Free/Chapest Buisiness Banking?

Enigmaman

My two year initial free business banking with Natwest is due to end shortly.

The only switching option I can find to continue to get free banking is HSBC, which offers six months free. I am not sure f this is worth the hassle and it is possible their charges could be higher than Natwest's when the six months banking is up.

I am going to pop into the branch today to discuss it with them, but does anyone know of any better alternatives? [Yorkshire/Clydesdale is ruled out because the nearest branch is on London, 70 miles away, and I cannot pay in cheques by post].

Zanderman

Yorkshire/Clydesdale's 25 months free for new or switched business accounts is by far the best offer (I think it's still on offer) at present.

And I think (would need checking) that you can pay in cheques to YB/CB at the Post Office.

Edited to add - Yes the YB/CB 25 months free offer is still live.

And yes you can pay-in cheques to a YB/CB Busines Account at a Post Office - see the PO page here: http://www.postoffice.co.uk/banking-services#clydesdale where it says

Clydesdale services available at Post Office® branches

....
Business banking services

Cash withdrawal: Yes - with card and PIN
Balance enquiry: Yes - with card and PIN
Payments in: Yes – with card or with personalised paying in slip from Clydesdale Bank
Cheque deposit: Yes - with personalised paying in slip and deposit envelope from Clydesdale Bank
Change Giving Service: Yes

....

Another edit, for balance! Best to be aware that despite the YB/CB offer being the best around at the mo, they do take an age to process things - took us 4 months just to get an account open, and the switch still hasn't happened (is due this month). And they do everything with poorly photocopied forms that ask for the same info over and over... So you'll need some patience if you go for this deal!

Enigmaman

Thanks - although I was just told by their call centre that I could NOT use the Post Office.

I will ring back to check in case the particular member of staff was misinformed.

Zanderman

Well, I hope my info is correct then!

It is from the PO's website and seems quite definite. Here's a link to the same info relating to Yorkshire Bank - http://www.postoffice.co.uk/banking-services#yorkshirebank - exactly the same wording as the page for the Clydesdale.

It does say you need a deposit envelope - and I don't know, yet, how easy it is to get those. Our new YB Business account hasn't even been used yet.

Zanderman

And here's some info from YB and CB http://www.ybonline.co.uk/media/news-releases/2014/post-office-services-expand-for-clydesdale-and-yorkshire-banks-customers

Enigmaman

I have just rung them again.

Apparently the free banking via the PO does not apply to the 25 months free banking offer, but as nearly all my transactions are online and I only rarely pay cheques in or out (and at only 41p each) this could still prove a good deal.