ComparisonLast checked 8 November 2026

HSBC vs Santander

A high-street business current account with no monthly fee, free UK digital banking, branch and Post Office access, and borrowing up to £100,000. Business Current Account – Classic, a high-street account for UK businesses with up to two directors, owners or partners, with free UK electronic payments and a £9.99 monthly fee. We also show Incard, our pick for businesses whose main costs go on cards.

By the editorial team. How we make money.

Where Incard beats both

You spend thousands a month on cards, especially on advertising, software or travel
You want card cashback, which HSBC or Santander don't list
You want a euro account, which HSBC or Santander don't list
You want a US dollar account, which HSBC or Santander 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

Apply for Incard on incard.co

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What a year of card spending earns you

Incard Free against HSBC's cheapest plan, at your monthly spend on ads, software and travel.

Monthly card spend on ads, software and travel£5,000

£600 a year better off with Incard

Incard Free: £600 cashback, £0 fees
HSBC'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. HSBC's cheapest plan: £0 a month.

HSBC suits you if

You want branch and Post Office access for cash and cheques
You may need to borrow up to £100,000
You want a free high-street bank account with FSCS cover

Santander suits you if

Your business has no more than two directors, owners or partners
You pay in up to £1,000 in cash a month at Santander cash machines
You send SEPA euro payments, which are free
You're a start-up or switcher who can use 12 months free

At a glance

**Table notes:** correct as of 8 November 2026, from each provider's own pages listed under Sources. “Not listed” means the provider's pages we checked don't say.
	HSBC	Santander	Incard
Type and protection	Bank · FSCS cover	Bank · FSCS cover	E-money · safeguarded, no FSCS
Who can open one	UK sole traders, UK limited companies and LLPs	UK sole traders, UK limited companies and LLPs	UK sole traders, UK limited companies, LLPs, Swiss GmbHs and AGs and Swiss sole traders
Cheapest plan	£0 a month	Free for 12 months for start-ups and switchers, then £9.99 a month	Free: £0 a month
Plans (monthly)	One account, £0 a month	Business Current Account – Classic: £9.99 a month	Free £0, Grow £49, Plus from £199
Card cashback	Not listed	Not listed for the debit card; 1% on the separate Business Cashback Credit Card, which has an annual fee	Free: 1% on ads, software and travel, 0.5% on other eligible spend. Higher on Grow and Plus. Uncapped
Card payments in other currencies	2.75% of the converted amount	2.95% foreign currency conversion fee	1.8% on Free, 1.5% on Grow and Plus
Domestic transfers	Standard UK digital transfers free	Free	100 included on Free, 250 on Grow, then £0.30 each
International transfers	Not part of free digital banking; see the Business Price List	£25; SEPA payments free	3 included on Grow; otherwise from £5 (SHA) or £20 (OUR)
ATM withdrawals	25p plus 0.6% (free from 14 December 2026)	Free at Santander and LINK cash machines in the UK	2% in the UK, 2.5% abroad
Cash deposits	Branch or Post Office: 1.5% of the value, plus £1.50 per counter visit	First £1,000 a month free at Santander cash machines, then £1.25 per £100	Not listed
Currencies you can hold	International Business Account at £96 a year each	GBP; no currency account listed on the account pages	GBP, EUR and USD, with IBANs
Accepting card payments	Not listed	Through Santander's partner Worldpay; pricing not listed	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 Santander lists card payments from customers.
Only Incard lists card cashback, a euro account, a US dollar account, accounts for Swiss GmbHs and AGs and accounts for Swiss sole traders.

What each one is, and who can open one

HSBC

A business current account from HSBC UK, a high-street bank. Eligible deposits with a UK bank fall under the FSCS limit of £120,000 per eligible depositor, per bank. Use the FSCS checker to confirm.

Who can open one: Startups, small businesses and switchers that are UK tax resident, and HSBC says it suits all legal entities. Businesses that need to borrow over £100,000 are pointed to the Business Banking Account (£10 a month after 12 months free for start-ups and switchers). Subject to eligibility and a credit check. Full HSBC profile.

Santander

Santander UK plc, authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and PRA (Financial Services Register number 106054). Eligible deposits are protected up to £120,000 per depositor by the FSCS. Deposits with Santander, cahoot, Santander Business and Santander Corporate & Commercial are added together, and sole trader balances are added to the owner's personal balances.

Who can open one: Sole traders, partnerships, LLPs and private limited companies registered in the UK, with no more than two directors, owners (shareholders) or partners, each 18 or over and living in the UK. Payment institutions, e-money institutions and payment initiation or account information providers aren't accepted. Full Santander 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