2009/4/29 Stony Grunow <[address removed]>:

> Hello All

>

> I'm setting up a business bank account for my company, and I haven't heard

> great things about banks and their treatment (or lack of) business account

> customers.

>

> Do people have any suggestions? Also, should my choice be between companies

> (i.e. HSBC vs. Abbey) or based on other factors, like number of branches, or

> proximity to my house / office, or does it just come down to getting a good

> bank manager and hoping he doesn't move branches / jobs?

Only just created an account myself, and I went with HSBC. I initially tried

to open an online and in branch account with Barclays. The online account

was supposed to take 7 days to complete, more than 4 weeks and several

phone calls later I have heard nothing. Worse, I have been promised

feedback and they just do not seem to bother to call back even when they

commit to do so. And when I did call to follow up I had to explain the same

problem at length, even to the same person.
In contrast HSBC was a pleasure. I made an appointment with my local

branch, and left with an account number. They confirmed account

creation by

telephone. They give 18 months free business accounts, but I think

Internet transactions continue to be free after that. Ask.
I decided to go with HSBC since they are supposed to be reasonable

to good online, and it also lets me spread my risk ito. where I do my

banking. There is a local branch, the local business account manager seems

fine, and I have been given a recommendation for HSBC, though another

branch.
I decided to try Barclays since they are big and I thought I'd not

have to interact

much with them. Also having a personal account with them was supposed

to simplify

the requirements for the business account (the primary reason).
> If this makes a difference, bank loans are not going to be needed in the

> near future (though an overdraft never hurts), and our weekly transactions

> are expected to be low, as we are an IT consulting company.
-R