ComparisonLast checked 8 November 2026
ANNA vs NatWest
A business account with built-in admin, invoicing and tax tools, and a pay-as-you-go plan with no monthly fee. A high-street business current account with no monthly fee on the Standard Tariff, a charge per transaction, and 2 years' free everyday banking for eligible start-ups and switchers. We also show Incard, our pick for businesses whose main costs go on cards.
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Where Incard beats both
- You spend thousands a month on cards, especially on advertising, software or travel
- You want card cashback, which ANNA or NatWest don't list
- You want a euro account, which ANNA or NatWest don't list
- You want a US dollar account, which ANNA or NatWest don't list
- You're comfortable with safeguarding instead of FSCS cover
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
We may earn a commission if you apply.
What a year of card spending earns you
Incard Free against ANNA's cheapest plan, at your monthly spend on ads, software and travel.
£600 a year better off with Incard
- Incard Free: £600 cashback, £0 fees
- ANNA's cheapest plan: no cashback, £0 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. ANNA's cheapest plan: Free: £0 a month, pay for what you use.
Quick verdict
ANNA suits you if
- You want invoicing and tax admin built into the account
- You'd rather pay as you go, with no monthly fee
- You take in less than £1,000 a month, the free allowance on Free
NatWest suits you if
- You're a start-up or switcher who can use 2 years' free everyday banking
- You make few transactions and want no monthly fee
- You pay in cash at a branch or the Post Office
- You want FreeAgent accounting software included with the account
At a glance
| ANNA | NatWest | Incard | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type and protection | E-money · safeguarded, no FSCS | Bank · FSCS cover | E-money · safeguarded, no FSCS |
| Who can open one | UK sole traders and UK limited companies | UK sole traders and UK limited companies | UK sole traders, UK limited companies, LLPs, Swiss GmbHs and AGs and Swiss sole traders |
| Cheapest plan | Free: £0 a month, pay for what you use | No monthly fee; 2 years' free everyday banking for start-ups (turnover up to £1 million) and full switchers (turnover up to £2 million) | Free: £0 a month |
| Plans (monthly) | Free £0, Grow £12.90, Business £22.90, Big Business £59.90, plus VAT | Standard Tariff: no monthly fee, pay per transaction | Free £0, Grow £49, Plus from £199 |
| Card cashback | Not listed | Not listed | Free: 1% on ads, software and travel, 0.5% on other eligible spend. Higher on Grow and Plus. Uncapped |
| Card payments in other currencies | Not listed | 2.75% non-sterling transaction fee | 1.8% on Free, 1.5% on Grow and Plus |
| Domestic transfers | Unlimited on Free; 15 then 27p on Grow; 60 then 20p on Business | £0.35 per Faster Payment | 100 included on Free, 250 on Grow, then £0.30 each |
| International transfers | SWIFT £5 on Grow; 1% currency conversion | £15 in Online and Mobile Banking; receiving costs £7 | 3 included on Grow; otherwise from £5 (SHA) or £20 (OUR) |
| ATM withdrawals | Free on Free and Big Business; 1.5% (minimum £1) on Grow | £0.35 per UK withdrawal; 2.75% in a foreign currency | 2% in the UK, 2.5% abroad |
| Cash deposits | Not listed | £0.95 per £100, plus £0.95 per counter or machine transaction | Not listed |
| Currencies you can hold | Not listed | GBP; a separate Business Currency Current Account in a range of currencies | GBP, EUR and USD, with IBANs |
| Accepting card payments | Not listed | Through Tyl by NatWest, priced on your annual card turnover | Not listed |
Where they differ
Based on what each provider lists on its own pages. If a feature isn't listed, check with the provider before you rule it out.
- Only ANNA lists invoicing.
- Only NatWest lists cash deposits and card payments from customers.
- Only Incard lists card cashback, a euro account, a US dollar account, cards for your team, accounts for LLPs, accounts for Swiss GmbHs and AGs and accounts for Swiss sole traders.
What each one is, and who can open one
ANNA
ANNA says it is not a bank. The ANNA account and Mastercard are issued by PayrNet Ltd, an FCA-authorised e-money institution (FRN 900594). Funds in the main ANNA account are safeguarded and not protected by the FSCS. ANNA savings accounts are provided by Griffin Bank and are FSCS-protected.
Who can open one: UK limited companies and sole traders. Full ANNA profile.
NatWest
National Westminster Bank Plc, authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and PRA (Firm Reference Number 121878). Eligible deposits are protected up to £120,000 per depositor by the FSCS. Deposits with NatWest, NatWest Premier, Ulster Bank, NatWest Boxed and Mettle are added together for that limit.
Who can open one: Business owners and directors aged 18 or over, with at least one UK resident on the application. The business must be registered for UK income or corporation tax, and applicants can't have been declared bankrupt or have a County Court Judgement or Court Decree. Businesses with turnover over £2 million must show evidence of it. Full NatWest profile.
Incard
Incard Ltd is authorised by the FCA as an electronic money institution (firm reference number 1027309). It is not a bank. Safeguarded: Incard keeps customer funds separate from its own money, in accounts with authorised credit institutions, and doesn't lend or invest them. Funds are not protected by the FSCS.
Who can open one: UK limited companies and LLPs, UK sole traders and freelancers registered with their local authority, and Swiss GmbH, AG and sole-trader businesses. EEA onboarding is paused until an expected restart in 2027. Public sector bodies, cooperatives, charities, foundations and trusts aren't accepted, and a long list of industries is restricted. Full Incard profile.
Our e-money vs bank account guide explains what safeguarding and FSCS cover mean if a provider fails.
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
Incard: 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.
Work out your cashbackCheck eligibility
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
More: ANNA alternatives, NatWest alternatives, all comparisons.
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 16 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)
- ANNA pricing
- ANNA homepage (regulatory information in footer)
- 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
- FCA Financial Services Register