GuideLast checked 8 November 2026
Metro Bank alternatives
Metro Bank's Business Bank Account for small businesses with turnover up to £2 million, with no monthly fee in months your balance stays at £6,000 or more, and account opening in store or online. If it doesn't fit, here are 31 accounts that share its market, starting with Incard, our pick for businesses whose main costs go on cards.
By the editorial team. How we make money. Our Metro Bank profile.
Why Incard is our pick instead of Metro Bank
- Incard lists a £0 plan, which Metro Bank's pages don't
- Incard lists card cashback, which Metro Bank's pages don't
- Incard lists cards for your team, which Metro Bank's pages don't
- Card cashback on Incard: Free: 1% on ads, software and travel, 0.5% on other eligible spend. Higher on Grow and Plus. Uncapped. Metro Bank: Not listed
cashback a year on Incard's £0 Free plan from £5,000 a month of eligible ads, software and travel spend. Simple arithmetic, not a forecast.
£600
Apply for Incard on incard.co(opens incard.co in a new tab, affiliate link)
We may earn a commission if you apply.
What a year of card spending earns you
Incard Free against Metro Bank's cheapest plan, at your monthly spend on ads, software and travel.
£696 a year better off with Incard
- Incard Free: £600 cashback, £0 fees
- Metro Bank's cheapest plan: no cashback, £96 fees
Simple arithmetic, not a forecast: 1% on eligible ads, software and travel spend at merchants on Incard's eligible brand list, and each plan's published monthly fee. Other fees, such as FX and ATM charges, aren't included. Metro Bank's cheapest plan: £8 a month, or £0 in any month your balance stays at £6,000 or more; 12 months fee-free for businesses new to Metro Bank, 31 months for full switchers.
The alternatives
| Account | Cheapest plan | Lists, unlike Metro Bank | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
IncardOur pick for card spend | Free: £0 a month | card cashback, cards for your team, Swiss GmbHs and AGs, Swiss sole traders | Compare Incard and Metro Bank |
AirwallexE-money · safeguarded, no FSCS | Explore: £0 if you deposit or hold at least £10,000 a month, otherwise £19 (excluding VAT) | card payments from customers, cards for your team, Swiss GmbHs and AGs | |
Allica BankBank · FSCS cover | £0 a month with an average balance of £10,000 or more; otherwise £25 a month | card cashback, cards for your team | |
AmexCredit card · no deposits held | Business Gold: £195 a year (£0 in the first year) | cards for your team | |
ANNAE-money · safeguarded, no FSCS | Free: £0 a month, pay for what you use | Nothing extra listed | |
Bank of ScotlandBank · FSCS cover | No account fee for 12 months on a business's first account, then £10 a month | card payments from customers | |
BarclaycardCredit card · no deposits held | Select Cashback: £0 a year | card cashback, cards for your team | |
BarclaysBank · FSCS cover | Free for 12 months, then £8.50 a month | Nothing extra listed | |
Capital on TapCredit card · no deposits held | Free: £0 a year | card cashback, cards for your team | |
CountingupBank · FSCS cover | Free for 3 months, then £5 a month while you pay in up to £750 a month | card payments from customers | |
Danske BankBank · FSCS cover | Small Business Digital: free for 2 years for eligible new Northern Ireland businesses, then £9 a month | Nothing extra listed | |
Equals MoneyE-money · safeguarded, no FSCS | Business: £25 a month (£250 a year) | cards for your team | |
HSBCBank · FSCS cover | £0 a month | cards for your team | |
LloydsBank · FSCS cover | Free for 12 months for businesses new to Lloyds, then £10 a month | card payments from customers | |
MettleBank · FSCS cover | No fee for maintaining the account | Nothing extra listed | |
Monzo BusinessBank · FSCS cover | Lite: free | cards for your team | |
NatWestBank · FSCS cover | No monthly fee; 2 years' free everyday banking for start-ups (turnover up to £1 million) and full switchers (turnover up to £2 million) | card payments from customers | |
PayhawkE-money · safeguarded, no FSCS | Growth program: £149 a month | cards for your team | |
PleoE-money · safeguarded, no FSCS | Start: £8 per user a month | cards for your team | |
Revolut BusinessBank · FSCS cover | Basic: £10 a month | card payments from customers, cards for your team | |
RBSBank · FSCS cover | No monthly fee; 2 years of free everyday banking for start-ups (turnover under £1m) and full-switch customers (turnover up to £2m) | Nothing extra listed | |
SantanderBank · FSCS cover | Free for 12 months for start-ups and switchers, then £9.99 a month | card payments from customers | |
SoldoE-money · safeguarded, no FSCS | Standard: £27 a month + VAT | cards for your team | |
StarlingBank · FSCS cover | £0 a month | card payments from customers | |
Co-op BankBank · FSCS cover | £0 a month | card payments from customers | |
TideBank · FSCS cover | Lite: £0 a month | card cashback | |
TSBBank · FSCS cover | Free for 30 months, then £5 a month (not charged if your average balance is £10,000 or more) | card payments from customers | |
Virgin MoneyBank · FSCS cover | 25 months' free day-to-day banking for eligible start-ups and switchers, then £6.50 a month | card cashback, card payments from customers | |
Wise BusinessE-money · safeguarded, no FSCS | No subscription or monthly fee | Nothing extra listed | |
WorldFirstE-money · safeguarded, no FSCS | £0 a month | card cashback, cards for your team | |
Zempler BankBank · FSCS cover | Business Go: £0 a month | card cashback, card payments from customers, cards for your team |
What Metro Bank does well
Before you move, check that you won't lose something you use. Metro Bank suits you if:
- You keep at least £6,000 in the account and want no monthly fee
- You want to open an account face to face in a store
- You're switching and can use 31 months of fee-free banking
- You use your debit card in Europe, where Metro Bank charges no card fee in listed countries
Many businesses keep their existing account and add a second one for card spending. Our switching guide covers both routes.
When Incard isn't the answer
Incard isn't the right account if
- Your business is registered outside the UK and Switzerland. EEA onboarding is paused until an expected restart in 2027
- You're a charity, cooperative, foundation, trust or public body, or work in one of Incard's restricted industries
Our pick for card spendIncard: 1% cashback on ads, software and travel, on a £0 plan
Our pick for UK and Swiss businesses whose main costs go on cards, as long as you don't need bank deposit protection.
E-money · safeguarded, no FSCS
Read Incard vs Metro BankWork out your cashbackCheck eligibility
Apply for Incard on incard.co(opens incard.co in a new tab, affiliate link)
We may earn a commission if you apply.
- a month on the Free plan, with team cards
- £0
- cashback on ads, software and travel; 0.5% on other eligible spend
- 1%
- IBANs in three currencies
- GBP, EUR, USD
Sources
All checked on 8 November 2026. Where a provider's help centre or legal terms differ from its marketing pages, we follow the help centre and terms.
Show all 152 sources
- Incard pricing
- Incard fee schedule: Business Fees – Free
- Incard Rewards Policy
- Incard Help Centre: Is my company eligible?
- Incard Help Centre: Restricted industries
- Incard: Safeguarding
- Incard: Licence (UK)
- Incard fee schedule: Business Fees – Incard Plus
- Incard Help Centre: Onboarding step-by-step guide
- Incard Help Centre: What documents do I need?
- Incard: Referral Program Terms (UK)
- Airwallex UK plans and pricing
- Airwallex Help Centre: Eligibility to open an account
- Airwallex Help Centre: Eligible countries and territories
- FSCS: Check your money is protected
- Allica Bank: Business Rewards Account
- Allica Bank: Business Rewards Account fees, limits and cashback
- Allica Bank: Business Rewards Account key product information (PDF)
- Allica Bank: Who can get a Business Rewards Account?
- Allica Bank: Minimum balance fee
- Allica Bank: Expense cards for team members
- Allica Bank: Cost of additional cards
- Allica Bank: International payment currencies
- American Express: Business cards
- American Express: Business Gold Card
- American Express: Business Platinum Card
- American Express: British Airways Accelerating Business Card
- American Express: Business Gold Card terms and conditions (PDF)
- American Express: Business Platinum Card terms and conditions (PDF)
- American Express: British Airways Accelerating Business summary box (PDF)
- American Express: British Airways Accelerating Business terms and conditions (PDF)
- ANNA pricing
- ANNA homepage (regulatory information in footer)
- Bank of Scotland: Business bank accounts
- Bank of Scotland: Account charges and processing times (PDF)
- Bank of Scotland: Financial Services Compensation Scheme
- Barclaycard: Compare business credit cards
- Barclaycard: Select Cashback business credit card
- Barclaycard: Premium Plus business credit card
- Barclaycard: Select business charge card
- Barclays: Business current account
- Barclays: Business Account tariff (PDF)
- Barclays: Open a new account or switch
- Barclays: Foreign Currency Account
- Capital on Tap: Home page and legal footer
- Capital on Tap: Business credit cards
- Capital on Tap: FAQ
- Countingup: Pricing
- Countingup: Eligibility
- Countingup: How account and transaction fees work
- Countingup: Is my money safe?
- Countingup: Limited company account limits
- Countingup: Sole trader account limits
- Countingup: Depositing cash
- Countingup: Sending or receiving international payments
- Countingup: Card payments with Stripe
- Danske Bank: Business current accounts
- Danske Bank: Small Business Digital
- Danske Bank: Small Business Account
- Danske Bank: Fees and service charges explained, business accounts (PDF)
- Danske Bank: Fees and service charges explained, foreign payments (PDF)
- Equals: Pricing
- Equals: Multi-currency business account
- Equals: Supported currencies
- Equals: Is my money protected by the FSCS?
- Equals: Is there a fee for charities and non-profits?
- Equals: Customer terms and conditions, corporate (UK) (PDF)
- HSBC UK Small Business Banking Account
- HSBC UK: Compare our business bank accounts
- HSBC UK Business Price List (PDF, from 14 December 2026)
- Lloyds: Accounts for businesses
- Lloyds: Account charges and processing times (PDF)
- Mettle by NatWest
- Mettle Fee Information Document
- Monzo Business plans and pricing
- Monzo Business: Team access
- Monzo Business: International payments
- Monzo Help: Making a cash deposit into a Business account
- NatWest: Business bank account
- NatWest: Start-up business bank account
- NatWest: Business Current Account and Foundation Account charges (PDF)
- NatWest: CHAPS and international payments (PDF)
- NatWest: FSCS depositor protection information sheet (PDF)
- NatWest: Business Currency Current Account
- Payhawk: Pricing
- Payhawk: Card fees (GBP)
- Payhawk: Terms
- Payhawk: Legal
- Payhawk: Supported countries
- Pleo: Pricing
- Pleo: Frequently asked questions
- Pleo: Master Service Agreement (UK), 13 July 2026 (PDF)
- Revolut Business plans
- Revolut Business Fees – All Plans (PDF)
- Revolut Business Terms (UK)
- Revolut: Small business accounts (eligibility FAQ)
- Revolut Pro (UK)
- Revolut Help: What is Revolut Pro and is it free?
- Royal Bank of Scotland: Business bank account
- Royal Bank of Scotland: Start-up bank account
- Royal Bank of Scotland: Business Current Account and Foundation Account charges (PDF)
- Royal Bank of Scotland: CHAPS and international payments (PDF)
- Royal Bank of Scotland: FSCS information sheet (PDF)
- Royal Bank of Scotland: Business Currency Current Account
- Santander: Business current accounts
- Santander: Business Current Account – Classic
- Santander: Business Current Account – Classic Key Facts Document (PDF)
- Santander: Business Banking General Terms and Conditions (PDF)
- Soldo: Pricing
- Soldo: GBP fees summary (PDF)
- Soldo: Limits summary (PDF)
- Soldo: Financial services terms and conditions (UK) (PDF)
- Starling business account
- Starling sole trader account
- Starling Business and Sole Trader Account Schedule and Rates, Fees & Charges (PDF, from 27 April 2026)
- The Co-operative Bank: Business Bank Account
- The Co-operative Bank: Compare business bank accounts
- The Co-operative Bank: Business Bank Account tariff (PDF)
- Tide plans and pricing
- Tide: How much will a Tide account cost?
- Tide Help Centre: How to become a Tide member
- Tide Help Centre: Deposit cash into your Tide account
- Tide homepage (regulatory information in footer)
- TSB: Business Plus account
- TSB: Compare business account tariffs
- TSB: Business banking charges guide (PDF)
- Virgin Money: Business Current Account
- Virgin Money: Compare business current accounts
- Virgin Money: Business Banking Tariff Guide (PDF)
- Virgin Money: Online Services Tariff for Business Customers (PDF)
- Virgin Money: International tariff (PDF)
- Virgin Money: Business cashback
- Wise Business pricing (UK)
- Wise Business (UK)
- Wise Help Centre: How Wise Payments Ltd safeguards customer funds
- Wise Help Centre: How is Wise regulated?
- Wise Help Centre: Can my business use Wise?
- WorldFirst: UK pricing
- WorldFirst: World Card
- WorldFirst: World Card FAQs
- WorldFirst: Opening a World Account as a company
- WorldFirst: Opening a World Account as a sole trader
- WorldFirst: Security and safety
- WorldFirst: World Account terms and conditions
- WorldFirst: World Card terms and conditions
- Zempler Bank: Business bank accounts
- Zempler Bank: Business current account features, fees and limits
- Zempler Bank: Business current account eligibility
- Zempler Bank: Cashback
- Zempler Bank: Tap to Pay
- Zempler Bank: Sending an international payment
- Zempler Bank: Regulatory information (site footer)