Start-up Business Current Account

Everyday banking for your business

Business Current Account

What you can get

  • Free everyday banking for start-ups for 18 months (£7.50 standard monthly fee)
  • Access online, at Santander ATMs and Post Office branches

Eligibility

  • Your business is registered in the UK
  • You're either a sole trader or your business is a partnership, limited liability partnership, private limited company or trust

Arranged overdraft
(Subject to status)

10.00% EAR (variable)

Annual fee 1% of the agreed overdraft (minimum fee £50)

 

Use our quick and easy application checklist (178 KB) to make sure you have all the required information before you apply.  

This offer works for you if:

  • your business is in its first year of trading, and
  • this is your business’ first business current account with us.

There's no monthly account fee for the first 18 months, at the end of the 18 month period you’ll pay £7.50 per month.

 

Switch Guarantee Small

 


Switch to us in 7 days

You can switch your business current account with any provider to us. You will receive a new account number, card and PIN

For more information take a look at our switching support page

 

Account fees and charges

Business Current Account

Business Current Account start-up offer

Monthly fee

£7.50 per month

No charge (for the first 18 months)

At the end of the 18 month period this account will cost £7.50 per month

Cash deposit charges at Santander ATMs and Post Office branch counters

No charge for deposits up to £1,000 per month (then 70p per £100)

No charge and unlimited ATM deposits (reverts to Business Current Account tariff after 18 months)

Charges apply to non-standard transactions such as change-giving, CHAPS payments and foreign currency transactions. Please see the Key Facts Document in ‘Other account information’ for full details. 

Overdraft (there are fees associated with your overdraft)

As part of your current account application, you can apply for a business overdraft from £500 to £25,000 (subject to acceptance) if: 

  • you have a good credit history
  • you haven't been declared bankrupt
  • you haven’t been a disqualified director or a director of a failed business within the last 6 years and
  • neither you, nor any of the directors, owners (shareholders) or partners, have had an Individual Voluntary Arrangement.

Overdraft interest rates and fees

 Interest and charges
Arranged overdraft annual fee1% of agreed overdraft (minimum fee £50)
Arranged overdraft interest rate10.00% EAR (variable)
Unarranged overdraft interest rateNo interest
Unpaid item feeNo fee
Paid item feeNo fee

Overdrafts depend on your circumstances and you must repay any overdraft when we ask. This is line with our General Terms and Conditions.

Everything you need to know before you apply

We recommend reading the information in the documents below before you apply. You may want to save or print them so you can refer to them in the future.

Ways to bank with us

24/7 banking on all your devices. You can set up paper free statements and set up your own account alerts.

  • Online Banking
  • Mobile banking app
  • Face-to-face banking at Post Office branches
  • Telephone Banking
  • Use our ATMs to withdraw cash, make cash and cheque deposits, check your balance and manage your PIN 

Account alerts

We've set you up to receive text alerts when:

  • your balance falls below zero 
  • you have regular payments due on your account for which you have insufficient funds to cover, we will ask you to pay into your account to ensure these payments are made; 
  • where a payment is refused as you don’t have enough funds. 

If we don’t have a valid mobile number for you, we might not be able to reach you. 

You can also register for other account alerts to help you to stay on top of your finances. 

For example:

  • alerts to inform you when your balance has fallen below a set limit
  • you have had a deposit into your account greater than a set amount. For more information visit Account alerts. You can manage your alerts settings at any time with Online Banking, or you can contact us

 

Checklist – what you’ll need to open an account

Providers of UK business bank accounts have agreed to a basic set of information that they'll need from you. Visit the simple business account checklist to find out what you’ll need to prove. This has been created by UK Finance, the UK's leading trade association for financial services. Check to see if you need to provide any extra information while completing our application form. 

Have you got everything you need?

To help you with your application we’ve created a checklist. This shows you all the information you’ll need (45 KB)

Payment Service Providers

If you are, or have applied to become a Payment Service Provider, visit our Payment Service Provider page. This includes the services and how to make contact with a Santander Relationship Director. 

Security

Keep your banking details private and secure.

For useful information to help you stop the threat of fraud visit our Security Centre

Information correct as at 29 February 2024.