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Published 25 January 2024
Reading Time
7 minutes

Bank of Scotland Business Account Review: Pros, Cons & Features

Read our review of Bank of Scotland’s business account, including pros, cons and key features.

Many or all of the products and brands we promote and feature including our ‘Partner Spotlights’ are from our partners who compensate us. However, this does not influence our editorial opinion found in articles, reviews and our ‘Best’ tables. Our opinion is our own. Read more on our methodology here.

Bank of Scotland is the oldest bank in Scotland, providing banking services to customers for over 300 years. Since 2009, it has been part of the Lloyds Banking Group, which also includes providers such as Lloyds Bank and Halifax.

Bank of Scotland offers a range of current accounts for businesses – from start ups and larger businesses to professional practices and charities – that come with access to a selection of services, including accounting software and lending facilities.

Bank of Scotland Small Business Bank Account

Bank of Scotland Small Business Bank Account
  • Monthly Fee
    Free for 12 months
  • UK Card Purchase Fees
    Free
  • UK Bank Transfer Fees
    Free
  • Offer
    12 months’ free day-to-day business banking for new businesses
Learn More

This product may be one of a range offered by this provider. Always check terms & conditions for suitability before applying.

Eligibility Criteria
  • Must be a sole trader, partner or company director and be aged 18 or over
  • Must have an annual turnover of less than £25m
  • Must not already have a Bank of Scotland business account for this business
  • A Guarantee may be required for Limited Companies and Limited Liability Partnerships

Learn more about how we bring you our review.

Key features

  • FSCS protection
    Eligible deposits up to £85,000 are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
  • 24/7 support
    Contact the Bank of Scotland team and get support any time via the app or X (formerly Twitter).
  • Lending facilities
    Bank of Scotland offers a range of business borrowing options, including overdrafts and credit cards.
  • Accounting software
    Bank of Scotland offers three months’ free accounting software to business account holders.

Bank of Scotland business account pros & cons

Pros

  • There is an introductory period of 12 months with no monthly or transaction fees for certain transactions for new customers.
  • The account can be managed via the mobile app, online via business internet banking or over the phone.
  • Eligible deposits up to £85,000 are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
  • The account comes with access to a UK-based business management team.
  • Customers in Scotland can access support at a branch.
  • There is 24/7 customer support via X (formerly Twitter).

Cons

  • There is a monthly fee after the introductory fee-free period.
  • With few branches outside Scotland, Bank of Scotland may not be best suited to those who don’t reside there , though you don’t have to be based in Scotland to apply.

The pros and cons featured here are chosen by us based on a combination of our expert, research-based opinions and an exclusive survey of UK business owners and decision makers. The survey was conducted on behalf of NerdWallet UK in December 2022 to identify the business bank account features that people feel are most important. They are unlikely to be the only product features and restrictions that you should consider. Pros and cons are subjective and you should align them to your own personal and business circumstances. Information was correct at the time of publication but may have changed since. 

Bank of Scotland business account full review

Bank of Scotland was founded in 1695 and has been at the vanguard of banking several times since. It claims to have been the first bank in Europe to issue paper currency, as well as  the first bank in the UK to start using computers to process transactions, in 1959. 

Today, the Bank of Scotland offers current accounts for small businesses and start ups, as well as larger businesses. It also offers specialist accounts for schools, community groups and professional practitioners. 

Across all these accounts, customers can get access to Bank of Scotland’s free accounting software for three months. After this trial, the software is charged at £5 per month. 

Start up and small business account

Bank of Scotland’s start up account is for both start ups and small businesses with an annual turnover of under £3 million. 

There is no monthly fee or transaction charges for everyday banking (including electronic payments, deposits and withdrawals) with its 12-month introductory offer. At the end of this period, there is a £7 monthly maintenance fee, and certain transactions are subject to charges, such as cash and cheque deposits. 

Larger business account

Bank of Scotland’s business account is for larger businesses with an annual turnover of between £3 million and £25 million.

This account has two tariffs: Business Extra and Electronic Business. Business Extra is £15 per month and charges 37p per electronic transaction. Electronic Business is £20 per month, but electronic transactions are entirely free.

Community account

The community account from Bank of Scotland offers separate options for schools, credit unions and treasurers. 

Each offers free day-to-day banking and no monthly fee for eligible applicants, but charges may apply for certain transactions, such as CHAPS and international payments.

Bank of Scotland business account features: at a glance

Monthly fee£7 (small business account, for businesses with an annual turnover less than £3 million)
£15 (Business Extra)
£20 (Electronic Business)
Transaction feesYes (for certain transactions, depending on tariff)
Account managementVia mobile app
Online via Business Internet Banking
At a branch (primarily in Scotland)
Over the phone
FSCS protectionYes
Set-up time3 days on average
Cash depositsYes
Cheque depositsYes
Access to other banking servicesYes
International paymentsYes (fees apply)
Customer service24/7 support via X (formerly Twitter)
Via virtual assistant
In app
At a branch (primarily in Scotland)
Via phone: 0345 300 0268
Monday to Friday, 7am to 8pm, and Saturday, 9am to 2pm, except on UK bank holidays
Multiple user accessYes
Create and send invoicesYes (via the Business Finance Assistant, which is £5 per month after the three-month trial period)
Integration with accounting software toolsYes

Where Bank of Scotland business account stands out

Customer support: You can contact Bank of Scotland via the app, online, over the phone and at a branch (if based in Scotland). There is also 24/7 support via the app or social media.

Introductory offers: New customers can get 12 months with no fees and free everyday banking, as well as three months’ free trial of Bank of Scotland’s inbuilt accounting software.

Account access: You can manage your account over the phone, online, in-app or, if you’re based in Scotland, in a branch.

Where Bank of Scotland business account falls short

Limited branch access: If you’re based outside Scotland, it’s likely you won’t have access to a Bank of Scotland branch. 

Customer reviews: Bank of Scotland has a ‘bad’ rating on Trustpilot, though this is based on a relatively small number of reviews and is for the bank itself rather than its business offering alone.

Monthly fees: The start up account has the lowest monthly fee of Bank of Scotland’s business accounts (excluding the community account). However, the fee is still £7 per month after the free period, so higher than the numerous free business bank accounts available on the market. 

Bank of Scotland business account customer reviews

Bank of Scotland has a ‘bad’ rating of 1.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot, based on 641 reviews. However, these reviews are for Bank of Scotland’s services in general and are not specific to its business banking.

The Bank of Scotland mobile app has a rating of:

  • 3.9 out of 5, based on over 400 reviews on the app store
  • 3.5 out of 5, based on over 630 reviews on Google Play

This information is correct as of 17 January 2024.

Bank of Scotland business account eligibility 

To be eligible to open a start up or small business current account with Bank of Scotland, you must:

  • be a sole trader, partner or director of a limited company
  • be at least 18 years old
  • have an estimated annual turnover of under £3 million
  • not have an existing account with Bank of Scotland for this business

Other accounts offered by Bank of Scotland, such as accounts for larger businesses or charities, may have different eligibility criteria. You can look at the Bank of Scotland website or contact the bank directly for more details. 

How to apply for a Bank of Scotland business account

To apply for a Bank of Scotland business account, you need to:

  • choose which account you’d like to apply for
  • gather the information you’ll need (such as your business and personal details)
  • apply online, by phone or at a branch (if you’re based in Scotland)
  • wait to hear whether your application has been approved 

Review methodology

At NerdWallet UK, we base our reviews and our ‘Best’ pages on the results of surveys we undertook about what was important to people who use these products. This allows us to look at products impartially of any commercial arrangements we have and fairly rate the products on the same set of criteria.

Best means our ‘Best’ and is based only on what products we have aligned to our surveys, which form the basis of our reviews and ratings. This means that there will be other products on the market that we have not included in our ‘Best’ pages. Best does not mean it’s best for you, nor does it mean the ‘cheapest’.

Our reviews may display lenders’ rates. This additional information has not been included in our evaluations but is still very important when choosing a product. Rates offered can depend on circumstances, amount and term. Always check details before proceeding with any financial product.

Product details reflect the information that was available at that time but may have changed since. We strive to give you a review on as many products as possible, but there will be products not included on the market. The review is our opinion, but it does not constitute advice, recommendation or suitability for your financial circumstances.

You can view our full review methodology here.

    Services offered by this provider may change over time. Always check Ts&Cs.

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