If you have a poor credit rating it does not help as some banks will just say no. In my experience I would stir clear of both Santander and Barclays as they are notoriously bad. Apart from the posts above I have never heard a good word said about them.
I would try with NatWest as you get 2 years free banking and the online banking capabilities are good. Stay clear of the Smarta Business Builder that they will try and flog you as it is a good deal but contains lots of stuff you neither need or will use.
Lloyds TSB and Cooperative Bank are amongst the best.
Barclays is the worst. Natwest are pretty awful too. HSBC are also bad.
Its normal a mix between a post code lottery and depending on your status. Some will praise their bank - others will find out that their local based experience isn't good.
Check reviews on here...
http://www.reviewcentre.com/products294.html but beware most reviews are written by those upset and in spite (i.e. a review to complain - rather than someone who would have reviewed anyway).
Not dealt with Co-op - or HSBC as a business (they are my personal bank - I dont recommend).
Lloyds TSB were the most accommodating and professional I have experienced. They offer good business insurance too (a broker) and they require you to have liability insurance to have a bank account - or so I was told (might be to sell insurance - which is really reasonable). When at the first meeting they told me my account number and sort code right there.
Natwest were middle of the road. I chased up my new account for months. Now is all fine - not an apology is sight for the inconvenience though.
Barclays are the worst bank I have ever had the displeasure of dealing with. I called their 0800 number on their website and got an appointment in almost 3 weeks time. Got there and was told the bank manager was on training - and was quite condescending that I should have went in branch rather than phone the official number on their website. They wouldn't let me book an appointment there and then so I had to come back the next day to arrange one.
I really wish I didn't bother (I went with barclays because of geographical reasons in regards to my business location). 2 months later my accounts weren't fully set up... not a word from barclaycard either. I cancelled my account immediately as was dragging on. A week later I was advised that my credit score has taken a knock because Barclays were refusing me a credit card - why it took over 2 months to make a decision i do not know - I am sure it will not make any difference as I would have had to cancel it anyway.
In the time of chasing up the account - I could never get hold of my personal contact/bank manager, the local 0845 number goes to India, and on many occasions they weren't even aware the branch even existed. I left numerous written messages with other staff members at the branch and when I got through to call centre on phone left a verbal message for me to be called back. Never ever got my call returned. No voicemail either.
I also had direct debits setup on the account that I didnt want or know about. This stuck the account to a negative balance and activated the overdraft. Funny thing is when I closed the account they said they would write off the negative balance to close the account and will stick a complaint on file... YES, no complaint policy and not in my words either. However, it was the third opportunity of wanting to close the account that I got accepted. The first two times they refused to on the basis that my contact weren't in to do this (no reason why someone else couldnt do this?) and the third was when I got an appointment to do this.
The most worrying thing with the banks is...
Lloyds TSB let me setup a business bank account without receiving any information on the charges and terms and no copy of any documents signed - although was of little paperwork involved. Terms to be sent later.
Natwest involved the biggest stack of paperwork ever... I didn't get copies of such to keep - not even in part. I did get some minor literature to take away.
Barclays apparently don't have a start up "free" bank account as advertised but have 5 different options to choose from depending on what they think your business will best fit in. Although not requesting a credit card... I was pretty much forced to apply for one in order to open the account - never received one. They force different "premium" options on you that you decline - later to find out they have setup a direct debit for it anyway. You are given copies of approx 10% of paperwork to take with you with a welcome pack.
Banks are really a law to their own. Barclays and Natwest both claimed an account can be setup in 48 hours and that debit cards etc. will take a little longer to arrive. Natwest took 2 weeks (no bank holidays) to setup the account and took 2 weeks from that for all cards etc. to come through.
What was interesting is Lloyds TSB was merely a business current account but both Barclays and Natwest setup an addition savings account - that 1) I didn't ask for, 2) wasn't told about and 3) didn't sign up for.
