing your finances easier.

Yes, if you are a sole trader running your own business and self-employed. Keeping business finances separate from your personal income and having all your business transactions in one place can make managing your finances easier.

You can apply for an account in minutes. On-the-go? Download the app and apply from anywhere in the UK. Discover our mobile app.

Or you can apply using the website. Apply online now.

To open your business bank account, you’ll need a few documents to hand. You’ll need:​  

• details about you, where you’ve lived, and your tax status.
• information about your business, including what you do, who you work with, and where you work
• a way to take a live photo of your signature and one of yourself
• a form of ID such as your passport or UK driving license
• proof of your business address such as a utility bill.

If you’re applying for an account for a limited company bank account, Companies House must be up to date before we can progress your application. Please allow four days from the date of your Companies House registration before applying to open a business bank account. 

You can open a Business Account with us if you’re a sole trader or the director of a limited company.

We have other types of accounts for schools and for charities and community organisations.

Read more and check if your business can apply. 

£200 new business account offer – Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions explain how this offer works, including who can take part, and what you need to do to receive the payment.

In these terms and conditions “we”, “us” or “our” means Bank of Scotland plc.

1. About this offer

This offer is available to new business customers who apply online for a Business, Charity or Community Account between 2 March 2026 and 31 March 2026, subject to the eligibility requirements below.

This offer is also available to customers who switch an existing current account held with another bank to us, using the Current Account Switching Service (CASS), once their new account with us is open.

The Business, Charity or Community Account, and any transactions made on the account, will be subject to the terms and conditions for the account. Fees and charges may apply.

2. Who can take part

You can take part, if all the following apply:

• You submit an online application for a new Business, Charity or Community Account with us between 2 March 2026 and 31 March 2026. Saved or incomplete applications won’t be eligible.
• We complete all our standard checks on your Business, Charity or Community Account application, and we open it (see below for what we mean by this) by 15 April 2026.
• You do not already hold a Business, Charity or Community Account with us or Lloyds Bank plc.

3. What do we mean by ‘open’?

Your Business, Charity or Community Account is opened on the date we send you your sort code and account number.  This will be after you applied online.

4. What you need to do to receive the £200

You’ll qualify for the £200 payment if, within two calendar months of when we open your Business, Charity or Community Account, you:

• Spend at least £100 using your Visa debit card on eligible purchases.
• Set up two direct debits from your new account.

Make sure there’s enough money in your account, or that you have an authorised overdraft in place (if available on your account) before you spend on your debit card or your direct debits are taken. If you don’t, your account may go into an unauthorised overdraft, and you may be charged fees and interest as set out in your account terms and conditions.

Eligible debit card spending

Debit card spending means purchases of goods or services using your Visa debit card.

Excluded transactions

The following do not count towards the £100 spend requirement:

• Cash withdrawals
• Bank transfers made with or without your debit card
• Debt repayments
• Direct debits and standing orders
• Transactions classified as gambling
• Financial services transactions (money transmission orders, purchases of foreign currency or travellers’ cheques and purchases of financial services such as insurance or investments.)
• Cryptocurrency transactions
• Refunds and chargebacks
• Bank charges, fees, interest, and any other non-purchase transactions
• Fraudulent transactions

Direct Debits

Direct debits must be set up with the organisations you’re paying.

If you’re switching to us using the Current Account Switch Service (CASS), any active direct debits moved to your new account as part of the switch will count towards the requirement to set up two direct debits from your account.

5. When we’ll pay you

If you meet the eligibility requirements above, we’ll pay £200 into your new Business, Charity or Community Account during the week starting 6 July 2026.  We’ll email you before we make the payment to let you know when to expect it.

Your Business, Charity or Community Account must be open and able to receive payments at the time we try to make the payment.

We can’t pay the £200 into any other account or by cash or cheque.

The £200 payment is made gross, and you’re responsible for paying any tax due on the payment you receive.

We won’t contact you if your Business, Charity or Community Account doesn’t meet the offer requirements.

6. Other important information

• Only one £200 payment is available per customer. If you open more than one account with us, including accounts with Lloyds Bank or Bank of Scotland, we’ll only check the first account you open to see if it meets the offer requirements.
• Only Business, Charity or Community Accounts are eligible for this offer. All other account types are not eligible.
• Existing customers already holding a Business, Charity or Community Account are not eligible for this offer.

·       This offer isn’t transferable, and we may change, pause or withdraw it at any time. If you’ve already opened your Business, Charity or Community Account when we make a change, or pause or withdraw the offer, it won’t affect you, as long as you meet the offer requirements.

• We won’t cover any fees or interest you incur if your account goes into an unauthorised overdraft as a result of making payments using your Visa debit card or direct debits.
• The £200 payment cannot be exchanged for any other benefits.
• Our decision on eligibility and payment is final.