ComparisonLast checked 8 November 2026

Incard vs Metro Bank: which suits your business?

Incard is an e-money account that pays uncapped cashback on eligible card spend on a £0 plan, with team cards and GBP, EUR and USD IBANs. 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.

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Incard suits you if

You spend thousands a month on cards, especially on advertising, software or travel
You want a £0 plan, which Metro Bank doesn't list
You want card cashback, which Metro Bank doesn't list
You want cards for your team, which Metro Bank doesn't list
You're comfortable with safeguarding instead of FSCS cover

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

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.

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

£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.

Why we pick Incard over Metro Bank for card spend

Card cashback: Incard: Free: 1% on ads, software and travel, 0.5% on other eligible spend. Higher on Grow and Plus. Uncapped. Metro Bank: Not listed.
Currencies you can hold: Incard: GBP, EUR and USD, with IBANs. Metro Bank: GBP; separate Foreign Currency Accounts in 14 currencies, including EUR and USD.
Card payments in other currencies: Incard: 1.8% on Free, 1.5% on Grow and Plus. Metro Bank: Free in listed European countries; 2.99% elsewhere.

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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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.
	Incard	Metro Bank
Type and protection	E-money · safeguarded, no FSCS	Bank · FSCS cover
Who can open one	UK sole traders, UK limited companies, LLPs, Swiss GmbHs and AGs and Swiss sole traders	UK sole traders, UK limited companies and LLPs
Cheapest plan	Free: £0 a month	£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
Plans (monthly)	Free £0, Grow £49, Plus from £199	Business Bank Account: £8 a month, £0 with a £6,000 daily balance
Card cashback	Free: 1% on ads, software and travel, 0.5% on other eligible spend. Higher on Grow and Plus. Uncapped	Not listed
Card payments in other currencies	1.8% on Free, 1.5% on Grow and Plus	Free in listed European countries; 2.99% elsewhere
Domestic transfers	100 included on Free, 250 on Grow, then £0.30 each	£0.30 each; 30 free a month with a £6,000 balance
International transfers	3 included on Grow; otherwise from £5 (SHA) or £20 (OUR)	SWIFT £25, SEPA £0.20
ATM withdrawals	2% in the UK, 2.5% abroad	£0.30 per withdrawal; abroad free in listed European countries, otherwise 2.99% plus £1.50
Cash deposits	Not listed	1% in store; Post Office services on request
Currencies you can hold	GBP, EUR and USD, with IBANs	GBP; separate Foreign Currency Accounts in 14 currencies, including EUR and USD
Accepting card payments	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 Incard lists card cashback, cards for your team, accounts for Swiss GmbHs and AGs and accounts for Swiss sole traders.
Only Metro Bank lists cash deposits and invoicing.

What each one is, and who can open one

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.

Metro Bank

Metro Bank PLC, authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and PRA (registered in England and Wales, company number 6419578). Eligible deposits with Metro Bank PLC are protected up to a total of £120,000 by the FSCS.

Who can open one: Sole traders, limited companies, companies limited by guarantee and LLPs with turnover or balance sheet total up to £2 million, owned by individuals rather than a parent company. Everyone involved must be 18 or over. Sole traders must live in the UK; otherwise at least half of the signatories, directors and beneficial owners must. Full Metro Bank 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

Our pick for card spend

Open an Incard account

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E-money · safeguarded, no FSCS

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