Metro Bank offers something no digital challenger does: branches open seven days a week and a named Local Business Manager, backed by full FSCS protection. The trade-offs are geographic reach and a balance-linked fee.
Metro Bank’s branches are concentrated in England and Wales. If you’re in Scotland, Northern Ireland, or a rural area, this account won’t serve you in person.
We reviewed pricing, eligibility and product terms from metrobank.co.uk in April 2026.
Metro Bank Business Account at a Glance
Our Verdict
Metro Bank works when you actually use the branch. If you deposit cash after a Saturday market, need a lending conversation you can have face-to-face, or want a manager who already knows your account when you walk in, the seven-day branch model delivers something no app can.
Metro Bank offers 31 months free via CASS switch, the longest introductory period from any UK high-street bank. By month 32 you will know whether you used the branch enough to justify £8 a month, or whether you are paying £96 a year for a relationship you never called on.
Keep £6,000 in the account and it stays free. Drop below and you pay £8/month plus 30p per transaction. For a business making 100 payments a month below the threshold, that’s £29 a month. Not trivial.
The integration gap shows up at month-end: no native QuickBooks or Sage feed, and Xero is a paid add-on. We confirmed pricing and product terms from metrobank.co.uk in April 2026.
Best For
You need a physical branch in England or Wales to get value from Metro Bank: cash deposits, weekend branch access, and a named Local Business Manager are the core offer.
The 31-month fee-free window via CASS gives you nearly three years to find out whether you actually use any of it before you start paying.
Not Ideal For
If your business is outside England and Wales, you lose the only reason to choose Metro Bank over a free digital alternative. Fully digital operators with no cash handling needs will find Starling cheaper at £0/month. Businesses that rely on a native QuickBooks or Sage feed should look elsewhere.
Key Facts
Free for 31 months via CASS; £8/month after (waived with £6,000+ balance). 30 free UK transactions/month above the threshold; 30p each below.
Overdraft up to £60,000 at 15.28% EAR. Cash handling 1% (waived up to £10,000/month during intro period). SWIFT £25. We confirmed these figures from metrobank.co.uk in April 2026.
Deposits are FSCS-protected to £120,000 per eligible depositor; branches open seven days with extended hours; Local Business Manager at every branch. The catch: Xero integration is a paid add-on; no native QuickBooks or Sage feed.
What Is Metro Bank Business Account and How Does It Work?
How the Account Works
You bank in-store, online, or through the app. Every Metro Bank branch has a named Local Business Manager. We confirmed the account structure from metrobank.co.uk in April 2026.
The account covers UK bank transfers, direct debits, standing orders, and a Visa debit card with Apple Pay and Google Pay. Cash deposits at any Metro Bank store. Overdraft up to £60,000 at 15.28% EAR, subject to credit approval, from three working days after opening.
Keep £6,000 in your account and the monthly fee stays at zero with 30 free UK transactions per month after the introductory period ends. Drop below £6,000 and both the monthly fee and per-transaction charges apply.
Who the Account Is Designed For
If you run a retail or hospitality business that banks cash on weekends, Metro Bank’s seven-day branch opening is a structural advantage no digital challenger can match. The account is designed for businesses in England and Wales that want in-person banking as part of their operating model.
A named Local Business Manager handles lending conversations, complex account queries, and cash handling arrangements in person. When your accountant flags a cash-flow issue on a Tuesday morning, you can walk in and talk through an overdraft increase face-to-face. Starling cannot offer that.
How to Open an Account
You can apply online, through the Metro Bank app, or in-branch. In-branch applications can be completed same-day if you arrive with all required documentation: proof of identity, proof of address, and business registration documents for limited companies.
To qualify for the 31-month fee-free period, you must switch an existing business account via the Current Account Switch Service (CASS). Direct applications without switching do not receive the introductory offer.
Account Plans and Pricing
Free and Paid Plans
Only one standard Business Bank Account is available. New customers switching via CASS receive a 31-month fee-free introductory period with no monthly fee and no minimum balance requirement.
After 31 months, the account moves to the standard fee structure. We confirmed this from metrobank.co.uk in April 2026.
If your annual turnover exceeds £2 million, you need the Commercial Current Account instead, which has different terms.
Monthly Fees
Metro Bank offers 31 months free via CASS switch. After that, it’s £8/month, waived if your balance stays above £6,000. Starling is £0/month permanently; HSBC is £8/month after 12 months with no balance-based waiver.
The £6,000 threshold is the critical number. Above it, you keep 30 free UK transactions per month and pay no monthly fee. Below it, you pay £8/month plus 30p per transaction. For a business making 100 transactions a month below the threshold, that’s £38 in combined fees.
| Fee Type | Cost |
|---|---|
| Monthly fee (first 31 months via CASS) | Free |
| Monthly fee (ongoing, with £6,000+ balance) | Free |
| Monthly fee (ongoing, below £6,000) | £8 |
| UK transactions (with £6,000+ balance) | 30 free per month |
| UK transactions (below £6,000) | 30p each |
| Cash handling | 1% of total (waived up to £10,000/month during intro period) |
| CHAPS payment | £25 |
| Fee information confirmed from metrobank.co.uk, April 2026. | |
Transaction and Transfer Fees
Above the £6,000 threshold, you get 30 free UK transactions per month. Below it, each costs 30p. CHAPS payments cost £25. We confirmed these figures from metrobank.co.uk in April 2026.
A VAT payment drops the balance to £5,400. Suddenly that triggers the 30p fee on every supplier payment until the balance recovers. At 50 transactions that month, that’s £15 extra, on top of the £8 fee. Worth modelling before you commit.
Cash Deposit, ATM and Card Charges
Cash deposits cost 1% of the total amount. During the introductory period, cash deposits up to £10,000 per month are free. After that, the 1% charge applies from the first pound. Worth knowing before you commit if your business handles significant cash volumes.
Card and cash machine charges are published in full, in Metro Bank’s Business Bank Account Important Information Summary. Anywhere in Europe, the UK included, card purchases and cash withdrawals are free. Outside Europe you pay 2.99% on purchases, and 2.99% plus a £1.50 fee on every cash withdrawal.
Cash machine withdrawals also eat into the account’s shared allowance of any 30 transactions a month, 30p each after that, and you can take out a maximum of £500 a day unless you arrange a higher limit in store.
Overseas machine operators can add a charge of their own, though the screen warns you before they do. Figures from Metro Bank’s own document, checked 7 August 2026.
Banking Features
Payments, Transfers and Direct Debits
Above the £6,000 balance threshold, your UK bank transfers, direct debits, and standing orders cost nothing up to 30 per month. Drop below £6,000 and the 30p per transaction charge applies. We confirmed this from metrobank.co.uk in April 2026.
No per-transfer charge if your balance stays above £6,000. When your supplier invoice lands at month-end, you can pay from the app or online banking at no extra cost if the balance condition is met.
Cards and Expense Cards
The account includes a Visa business debit card with Apple Pay and Google Pay. Immediate card replacement is available in-branch. Additional employee debit cards are available.
An overdraft up to £60,000 is available at 15.28% EAR, subject to credit approval. The facility becomes available three working days after account opening. No paid/unpaid item fees.
Accounting Integrations and Business Tools
The only accounting integration is a paid Xero add-on with daily feeds. Metro Bank’s “Invoice It” tool links to Sage and QuickBooks for invoices, but it is not a bank feed. No native QuickBooks or Sage bank feed exists. We confirmed this from metrobank.co.uk in April 2026.
If your reconciliation workflow depends on automatic transaction imports into QuickBooks or Sage, Starling (Xero, FreeAgent) or Tide (Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, FreeAgent) offer free native bank feeds. That’s the practical trade-off.
Multi-User Access and Spending Controls
You can add signatories and multi-user access on the Business Bank Account. In-branch account management through a named Local Business Manager is the primary channel for complex account changes.
Savings, Credit or Other Extra Features
Alongside the current account, you can open a business savings account or a business notice account. Interest rates and terms are not clearly published.
The overdraft facility up to £60,000 is the primary credit product attached to the current account. Metro charges no paid or unpaid item fees, and the one overdraft rate it publishes is the punitive one: 25% EAR typical (variable) if you go overdrawn without an arrangement.
Arranged overdraft rates are not published anywhere. They are subject to status, repayable on demand, and quoted through your Relationship Manager, so the only cost Metro states up front is the one you pay for getting it wrong.
International Features
Sending International Payments
SWIFT transfers cost £25 per transaction. If your business makes regular international payments, Wise or Airwallex are cheaper per transfer. We confirmed this from metrobank.co.uk in April 2026.
SEPA transfers cost 20p per transaction.
Receiving International Payments
Money coming in is free. Metro Bank charges nothing on inward payments, which is the direct answer if your clients pay you from abroad.
Foreign currency cheques are the exception: a dollar cheque costs $13 up to $6,500 and $25 above it, a euro cheque €12 up to €5,500 and €23 above it.
Where a payment converts between currencies, Metro applies an exchange margin already built into the rate it shows you, so the cost never appears as its own line on the statement. Figures from Metro Bank’s Important Information Summary, checked 7 August 2026.
Foreign Exchange Fees and Currency Support
Non-European card transactions attract 2.99% plus £1.50 per transaction. We confirmed this from metrobank.co.uk in April 2026. This makes Metro Bank unsuitable as a primary international payments account for businesses that routinely pay in foreign currencies.
For regular international payments, Wise or Airwallex are cheaper. Metro Bank’s international offering suits occasional one-off transfers, not businesses that run payments in foreign currencies routinely. Wrong tool for that job.
Eligibility and Account Limits
Who Can Apply
You can apply as a sole trader, limited company (LTD), company limited by guarantee, or limited liability partnership (LLP). Your business must have an annual turnover below £2 million.
All applicants must be at least 18 and a UK resident. We confirmed eligibility criteria from metrobank.co.uk in April 2026.
If your business turns over more than £2 million, you need the Commercial Current Account instead, which has different terms.
Supported Business Types
Supported: sole traders, limited companies, companies limited by guarantee, and limited liability partnerships with turnover below £2 million.
Metro also publishes a residency test that catches people out. A sole trader or sole signatory has to live in the UK, and where there is more than one signatory, director or beneficial owner, at least half of them must. A credit check runs on application.
Metro publishes no list of accepted or excluded sectors, so trade is judged case by case rather than against a rule you can read first.
Account Limits and Restrictions
The branch network is limited to England and Wales. This is a structural product restriction, not an administrative limit. If your business is based in Scotland, Northern Ireland, or a rural area outside the branch footprint, Metro Bank cannot serve you in person.
Metro Bank publishes one hard limit and leaves the rest unstated: £500 a day from a cash machine, with higher withdrawal limits arranged in store. There is no published faster-payment ceiling and no published card spending cap.
The restriction that will bite first is not a limit at all. Metro Bank states it cannot currently set up direct debits that collect payments from others into your account.
If you bill customers by direct debit, that means a separate collections provider on top of the account. Checked in Metro Bank’s Important Information Summary, 7 August 2026.
App, Online Banking and User Experience
Mobile App Experience
The day-to-day banking app scores 4.8 out of 5 from 232,436 ratings on the UK App Store and 4.6 out of 5 from around 48,400 reviews on Google Play, both checked 7 August 2026.
The gap between those scores and the Trustpilot rating is about phone support, not the banking app itself.
Only basic app features were confirmed: payments, balance checks, transaction history, and card management.
Web and Desktop Access
Online banking lets you manage the account, make payments, and view transaction history. For businesses with multiple signatories, this supports operations outside branch hours.
Ease of Day-to-Day Account Management
You handle payments, transfers, and direct debits from the app or online banking without friction. The in-branch model adds a face-to-face channel that digital challengers cannot match: walk in during extended hours and your Local Business Manager handles the query in person.
Phone support is the gap in Metro Bank’s service model. Complaint patterns on Trustpilot consistently reference slow response times and difficulty resolving non-routine issues remotely. If your team cannot reach a branch, factor this risk into your assessment.
Customer Reviews and Reputation
What Customers Like
If you judge Metro Bank by app ratings only, the picture looks better: 4.8 on Apple and 4.6 on Google Play. Satisfied customers are branch users; positive mentions centre on extended hours, same-day card replacement, and the Local Business Manager.
In-branch service is where your money is worth spending at Metro Bank: the consistent positive across reviews from businesses that bank face-to-face regularly.
Common Complaints
A Trustpilot rating of 2.4 out of 5 from 5,730 reviews, checked 20 July 2026, is the most visible risk signal. The complaint pattern is consistent: slow phone support response times, difficulty resolving complex account issues remotely, and locked-account frustrations.
The split between app store ratings and Trustpilot suggests the frustration sits outside the banking app itself: customers who need phone support experience different service quality than those who can walk into a branch.
If your business cannot easily reach a Metro Bank store, the in-branch advantage disappears.
Customer Support and Service
Support Channels and Availability
Metro Bank offers in-store, phone, and online support. Stores are open seven days a week with extended hours.
A named Local Business Manager is contactable at the branch level for account queries and lending discussions. That multi-channel model is a structural differentiator versus digital-only challengers.
If your primary support channel will be phone rather than in-store, Trustpilot complaints consistently flag slow response times as the biggest drawback.
Help Centre and Self-Service Resources
For complex queries, lending, account structure changes, or dispute resolution, your best route is your in-branch Local Business Manager. Routine queries are covered through the online help centre and FAQ resource, with the app and online banking handling day-to-day operations.
Security, Regulation and FSCS Protection
Regulation and Authorisation
Deposits are backed by a full UK banking licence. Metro Bank PLC is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by both the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.
It is registered in England and Wales as company number 6419578, registered office One Southampton Row, London WC1B 5HA. Those details are printed on Metro Bank’s own Business Bank Account Important Information Summary, checked 7 August 2026.
The regulatory class matters for your deposits: Metro Bank operates under the full UK banking regulatory framework, a different class from e-money institutions such as Tide or (until March 2026) Revolut. Your deposits carry statutory FSCS protection, not contractual safeguarding.
FSCS Protection or Safeguarding
Metro Bank provides statutory FSCS deposit protection up to £120,000 per eligible depositor. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme guarantee applies because Metro Bank holds a full PRA banking licence. Statutory, not contractual.
Metro Bank provides the same FSCS protection as Starling, Monzo, and HSBC: categorically different from e-money safeguarding at Tide or Airwallex. We confirmed this from the FCA register in April 2026.
Security Features
PRA authorisation means Metro Bank must meet full UK banking security requirements. In-app security features include card freezing and transaction notifications. Immediate in-branch card replacement is available during store hours.
Metro Bank does not publish the mechanism behind its two-factor authentication, and neither does any other UK bank: setting out how the checks work would tell fraudsters how to get round them.
What the app help pages do list is card blocking, unblocking and cancellation, replacement card requests, authorising online transactions, and managing standing orders and direct debits.
Who Metro Bank Business Account Is Best For
Best Use Cases
You need Metro Bank if your business operates from a physical location in England or Wales and you value face-to-face banking: cash deposits, lending conversations with a named manager, and weekend branch access that matches retail or hospitality operating hours.
For startups and early-stage businesses switching via CASS, the 31-month fee-free window gives you over two years to establish whether the branch relationship adds operational value before any fee decision lands.
If your average monthly balance consistently sits above £6,000, Metro Bank stays free indefinitely after the introductory period ends. That makes it competitive with Starling for businesses that carry a working balance.
When to Consider Alternatives
Avoid Metro Bank if you’re outside its branch footprint. A bank you can’t visit in person loses the core advantage. Also avoid it if your accounting workflow depends on a native QuickBooks or Sage feed.
The case against Metro Bank: if zero-cost permanent banking with no balance condition is the goal, Starling provides FSCS protection and free transfers at £0/month with no £6,000 threshold to maintain. If you need no branch access, that’s the more efficient structure.
If you make regular international payments, neither Metro Bank’s SWIFT fee of £25 nor its non-European card charge of 2.99% plus £1.50 is competitive. Wise or Airwallex undercut both on currency costs.
Metro Bank Business Account vs Alternatives
Metro Bank vs Starling
Starling is the stronger pick for businesses with no cash to deposit and no need for branch access: no monthly fee, no transfer fees, no balance requirement. Metro Bank charges £8/month after 31 months unless £6,000+ is maintained. The difference is physical presence.
Metro Bank gives you branches open seven days, a Local Business Manager, and in-person cash deposits. Starling gives you none of those. If you bank digitally and handle no cash, Starling is cheaper on every metric. If in-person banking is operationally useful, Metro Bank earns the fee.
Metro Bank vs Tide
Tide suits businesses where built-in invoicing, expense management, and accounting integrations (Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, FreeAgent) matter more than deposit protection. Metro Bank has none of these natively. Tide is an e-money institution; Metro Bank offers statutory FSCS protection.
Businesses that need FSCS protection or in-person banking should stay with Metro Bank: Tide delivers neither. The trade-off is real: Tide wins on built-in tools, Metro Bank wins on deposit protection and physical access.
Metro Bank vs HSBC
If you need nationwide branch coverage, choose HSBC: 600+ UK branches, a named relationship manager, FSCS protection. New HSBC accounts get 12 months free; Metro Bank gives 31. Both charge £8/month after, but Metro Bank waives this with a £6,000 balance; HSBC does not.
HSBC’s branch network is nationwide; Metro Bank’s is England and Wales only. For businesses in Scotland or Northern Ireland that want high-street banking, HSBC is the better match.
For businesses in Metro Bank’s footprint that want a longer fee-free window, Metro Bank has the stronger introductory offer.
Final Verdict: Is Metro Bank Business Account Worth It?
Metro Bank is worth it under two conditions: your business is in England or Wales, and you maintain £6,000+ balance or the branch relationship earns back the £8/month fee. When both hold, you get 31 months free, seven-day in-person access, and a named manager. Specific and defensible.
Outside those two conditions, your cost case weakens. If your business is outside the branch footprint, you are paying for infrastructure you cannot reach. Below the £6,000 threshold long-term, you are paying £8/month for a digital banking experience that Starling provides for nothing.
The FSCS protection is statutory and unqualified at £120,000. The Xero integration gap, by contrast, is real and unlikely to close soon.
The accounting integration picture is the structural weakness that businesses with active bookkeeping workflows will feel most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Metro Bank Business Account FSCS Protected?
Yes. Metro Bank PLC holds a full UK banking licence, authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA. Your deposits are FSCS protected up to £120,000 per eligible depositor. This is statutory protection, not contractual safeguarding.
How Long Is the Metro Bank Fee-Free Period?
The fee-free period is 31 months, available to new customers who switch an existing business account via the Current Account Switch Service (CASS). During this period there is no monthly fee and no minimum balance requirement. Cash deposits up to £10,000 per month are also free during the introductory period. Direct applications without switching via CASS do not qualify for the 31-month offer.
What Happens After the Introductory Period?
After 31 months, a monthly fee of £8 applies. This fee is waived if you maintain a minimum balance of £6,000. With the £6,000 balance, you also receive 30 free UK transactions per month. If your balance falls below £6,000, you pay £8 per month plus 30p per transaction.
Does Metro Bank Integrate With Accounting Software?
Metro Bank offers Xero integration as a paid add-on with daily transaction feeds. An Invoice It tool provides connectivity with Sage and QuickBooks for invoice management. There is no free native direct bank feed to QuickBooks or Sage. If your accounting workflow depends on a direct bank feed, consider Starling (Xero, FreeAgent) or Tide (Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, FreeAgent) instead.
Can I Open a Metro Bank Account Online?
Yes. You can apply online, through the Metro Bank app, or in-branch. In-branch applications can be completed same-day if you have all required documentation. The online application may take longer for limited companies. To qualify for the 31-month fee-free period, you must switch via CASS regardless of application method.
Who Is the Metro Bank Business Account Best For?
Metro Bank suits small businesses in England and Wales that value face-to-face banking: cash deposits, weekend branch access, and a named Local Business Manager. The 31-month fee-free period makes it attractive for startups and early-stage businesses switching via CASS. It is not the right choice for businesses outside the branch footprint, those needing free native accounting integrations, or purely digital operators with no need for in-person banking.
How we reviewed Metro Bank
What we assessed. We evaluated Metro Bank on pricing, contract terms, features, and eligibility. These are the factors that matter most to UK small businesses considering this provider.
Data sources. Metro Bank’s pricing page, terms, and product docs were checked directly in April 2026. No comparison sites, no press releases, no affiliate material. FCA register cross-checked for regulatory status.
Update cadence. We re-verify this page regularly, and whenever a provider changes pricing, eligibility, or terms. The verification date on the page reflects the most recent full review. We have no affiliate relationship with Metro Bank, see our editorial policy.