One of the UK’s ‘Big Four’, Lloyds Bank is a banking institution with a 250+ year history. Lloyds Bank offers business bank accounts and services for small, medium, and large corporate businesses, including savings, overdrafts, loans, and debit and credit cards.
Lloyds Bank Business Banking Services
Current account
Lloyds offers two types of business bank accounts which are a small business and start-up account for those with a turnover below £3 million, and an account for larger businesses with a turnover above £3 million. You can manage your bank account 24/7 online and on the Lloyds app. Accounts cost £7 a month for smaller businesses including free electronic payments and £15-£20 for larger businesses on the Business Extra Tariff or Electronic Business Tariff. Charges apply to other services, including cash withdrawal, and paying in cheques.
Savings account
There are easy access, notice, and fixed-term savings accounts available. Customers can save cash for up to 3 years with the fixed account, and notice account holders can withdraw with 32 or 95 days’ notice. Interest rates vary depending on account type and amount invested, calculated daily and paid monthly.
Overdrafts
The Lloyds business overdraft with a limit of £500-5,000 has a fee of £12 per month. Interest is charged at 11.52% per year over the Bank of England Rate on overdrafts up to £25,000, there’s also an annual fee of 1.99% (minimum fee of £120). Overdrafts over £25,001 are also available with rates and fees discussed on application. You will only pay interest on the amount you use.
Business finance and loans
A Lloyds Business credit card has an annual fee of £32, and you’ll get up to 45 days interest-free on purchases if you clear your balance in full and on time. There are also three business loans to choose from, ranging from borrowing limits of £1,000-10,000,000. Repayments are over a period of 1-25 years.
More on Lloyds Bank Business Loans & Finance
Insurance
Insurance is provided by Gallagher Insurance Brokers Limited. Lloyds insurance products include Public Liability Insurance, Professional Indemnity Insurance, and Landlord Insurance, as well as cover for specific business types and sole traders.
Reviews and ratings
Reviews on Trustpilot, Smart Money People, and Reviews.co.uk are mainly critical, with a few 5-stars from happier customers. Customers say they’ve had issues with slow applications, customer service, and poor service in-branch. Other customers are very complimentary and have found account management to be simple and easy.
Lloyds ranked 7th in a list of the 14 largest business current account providers for overall service quality in an independent survey.
In the same list of 14 business current account providers, Lloyds ranked 3rd for service in-branch, 5th for online and mobile banking services and 7th for relationship/account management, and 9th for SME and overdraft services.
Which? rates Lloyds 4/5 for online banking and mobile app, and 3/5 for customer service, communication, transparency of charges, complaint handling, service in branch and telephone banking.
Lloyds won Moneyfacts Business Startup Bank of the Year in 2015.
Trustpilot 1.8/5 (based on 2,212 reviews)
Reviews.co.uk 2.76/5 (based on 838 reviews)
Smart Money People 2.44/5 (based on 105 reviews)
Which? 69% Which? Customer Score
Pros
- Free ‘day-to-day’ banking for new businesses for 12 months.
- Choice of accounts for different business sizes.
- Affordable monthly account fee.
- Scores well in an independent survey of 14 business current account providers.
Cons
- Some customers are critical of Lloyds customer service.
- Average scores from Which? for complaint handling and customer service.
- The app isn’t as compatible with newer devices and screen resolutions.
Website: Lloyds Bank Business Banking