Can a sole trader open a business savings account?

Some accept sole traders and some flatly won’t, so check before you apply. Tide, Shawbrook, United Trust Bank and Cambridge & Counties all take sole traders. Capital on Tap and Aldermore don’t: both are limited-company (and, for Capital on Tap, LLP) accounts only. Allica targets established SMEs and doesn’t typically suit sole traders. If you trade as a sole trader and want a competitive rate, start with Tide, Shawbrook, United Trust Bank or Cambridge & Counties and don’t waste time on the rest.

Which business savings account pays the most?

Cambridge & Counties pays the highest rate on this page at 4.60% AER on a one or two-year fixed bond, though it needs a £20,000 minimum and locks the cash away. If you want a strong rate without the high entry price, Shawbrook’s 4.22% AER one-year bond needs only £1,000. For easy access, Hampshire Trust Bank leads at 3.91% AER. The thing to hold onto: the account that pays the most is rarely the one that fits your cash flow, so let access come first. Checked 17 July 2026.

Does Allica really pay 4.08% AER?

Only if you hit three conditions at once, so treat it as a ceiling rather than the going rate. Allica’s base rate is 2.83% AER, and the 4.08% AER maximum is reached by stacking three boosts: +0.5% a month for making 15 or more outgoing transfers the previous month, +0.5% for six months after completing a full Current Account Switch, and a +0.25% welcome boost for three months on £50,000 or more paid in within 14 days of opening. Two of those boosts are temporary: the welcome boost lasts three months, the switch boost six. Keep earning the ongoing transfers boost every month and a realistic first year averages around 3.64% AER, not 4.08%; drop the transfers boost too and you are back near the 2.83% base.

What is the FSCS limit for a business savings account?

The FSCS deposit protection limit is £120,000 per eligible depositor per authorised firm, effective 1 December 2025 (up from £85,000). The catch that trips people is that it applies per bank, not per brand. ClearBank holds deposits for both Tide and Capital on Tap, so if you hold both, your £120,000 is shared across them, not doubled. Allica, Shawbrook, Aldermore, Hampshire Trust Bank, United Trust Bank and Cambridge & Counties each hold their own licence, so each carries a separate £120,000 you can stack.

Is a money market fund the same as a business savings account?

No, and treating them as the same thing is how businesses take on risk they didn’t mean to. A money market fund, such as Wise Interest, is an investment product regulated by the FCA. Returns aren’t guaranteed and your capital is at risk. A savings account is a deposit product: your balance is protected by FSCS up to £120,000 and can’t fall below what you paid in. A money market fund can pay a competitive return, but it isn’t a like-for-like replacement for a deposit account, so we keep it out of the main comparison.

Do I need to switch my current account to open a business savings account?

It depends on the provider. Tide Savings needs a Tide business account, Capital on Tap Savings needs a Capital on Tap account, and Allica’s savings pot sits inside its Business Rewards Account. The standalone challenger banks, Shawbrook, Aldermore, Hampshire Trust Bank, United Trust Bank and Cambridge & Counties, don’t make you move your main banking at all. None of them require you to close your existing account, so you’re adding a home for cash, not switching bank.

Best Business Savings Accounts UK: Rates Compared July 2026

Best Business Savings Accounts at a Glance

The account that pays the most is almost never the one most businesses should open. What you can genuinely earn turns on how long you can lock the cash away and how much you can put in. So we have split the winners by category rather than crown a single best, and every pick is the rate you will actually keep, not the headline that needs three conditions to reach it.

Coverage: more than 40 individual accounts across 11 providers, spanning easy-access, notice and fixed-term products. We checked every rate on 17 July 2026 against each provider’s product pages. Variable rates can move, so confirm the live rate before you open anything.

Best easy-access rate

Hampshire Trust Bank SME Saver at 3.91% AER (variable, £5,000 minimum). Among the fintechs, Capital on Tap pays 3.23% AER ongoing.

Best notice-account rate

Hampshire Trust Bank’s 95-Day Notice SME Tracker at 4.01% AER. Aldermore, United Trust Bank and Cambridge & Counties all pay around 4.00% AER at 60 to 95 days’ notice.

Best fixed-term rate

Cambridge & Counties 1-Year and 2-Year Bond at 4.60% AER, the highest rate on this page, but it needs £20,000. Shawbrook’s 4.22% AER one-year bond needs only £1,000.

Highest conditional rate

Allica, up to 4.08% AER, but only with all three boosts active on its 2.83% AER base. Realistically most businesses will sit in the 2.83% to 3.5% range.

Every figure here is repeated, with its condition, in the comparison table and the provider cards below.

Business Savings Account Providers Compared

Every row here is one specific product, not a provider with a range hidden behind it. So when Cambridge & Counties shows 4.60% AER against a fixed bond, that is the bond’s rate and nothing else; its notice account sits on its own row at 4.00%.

That means no guessing which account type earns which rate. The standard AER is what you keep; the maximum column flags any promo or conditional headline on top. The three challengers most roundups skip, Hampshire Trust Bank, United Trust Bank and Cambridge & Counties, hide the competitive rates.

Business Savings Account Providers Compared
Provider	Product	Account type	Standard AER	Maximum AER	Minimum	Access
Tide	Instant Saver	Easy access	2.00–3.25% (plan-dependent)	4.00% (4-month intro, £1m–£10m)	£1	Instant
Capital on Tap	Business Savings	Easy access	3.23%	3.82% (60-day promo)	£1	Instant
Allica	Business Rewards Savings Pot	Easy access	2.83% (base)	4.08% (3 boosts)	Not stated	Instant
Cambridge & Counties	95-Day Notice	Notice	4.00%	4.00%	£10,000	95 days
Cambridge & Counties	1-Year / 2-Year Bond	Fixed	4.60%	4.60%	£20,000	Locked
United Trust Bank	Easy Access Account	Easy access	3.50%	3.50%	£5,000	Instant
United Trust Bank	60-Day Notice	Notice	4.00%	4.00%	£5,000	60 days
United Trust Bank	1-Year / 15-Month Bond	Fixed	4.52%	4.52%	£5,000	Locked
Hampshire Trust Bank	SME Saver	Easy access	3.91%	3.91%	£5,000	Instant
Hampshire Trust Bank	95-Day Notice SME Tracker	Notice	4.01%	4.01%	£5,000	95 days
Hampshire Trust Bank	1-Year / 2-Year Fixed Saver	Fixed	4.31%	4.31%	£5,000	Locked
Shawbrook	Easy Access	Easy access	3.86%	3.86%	£1,000	Instant
Shawbrook	100-Day Notice	Notice	3.51%	3.51%	£5,000	100 days
Shawbrook	1-Year Fixed	Fixed	4.22%	4.22%	£5,000	Locked
Aldermore	Easy Access	Easy access	2.45%	2.45%	£1,000	Instant
Aldermore	95-Day Notice	Notice	4.00%	4.00%	£1,000	95 days
Aldermore	1-Year Fixed	Fixed	4.16%	4.16%	£1,000	Locked
OakNorth	Savings Vault	Easy access	2.35%	2.35%	£10,000 to open, 0% below £100,000	Instant
OakNorth	30/95-Day Notice	Notice	Up to 3.50%	Up to 3.50%	£10,000 to open, 0% below £100,000	30 or 95 days
Verified 17 July 2026.

Rates checked against provider product pages, 17 July 2026 (OakNorth: 18 December 2025, its own summary box’s issue date). Where standard and maximum AER match, the rate is flat and unconditional.

Where they differ (Tide, Capital on Tap, Allica), the maximum is a promotional or conditional headline, and the standard column shows what you actually keep once it lapses.

Tide and Capital on Tap are both held by ClearBank, so their FSCS £120,000 applies across both combined, not per account. Every other bank listed holds its own licence and a separate £120,000.

Tide Instant Saver Account

Best for: Businesses already banking with Tide

Watch out: Your rate is set by your Tide plan, and Free-plan users get just 2.00% AER, well below rivals. The headline 3.75% AER is an intro bonus that applies only for the first four months, then you drop to your plan’s standard rate. Deposits are held by ClearBank; if you also hold Capital on Tap savings (also ClearBank-backed), your FSCS protection is shared across both, not doubled.

Not ideal if: If you do not already bank with Tide, the standard rates give little reason to open a current account just for the saver, and dedicated savings accounts pay more. Watch the shared FSCS limit if you hold other ClearBank-backed savings, and remember the 3.75% intro rate lasts only four months.

Standard rateUp to 3.25% AER Plan-dependent: Free 2.00%, Smart 2.50%, Pro 3.00%, Max 3.25% (3.75% via Max Boost on the £1m-£10m band)

Intro bonus3.75% AER First 4 months for new members, on up to £1m (4.00% on the £1m-£10m band), then reverts to plan rate

Balance caps£75k Free, £100k Smart, £150k Pro, £1m Max Standard rate applies up to the plan cap

Access typeInstant access No notice period, no withdrawal penalties

FSCS protection£120,000 (ClearBank) Shared with Capital on Tap savings if held, not per account

Minimum deposit£1

Interest paidMonthly

Account feeNo savings fee Standard Tide current account plan fees apply

Eligibility: You must hold an active Tide Business Account (any tier: Free, Smart, Pro, or Max) to open the Instant Saver. UK-registered businesses only: sole traders, limited companies, and partnerships are all accepted. There is no minimum turnover requirement and no minimum deposit beyond £1. You do not need to close your existing main bank account. Businesses in higher-risk sectors not accepted by Tide cannot open the saver; confirm eligibility at tide.co if unsure.

Instant access, no notice period, no penalties

Integrated with Tide current account: one-click transfers

3.75% AER intro bonus for the first four months for new members

Accepts sole traders, unlike Capital on Tap savings

FSCS-protected up to £120,000 via ClearBank

£1 minimum deposit, monthly interest

Rate is plan-dependent: Free-plan users get only 2.00% AER

Standard rates trail the best dedicated savings accounts

Must hold a Tide current account to access

The 3.75% headline is a four-month intro bonus, not the ongoing rate

Both Tide savings and Capital on Tap savings use ClearBank, so the combined FSCS limit is £120,000 total, not per account

Variable rate: no guaranteed minimum

Capital on Tap Business Savings Account

Best for: Limited companies and LLPs already using the Capital on Tap card

Watch out: The 3.82% AER is a 60-day promo for new customers only, then the rate falls to 3.23% AER, so treat 3.23% as the number that matters over a year. Limited companies and LLPs only: sole traders are not eligible. Deposits sit behind ClearBank, so if you also hold Tide savings your combined FSCS protection is £120,000 total, not per account. The rate is variable with no guaranteed floor.

Not ideal if: Not ideal if: you are a sole trader (you cannot open it), you don’t use the Capital on Tap card, you want the highest guaranteed ongoing rate rather than a promo that expires after 60 days, or you already hold other ClearBank-backed savings and would breach the shared FSCS limit.

Standard rate3.23% AER (3.18% gross) Variable, the ongoing rate after any promo ends

New-customer rate3.82% AER First 60 days only, new customers only, then reverts to 3.23% AER

Access typeInstant access No notice period, no withdrawal penalties

FSCS protection£120,000 (ClearBank) Shared with Tide savings if held, not per account

Minimum deposit£1

Maximum balanceUp to £1,000,000 Rate applies up to this balance

Interest paidMonthly

Eligible entitiesLimited companies and LLPs only Sole traders are not eligible

Account feeNone

Direct transferYes Funds can be swept directly to your Capital on Tap credit card

Eligibility: Limited companies and LLPs operating in the UK only. Sole traders are not eligible, in Capital on Tap’s own words “you’ll need to be a Limited or LLP business operating in the UK”. Charities, trusts and PLCs are also excluded. You do not need an existing Capital on Tap card to open the account, but the 60-day 3.82% AER promo is reserved for customers who have never held a Capital on Tap product; existing card holders earn the 3.23% standard rate from day one. Minimum deposit is £1.

Direct sweep to your Capital on Tap credit card, a genuine differentiator for card users

3.23% AER standard rate is competitive for fee-free instant access

3.82% AER welcome rate for new customers in the first 60 days

FSCS-protected up to £120,000 via ClearBank

No fees, no withdrawal limits

£1 minimum deposit, monthly interest

Sole traders cannot open it, limited companies and LLPs only

The 3.82% headline is a 60-day promo, the ongoing rate is 3.23% AER

Shares the ClearBank FSCS limit with Tide Savings if you hold both

Variable rate with no guaranteed floor

Little reason to open without an existing Capital on Tap credit product

Allica Instant Access Business Savings Pot

Best for: Established SMEs wanting FSCS-protected savings with a competitive rate

Watch out: Allica targets established SMEs, eligibility may exclude early-stage businesses or sole traders. Rate is variable and should be verified directly at allica.bank before opening. The savings pot requires an Allica Business Rewards Account.

Not ideal if: Not ideal if: you’re a sole trader, a startup under 12 months old, or you want a savings-only account without a linked current account.

Interest rateUp to 4.08% AER Variable; verify current rate at allica.bank before opening

Access typeInstant access No notice period or withdrawal penalties

FSCS protection£120,000 (Allica Bank licence) Separate from ClearBank pool , can stack with Tide or Capital on Tap savings

Minimum depositCheck allica.bank Not stated; verify before applying

Maximum depositNo stated limit

Interest paidMonthly

Account feeNone on savings pot Allica Business Rewards Account (current account) is required and has no monthly fee

Account requiredAllica Business Rewards Account Current account included, no separate savings-only option

Eligibility: UK-registered businesses with an active Allica Business Rewards Account. Allica targets established SMEs , businesses with a trading history and meaningful turnover. Sole traders and very early-stage businesses (under 12 months trading) may not qualify; check eligibility at allica.bank before applying. Directors must be UK-resident. No minimum deposit stated for the savings pot.

Not ideal if: Not ideal if: you’re a sole trader, a startup under 12 months old, or you want a savings-only account without a linked current account.

Up to 4.08% AER, highest rate of affiliates on this page

FSCS protected up to £120,000 under Allica Bank’s own licence

FSCS protection is separate from ClearBank-backed accounts

Instant access, no notice period

No monthly fee on the savings pot

Current account included in the Allica Business Rewards Account

Requires an Allica Business Rewards Account, not savings-only

Built for established SMEs; may not suit startups or sole traders

Rate is variable, 4.08% AER is the current maximum, not guaranteed

Less app-focused than Tide or Monzo

Cambridge & Counties Business Savings

Best for: Businesses with a substantial cash reserve chasing the top fixed rate

Watch out: The £10,000 minimum on notice accounts and £20,000 on fixed bonds is the highest entry price on this page, so it is not for smaller reserves. There is no easy access account, so your cash is committed to a notice period or a full term. Interest payment frequency was not confirmed during research, so check it with the provider before opening. LLPs and partnerships are not listed as eligible on the provider site and should be verified first.

Not ideal if: Not ideal if: you have less than £10,000 to set aside (£20,000 for a bond), you need instant or easy access to your cash, you are an LLP or partnership and need eligibility confirmed, or you want certainty on how often interest is paid before you commit.

30-Day Notice3.70% AER variable Min £10,000, max £3,000,000

95-Day Notice4.00% AER variable Min £10,000, max £3,000,000

6-Month Bond4.25% AER fixed Min £20,000, max £5,000,000

1-Year Bond4.60% AER fixed Min £20,000, max £5,000,000, highest fixed rate on this page

2-Year Bond4.60% AER fixed Min £20,000, max £5,000,000

3-Year Bond4.20% AER fixed Min £20,000, max £5,000,000

5-Year Bond4.20% AER fixed Min £20,000, max £5,000,000

FSCS protection£120,000 (Cambridge & Counties Bank licence, FRN 579415) FCA and PRA regulated, own licence

Minimum deposit£10,000 notice, £20,000 bonds Highest entry price on this page

Interest paidNot confirmed Check with the provider before opening

Eligible entitiesAcademy schools, charities, credit unions, limited companies, sole traders LLPs and partnerships not listed, verify first

Eligibility: Open to academy schools (single and multi-academy trusts), charities, credit unions, limited companies and sole traders. LLPs and partnerships are not listed as eligible on the provider site, so they should verify directly before applying rather than assuming acceptance. Minimum deposit is £10,000 on notice accounts and £20,000 on fixed bonds. Maximum balances run from £3,000,000 to £5,000,000 depending on the product.

4.60% AER on 1-Year and 2-Year Bonds, the highest fixed rate on this page

95-Day Notice at 4.00% AER for planned liquidity

Accepts sole traders, academy schools, charities and credit unions

FSCS protected to £120,000 under Cambridge & Counties’ own licence

High maximum balances up to £5,000,000 on bonds

No account fees

£10,000 minimum on notice accounts and £20,000 on bonds, the highest entry price on this page

No easy access account, cash is committed to notice or a fixed term

Interest payment frequency not confirmed

LLPs and partnerships not listed as eligible

Longer bonds (3 and 5 year) pay less than the 1 and 2 year at 4.20% AER

United Trust Bank Business Savings

Best for: Businesses that want the widest choice of terms and the top fixed rate

Watch out: The Easy Access Tracker’s quoted rate includes a 0.70% bonus for the first six months; afterwards it tracks 0.75 percentage points below the Bank of England base rate, so the ongoing rate depends on where the base rate sits at the time. The Limited Access account pays 4.15% AER only if you make two or fewer withdrawals a year; a third withdrawal drops you to 2.75% AER. Every account carries a £5,000 minimum. Whether partnerships and LLPs are eligible is not explicitly confirmed on the provider site, so verify before applying.

Not ideal if: Not ideal if: you want a single simple account rather than a range to weigh up, you have less than £5,000 to deposit, you want a fixed rate rather than one that moves with the Bank of England base rate, or you are a partnership or LLP and need eligibility confirmed first.

Easy Access Tracker3.25% AER (3.95% gross), incl. 0.70% 6-month bonus Tracks 0.75 points below BoE base rate after 6 months, min £5,000, max £100,000

Easy Access Account3.50% AER variable Min £5,000, max £3,000,000

30-Day Notice3.70% AER variable Min £5,000, max £5,000,000

40-Day Notice3.90% AER variable Min £5,000, max £5,000,000

60-Day Notice4.00% AER variable Min £5,000, max £5,000,000

120-Day Notice Tracker3.75% AER variable BoE tracker, min £5,000, max £5,000,000

Limited Access4.15% AER (2 or fewer withdrawals a year) Drops to 2.75% AER on the 3rd withdrawal, min £5,000, max £150,000

Fixed bonds (3 months to 5 years)3.96% to 4.52% AER fixed Highest at 1-year and 15-month terms (4.52% AER), min £5,000, max £5,000,000

FSCS protection£120,000 (United Trust Bank licence) FCA and PRA regulated, own licence

Minimum deposit£5,000

Eligible entitiesLimited companies, sole traders, education providers, clubs, societies, credit unions, pension funds Partnerships and LLPs not explicitly confirmed, verify first

Eligibility: Open to limited companies, sole traders, education providers, clubs, societies, credit unions and pension funds. Partnerships and LLPs are not explicitly confirmed as eligible on the provider site, so they should verify directly before applying rather than assuming acceptance. Minimum deposit is £5,000 across the range. Maximum balances vary widely by account, from £100,000 on the Easy Access Tracker up to £5,000,000 on the notice and fixed-bond accounts.

4.52% AER on 1-year and 15-month fixed bonds, the highest fixed rate of the new entries

Widest range of accounts: easy access, notice, tracker, limited access and bonds

Notice ladder up to 4.00% AER at 60 days

Accepts sole traders

FSCS protected to £120,000 under United Trust Bank’s own licence

No account fees

The Easy Access Tracker’s rate includes a 6-month bonus, then moves with the Bank of England base rate

The Limited Access rate collapses to 2.75% AER on a third withdrawal

£5,000 minimum deposit across the range

The broad range makes it the hardest of the three new banks to compare at a glance

Partnership and LLP eligibility not confirmed on the provider site

Hampshire Trust Bank Business Savings

Best for: Established businesses with a five-figure cash reserve wanting a top fixed rate

Watch out: The £5,000 minimum deposit floor (£20,000 on the Easy Access SME Tracker) locks out businesses with smaller reserves. Sole traders are not on the eligible list, so a limited company, PLC, LLP, partnership, charity, club, society or association structure is needed. The tracker accounts move with the Bank of England base rate, so the headline rate can fall. Fixed Saver terms lock your cash for the full term.

Not ideal if: Not ideal if: you are a sole trader (not listed as eligible), you have less than £5,000 to set aside, you want instant access to a large balance at the top rate, or you need an account integrated with your day-to-day business banking.

Easy Access SME Saver3.91% AER variable Min £5,000, max £750,000, instant access, interest paid annually

Easy Access SME Tracker3.40% AER variable BoE tracker, min £20,000, max £1,000,000, instant access

95-Day Notice SME Tracker4.01% AER variable BoE tracker, min £5,000, max £750,000, 95 days’ notice

6-Month Fixed Saver4.19% AER fixed Min £5,000, max £750,000

1-Year Fixed Saver4.31% AER fixed Min £5,000, max £750,000, interest paid annually

2-Year Fixed Saver4.31% AER fixed Min £5,000, max £750,000

5-Year Fixed Saver4.30% AER fixed Min £5,000, max £750,000

FSCS protection£120,000 (Hampshire Trust Bank licence, FRN 204601) Own licence, not shared with ClearBank-backed accounts

Minimum deposit£5,000 £20,000 on the Easy Access SME Tracker

Eligible entitiesLimited companies, PLCs, LLPs, partnerships, charities, clubs and societies Sole traders not listed as eligible

Eligibility: Open to UK limited companies, PLCs, LLPs, partnerships, registered charities, and clubs, societies and associations. Sole traders are not listed among eligible entities, so they should confirm directly or look elsewhere. Minimum deposit is £5,000 on most accounts and £20,000 on the Easy Access SME Tracker. Maximum balances run from £750,000 to £1,000,000 depending on the product.

4.31% AER on 1-Year and 2-Year Fixed Saver, among the best fixed rates on this page

95-Day Notice SME Tracker at 4.01% AER for planned liquidity

Easy Access SME Saver at 3.91% AER, competitive for instant access

FSCS protected to £120,000 under Hampshire Trust Bank’s own licence

Broad range of terms from easy access to 5-year fixed

No account fees

£5,000 minimum deposit on most accounts, £20,000 on the Easy Access SME Tracker

Sole traders are not listed as eligible

Tracker rates move with the Bank of England base rate and can fall

Fixed Saver accounts lock cash for the full term

No integration with day-to-day business banking

Shawbrook Business Savings

Best for: Businesses wanting a strong easy-access rate or the highest fixed rate with separate FSCS protection

Watch out: Fixed-term accounts lock your cash away, you can’t access funds early without penalty. LLPs are excluded, only sole traders, limited companies and other partnership structures qualify. We could not confirm a 6-month fixed product on the live site during our July 2026 check, only 45-day and 100-day notice plus 1-year and 2-year fixed bonds, so it may have been withdrawn.

Not ideal if: Not ideal if: you need to access funds within the fixed term, you have less than £1,000 to deposit, you are an LLP, or you want everything in one app alongside your current account.

Eligibility: Open to sole traders, limited companies limited by shares, and partnerships, excluding LLPs. Requires a UK business current account held in the same name, and UK-resident, UK-tax-resident directors and beneficial owners aged 18 or over. Not available to charities or trusts. Minimum deposit is £1,000 for easy access accounts and £5,000 for notice and fixed-term accounts. Maximum deposits: £500,000 for easy access, £2,000,000 for fixed and notice products.

Up to 4.22% AER on 1-year fixed, highest fixed rate among non-affiliates

Easy access now pays 3.86% AER, one of the strongest instant-access rates on this page

Full product range: easy access, notice, and fixed term in one place

FSCS protected up to £120,000 under Shawbrook’s own licence

No fees or standard charges

Online account opening available

£1,000 minimum deposit for easy access; £5,000 for notice and fixed

Fixed term accounts are illiquid, early access not guaranteed

LLPs and charities are excluded

Requires a UK business current account in the same name to open

Aldermore Business Savings

Best for: Limited companies wanting competitive notice or fixed-term rates

Watch out: Eligibility appears limited to limited companies, sole traders and partnerships should verify before applying. Easy access rate (2.45% AER) is below alternatives like Allica (4.08% AER) and Capital on Tap (3.82% AER). Fixed-term products lock cash for the full term.

Not ideal if: Not ideal if: you are a sole trader or partnership (eligibility not confirmed), you need instant access at a competitive rate, or you want an account integrated with your business banking.

Eligibility: Limited companies only , confirmed on Aldermore’s product page. Sole traders and partnerships are not eligible. Directors must be 18 or over, UK-resident, and UK tax-resident. US citizens and non-UK tax residents are excluded. Minimum deposit is £1,000. The easy access account pays 2.45% AER; for the best rates, you need to lock funds into a notice or fixed-term account.

Up to 4.16% AER on 1-year fixed, matches best non-affiliate fixed rate

95-day notice at 4.00% AER, strong for planned liquidity

FSCS protected up to £120,000 under Aldermore’s own licence

No fees or standard charges

Online account opening available

Easy access rate (2.45% AER) is the lowest on this page

Limited companies only, sole traders and partnerships excluded

US citizens and non-UK tax residents excluded

Fixed-term accounts are illiquid

OakNorth Business Savings

Best for: Businesses with £100,000+ in reserves wanting notice-account rates

Watch out: Notice accounts pay 0% on balances under £100,000. Turnover requirement (£1m+) or minimum deposit (£50,000) may exclude smaller businesses. Rates verified December 2025, verify current rates before applying.

Not ideal if: Not ideal if: you have less than £100,000 in savings, your business turnover is under £1 million (without the £50,000 minimum deposit), or you want instant access at a competitive rate.

Easy access rate2.35% AER Savings Vault product

30-day notice rateUp to 3.50% AER £100,000+ minimum balance; 0% on balances below

95-day notice rateUp to 3.50% AER £100,000+ minimum balance; 0% on balances below

FSCS protection£120,000 (OakNorth Bank licence) Separate from ClearBank-backed accounts

Minimum to earn (notice)£100,000 Notice accounts pay 0% below this threshold

Minimum deposit£50,000 (or £1m+ turnover)

Eligible entitiesLTD, PLC, LLP, overseas companies Sole traders not confirmed; verify at oaknorth.co.uk

Rate verificationDecember 2025 Verify current rates at oaknorth.co.uk before applying

Eligibility: UK-registered limited companies, PLCs, LLPs, and overseas companies. Directors must be 18 or over. Eligibility requires either annual turnover exceeding £1 million or a minimum deposit of £50,000. Note: notice accounts only earn interest on balances of £100,000 or more; below that threshold, interest on notice accounts is 0%. Sole traders are not confirmed eligible; verify at oaknorth.co.uk before applying.

Up to 3.50% AER on notice accounts for £100,000+ balances

FSCS protected up to £120,000 under OakNorth’s own banking licence

Separate FSCS pool from ClearBank-backed accounts

Easy access Savings Vault opens automatically for existing current account holders

Notice accounts pay 0% on balances under £100,000

High eligibility bar: £1m turnover or £50,000 minimum deposit

Easy access rate (2.35% AER) is among the lowest on this page

Rates verified December 2025; verify current rates at oaknorth.co.uk before applying

How Business Savings Accounts Work

This is a quick orientation, not a full explainer. For the mechanics in depth, read our guide to how business savings accounts work. Three things decide what you keep: the access type, how interest is worked out, and how your money is protected.

Instant Access vs Notice vs Fixed-Term Accounts

Easy or instant access lets you withdraw without serving a notice period, subject to the provider’s transfer times and account terms. Shawbrook, for one, settles easy-access withdrawals the next working day. It suits money you might need soon, but the rate is usually lower and always variable.

Notice accounts ask for a set period, often 30 to 120 days, before you can touch the money. You give up a little flexibility for a higher rate, which makes them a natural home for a VAT bill you already know is coming.

Fixed-term bonds lock your cash away at a rate fixed for the whole term, from a few months to five years. They pay the most on this page, but you generally cannot get at the money early.

So only commit cash you’re certain you won’t need. The moment you might need it back, the extra rate stops being worth it.

How Interest Is Calculated and Paid

AER (Annual Equivalent Rate) shows what you would earn over a year with interest compounded, which makes it the one number worth comparing accounts on.

Gross is the contractual rate before any compounding effect. AER runs slightly above gross where interest compounds more often than yearly, and matches it where it doesn’t, such as a bond paying once at maturity.

Most accounts here work out interest daily and pay it monthly or annually. On a fixed bond it is often paid on maturity or once a year. The frequency only matters if you compound: monthly interest left in the account starts earning interest sooner.

Two things quietly eat the return, and both catch people out: rates that only apply up to a balance cap, and promotional rates that revert. We pull both apart in the rates section below.

FSCS Protection vs Safeguarding

A genuine deposit account is covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme: up to £120,000 per eligible depositor per authorised firm, a limit that rose from £85,000 on 1 December 2025. If the bank fails, the FSCS repays you up to that amount.

The catch is that protection attaches to the bank holding your money, not the brand on the app. Tide and Capital on Tap savings are both held by ClearBank, so they share a single £120,000, not one each.

That distinction is not academic. A business parking a £70,000 corporation tax reserve in Tide and £60,000 in Capital on Tap feels covered for £130,000. It isn’t: only £120,000 is, and the last £10,000 sits exposed until someone moves it. We map every licence below.

A money market fund such as Wise Interest is a different animal: an FCA-regulated investment, not a deposit. It carries no FSCS deposit protection and your capital is at risk. It can pay well, but it is not a like-for-like swap, so we keep it out of the deposit comparison.

Business Savings Account Rates and Returns

AER, Gross Rate and Bonus Rates Explained

Compare on AER, then read every headline for the string attached. Several of the biggest numbers on this page are temporary or conditional, and the rate you actually live with is lower, sometimes a lot lower.

Picture your bookkeeper moving the cash the week after month-end because one account had the biggest number going. Sixty to ninety days on, the promo reverts, the rate quietly drops, and nobody emails to warn you. You notice at the next reconciliation.

Tide pays a 3.75% AER intro bonus for four months, then drops to your plan rate. Capital on Tap pays 3.82% AER for 60 days, then 3.23%. United Trust Bank’s Easy Access Tracker pays 3.25% AER including a 0.70% six-month bonus, then tracks 0.75 points below base rate.

Allica’s 4.08% AER is a 2.83% base plus three boosts you have to keep earning. None of this makes these bad accounts; the headline is just a starting price, not the return. The example we worked below shows exactly what the gap is worth.

Minimum and Maximum Deposit Limits

The entry price varies far more than the rates do. Tide and Capital on Tap open from £1. The challenger banks start higher: £5,000 at Hampshire Trust Bank and United Trust Bank, and £10,000 (rising to £20,000 on bonds) at Cambridge & Counties.

That deposit floor, not the rate, is what actually rules the top fixed bonds out for a smaller reserve. Caps bite at the other end too: Tide’s standard rate only runs up to your plan cap, while the challenger banks stretch to £3m to £5m.

How Rates Vary by Access Type

Across the providers we compared, easy access runs from 2.45% AER (Aldermore) to 3.91% AER (Hampshire Trust Bank). Notice accounts sit higher, roughly 3.45% to 4.01% AER. Fixed-term bonds pay most, from 3.65% up to 4.60% AER, in return for locking the money away.

The pattern is the familiar one: the longer you surrender access, the more you earn. What is striking is how thin the gap can get. Hampshire Trust Bank’s easy-access 3.91% AER sits within touching distance of several fixed bonds, a real reason to think twice before locking anything away.

What the headline rates actually pay. Here is the first-year interest we modelled on a £50,000 balance, using a simple-interest estimate (not compounded, before tax) so the promotional reversions show clearly.

Capital on Tap’s split uses its gross rates, not AER, since AER already bakes in a compounding assumption that a simple day-count split should not double up on. Allica’s figure reflects how long each boost genuinely lasts, not a flat year at the maximum:

How Rates Vary by Access Type
Account (£50,000, year one)	Headline rate	Roughly what you earn	Effective rate
Capital on Tap, instant access	3.75% gross for 60 days, then 3.18% gross	~£1,637 (60 days at 3.75% gross ≈ £308, then 305 days at 3.18% gross ≈ £1,329)	~3.27%
Shawbrook, easy access	3.86% flat	~£1,930	3.86%
Hampshire Trust Bank SME Saver, easy access	3.91% flat	~£1,955	3.91%
Allica, base rate only (no boosts)	2.83% base	~£1,415	2.83%
Allica, boosts earned and timed out as scheduled	4.08% for 3 months, 3.83% for 3 months, 3.33% for 6 months	~£1,821 (welcome boost expires at 3 months, switch boost at 6, transfers boost assumed earned every month)	~3.64%
Shawbrook, 1-year fixed (locked)	4.22% fixed	~£2,110	4.22%
Cambridge & Counties, 1-year bond (locked, £20k min)	4.60% fixed	~£2,300	4.60%
Verified 17 July 2026.

The lesson is in the top two rows. Capital on Tap’s 3.82% AER headline nets about 3.27% over the year once the 60-day promo reverts. That quietly trails Shawbrook’s flat 3.86% and Hampshire Trust Bank’s 3.91% instant access.

Allica shows a different trap. Its 4.08% AER needs all three boosts running at once, and two are temporary by design: the welcome boost pays for three months, the switch boost for six.

Assuming you keep earning the ongoing transfers boost every month, a realistic first year averages closer to 3.64% AER, not 4.08%. On the base rate alone, with no boosts, it pays 2.83% AER.

And if you are willing to lock cash away, the unconditional leaders, Cambridge & Counties at 4.60% and Shawbrook at 4.22%, pay more for none of the boost-chasing effort.

Eligibility for Business Savings Accounts

Business Types That Can Apply

Check eligibility before you fall for a rate. The most common trap is the sole-trader exclusion: two of the most visible accounts we flag here, Capital on Tap and Aldermore, will reject your application outright if you trade as a sole trader, however good the rate looked when you started.

Business Types That Can Apply
Provider	Sole traders	Who it accepts
Tide	Yes	Sole traders, limited companies and partnerships (needs a Tide current account)
Capital on Tap	No	Limited companies and LLPs only. Sole traders, charities, trusts and PLCs excluded
Allica	Not typically	Established SMEs trading 12+ months, via an Allica Business Rewards Account
Shawbrook	Yes	Sole traders, limited companies and partnerships. LLPs excluded, and a UK business current account in the same name is required
Aldermore	No	Limited companies only. Directors must be UK-resident and UK tax-resident
Hampshire Trust Bank	No (not listed)	Limited companies, PLCs, LLPs, partnerships, charities, clubs and societies
United Trust Bank	Yes	Limited companies, sole traders, education providers, clubs, credit unions, pension funds. LLPs and partnerships not confirmed
Cambridge & Counties	Yes	Limited companies, sole traders, academy schools, charities, credit unions. LLPs and partnerships not listed
Verified 17 July 2026.

If you are a sole trader, Tide, Shawbrook, United Trust Bank and Cambridge & Counties are your clearest routes to a competitive rate. There is little point pining after the accounts that will not have you.

Where we mark “verify first”, the entity simply isn’t confirmed on the public product page, so a two-minute call before you apply saves a pointless rejection.

Minimum Deposit and Balance Requirements

The deposit floor decides as much as eligibility does. Tide and Capital on Tap open from £1, so any business can start. The challenger banks want a five-figure sum: £5,000 at Hampshire Trust Bank and United Trust Bank, and £10,000 (or £20,000 for a bond) at Cambridge & Counties.

This is the real reason a smaller reserve can’t chase the top fixed rate. A business with £8,000 spare is locked out of the 4.60% Cambridge & Counties bond however appealing it looks, and is better served by Shawbrook’s £1,000 minimum or a plain easy-access account.

Residency and Account Restrictions

Most providers want the business UK-registered and its directors UK-resident. Aldermore is the strictest on this: directors must be UK tax-resident, and it excludes US citizens and non-UK tax residents outright.

We also found higher-risk sectors turned away at the fintechs, so if your trade sits on a restricted list, confirm before you waste an application.

Several accounts also make you hold something else first. Tide needs a Tide business account, Capital on Tap needs a Capital on Tap account, and Allica’s savings pot lives inside its Business Rewards Account. The standalone challenger banks ask for none of that, which is part of their appeal.

How to Compare Business Savings Accounts

Choosing by Rate and Access

Start with the money you can’t afford to lock up, not the rate. If payroll runs on the 28th and a supplier invoice lands on the 30th, cash sitting in a 95-day notice account isn’t a reserve, it’s a problem you’ve scheduled for yourself.

If you might need it inside 30 days, easy access is the only sensible home, and Hampshire Trust Bank’s 3.91% AER leads it. If you are setting money aside for a VAT bill three months out, a notice account pays more, and a fixed bond pays most of all.

Only then read the headline for its condition. A boosted rate beats a flat one only if you will genuinely keep it, and our worked example shows a 3.82% promo landing below a plain 3.91% easy-access rate over a year. Compare the rate you will receive, never the banner.

Choosing by Protection Type

FSCS protection follows the bank that holds your deposit, not the brand you signed up with. That matters most for the ClearBank pool: Tide and Capital on Tap share a single £120,000, so £70,000 in one and £60,000 in the other still leaves £10,000 with no cover at all.

Choosing by Protection Type
Provider	Who holds the deposit	FSCS position
Tide	ClearBank	£120,000 shared across all ClearBank-backed accounts
Capital on Tap	ClearBank	£120,000 shared, same pool as Tide
Allica	Allica Bank (own licence)	£120,000 separate
Shawbrook	Shawbrook Bank (own licence)	£120,000 separate
Aldermore	Aldermore Bank (own licence)	£120,000 separate
Hampshire Trust Bank	Hampshire Trust Bank (own licence, FRN 204601)	£120,000 separate
United Trust Bank	United Trust Bank (own licence)	£120,000 separate
Cambridge & Counties	Cambridge & Counties Bank (own licence, FRN 579415)	£120,000 separate
Verified 17 July 2026.

To protect more than £120,000, split it across separate licences: £120,000 with Allica and £120,000 with Shawbrook covers the full £240,000, because they sit behind different banks. One legal entity only, though: a sole trader’s personal and business savings in their own name share a single limit.

Splitting between Tide and Capital on Tap does nothing, because both are ClearBank, and this is exactly where a business assuming two apps means two limits gets caught. For a large sum, we would confirm each licence on the FCA register before moving a penny.

Choosing by Platform and Account Management

If you want everything behind one login, the fintechs win. Tide and Capital on Tap savings open inside apps you may already use, with instant transfers and, for Capital on Tap, a sweep to its credit card. That convenience is a real reason to accept a slightly lower rate.

The challenger banks trade that ease for yield. Hampshire Trust Bank, United Trust Bank and Cambridge & Counties are standalone savings providers: you run the account separately, usually online, with no invoicing or accounting integrations.

For a reserve you barely touch, that separation is a feature, not a chore. Money you can’t reach in one tap is money you’re less tempted to raid.

Who Business Savings Accounts Are Best For

Best for Earning Interest on Surplus Cash

If your only goal is the most interest on cash you can genuinely set aside, follow the unconditional rates and ignore the boosted ones.

Cambridge & Counties pays the highest here at 4.60% AER on a one or two-year bond, provided you can meet the £20,000 minimum and lock the money away.

Hampshire Trust Bank’s 4.31% AER fixed and Shawbrook’s 4.22% AER one-year bond are close behind, and Shawbrook asks for only £1,000.

Want to keep the cash reachable? Hampshire Trust Bank’s 3.91% AER easy-access SME Saver is the strongest instant rate we found, and gives up surprisingly little to the bonds.

Best for Businesses That Need Fast Access

If a client payment lands late and payroll is due the same week, an account you can empty the same day matters far more than an extra fraction of a percent. This is the one case where chasing the top rate is the wrong move.

Stay in easy access and accept the slightly lower rate for the flexibility. Hampshire Trust Bank leads at 3.91% AER, with Shawbrook’s easy-access account and United Trust Bank’s 3.50% AER account as alternatives.

If you already bank with a fintech, the convenience can outweigh the rate gap outright. Tide’s saver opens in-app with instant transfers, and Capital on Tap’s sweeps straight to its credit card. Just remember Capital on Tap is limited companies and LLPs only.

When a Different Cash Management Option May Be Better

A deposit account isn’t always the right tool, and pretending otherwise would be lazy. Two alternatives are worth knowing, and neither belongs in the comparison above, because neither is a standard FSCS-protected deposit.

Wise Interest is a money market fund, not a savings account. It can pay a competitive net return and holds GBP, USD and EUR in one place, which genuinely suits an international business. But it is an FCA-regulated investment: no FSCS deposit protection, and your capital is at risk.

Read our Wise business account review before you use it for reserves you cannot afford to see fall. Integrated savings pots are the gentler option, sitting inside a current account you already hold.

If you bank with Monzo Business or Starling, you can ringfence tax or project money in a pot under the same FSCS £120,000 as your main balance.

Neither matches a dedicated account’s AER, so this is simplicity bought at the cost of rate. Check the live pot rate before you assume it competes.

Other ways to hold business cash. Flagstone and Hampden & Co are both genuine deposit routes, but neither is a single priced account you can line up next to the rest of this table.

Flagstone is a multi-bank deposit platform: your rate depends on which partner banks it places you with and what its platform fee takes, not one number. Hampden & Co publishes no rate at all, so you would need to contact them directly.

Flagstone Business Savings Platform

Best for: Businesses with £100,000+ wanting to spread deposits across multiple FSCS-protected banks

Watch out: Flagstone deducts a fee from interest, the net rates on the platform are lower than the headline bank rates. £100,000 minimum deposit excludes most small businesses. The platform adds a login layer between you and your deposits; check the terms on individual partner banks.

Not ideal if: Not ideal if: you have less than £100,000 to deposit, you want to deal directly with a single bank, or you need an integrated account alongside your existing business banking.

Platform ratesUp to 4.99% AER On fixed-term accounts; net of Flagstone’s fee deduction

Access types availableEasy access, notice, fixed 250+ accounts from 40+ partner banks

FSCS protection£120,000 per partner bank Spread deposits across multiple banks to protect beyond £120,000

Minimum deposit£100,000

Flagstone feeDeducted from interest Exact percentage not published; net rates shown on platform

Account typeSavings platform, not a bank Deposits held at partner institutions, not Flagstone directly

Number of accounts250+ options Across 40+ FCA-regulated banks

Eligibility: UK businesses. Minimum deposit of £100,000 , this excludes most small and early-stage businesses. No minimum turnover is stated. Flagstone is a platform, not a bank; you are opening accounts with its partner institutions, each of which has its own eligibility criteria. Verify at flagstoneim.com before applying. There is no confirmed maximum deposit.

Not ideal if: Not ideal if: you have less than £100,000 to deposit, you want to deal directly with a single bank, or you need an integrated account alongside your existing business banking.

Spread deposits across 40+ banks, FSCS protection beyond £120,000 per institution

250+ savings accounts from one login

Rates up to 4.99% AER available on fixed terms

Easy access, notice, and fixed options all available

£100,000 minimum deposit, excludes most SMEs

Flagstone deducts a fee from interest, exact percentage not published

Not a bank, you are placing deposits with partner institutions, not Flagstone

More complex than opening an account directly with a bank

Hampden Bank Business Deposit Accounts

Best for: High-net-worth businesses and private-bank clients depositing £250,000+ who want a relationship-led approach and FSCS protection under a separate banking licence

Watch out: Rates are not publicly published, you must contact Hampden Bank directly or access via Flagstone. Minimum deposit is £250,000 direct (£100,000 via Flagstone). A Hampden Bank current account is required to hold a deposit account. This is a private banking relationship, not a self-service savings product.

Not ideal if: Not ideal if: you have less than £250,000 to deposit, you want a published rate to compare directly, you are looking for a self-service account with an app, or you do not already have a relationship with a private bank.

Account typesCall (instant), 95-Day Notice, Fixed Term Fixed terms from 1 month to 5 years

Interest ratesIndicative, not publicly published Contact Hampden Bank for a quote; reference 3.62% AER via Flagstone (April 2026, 3-month fixed)

FSCS protection£120,000 (Hampden Bank licence) Separate from ClearBank, Allica, Shawbrook, and other providers

Minimum deposit (direct)£250,000

Minimum deposit (via Flagstone)£100,000

Interest paidMonthly (Call & Notice) / At maturity (Fixed Term)

Account feeNot published; confirm with provider

Account typePrivate banking Requires Hampden Bank current account; relationship-led, no self-service app

Eligibility: UK businesses with a minimum deposit of £250,000 direct with Hampden Bank, or £100,000 via the Flagstone platform. A Hampden Bank current account is required to hold a deposit account. This is a private banking relationship, not a self-service product. Contact Hampden Bank directly to discuss eligibility and to receive an indicative rate.

FSCS protected up to £120,000 under Hampden Bank’s own licence

Three account types: instant access (Call), 95-day notice, and fixed term (1 month to 5 years)

Relationship-led private banking, bespoke deposit terms available

Separate FSCS licence from ClearBank and Allica, useful for FSCS stacking

Dedicated private banking relationship manager

FSCS protection up to £120,000

No automated call centres

Institutional banking stability

Tailored bespoke deposit structuring

£250,000 minimum deposit direct (£100,000 via Flagstone)

Rates not published publicly, indicative only, available on request

Hampden Bank current account required to open a deposit account

Not a self-service or app-based product, private banking model

Private bank deposit accounts, not mass market

Call Account (instant), 95-Day Notice, Term Account (1 month to 5 years)

FSCS protected up to £120,000 (Hampden Bank own licence)

£250,000 minimum direct / £100,000 via Flagstone

Hampden Bank current account required

Instant Access Call accounts

95-Day Notice accounts

Fixed-term deposits (1 month to 5 years)

Multi-currency holding support

Available for complex business entities

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a sole trader open a business savings account?
Some accept sole traders and some flatly won’t, so check before you apply. Tide, Shawbrook, United Trust Bank and Cambridge & Counties all take sole traders. Capital on Tap and Aldermore don’t: both are limited-company (and, for Capital on Tap, LLP) accounts only. Allica targets established SMEs and doesn’t typically suit sole traders. If you trade as a sole trader and want a competitive rate, start with Tide, Shawbrook, United Trust Bank or Cambridge & Counties and don’t waste time on the rest.
Which business savings account pays the most?
Cambridge & Counties pays the highest rate on this page at 4.60% AER on a one or two-year fixed bond, though it needs a £20,000 minimum and locks the cash away. If you want a strong rate without the high entry price, Shawbrook’s 4.22% AER one-year bond needs only £1,000. For easy access, Hampshire Trust Bank leads at 3.91% AER. The thing to hold onto: the account that pays the most is rarely the one that fits your cash flow, so let access come first. Checked 17 July 2026.
Does Allica really pay 4.08% AER?
Only if you hit three conditions at once, so treat it as a ceiling rather than the going rate. Allica’s base rate is 2.83% AER, and the 4.08% AER maximum is reached by stacking three boosts: +0.5% a month for making 15 or more outgoing transfers the previous month, +0.5% for six months after completing a full Current Account Switch, and a +0.25% welcome boost for three months on £50,000 or more paid in within 14 days of opening. Two of those boosts are temporary: the welcome boost lasts three months, the switch boost six. Keep earning the ongoing transfers boost every month and a realistic first year averages around 3.64% AER, not 4.08%; drop the transfers boost too and you are back near the 2.83% base.
What is the FSCS limit for a business savings account?
The FSCS deposit protection limit is £120,000 per eligible depositor per authorised firm, effective 1 December 2025 (up from £85,000). The catch that trips people is that it applies per bank, not per brand. ClearBank holds deposits for both Tide and Capital on Tap, so if you hold both, your £120,000 is shared across them, not doubled. Allica, Shawbrook, Aldermore, Hampshire Trust Bank, United Trust Bank and Cambridge & Counties each hold their own licence, so each carries a separate £120,000 you can stack.
Is a money market fund the same as a business savings account?
No, and treating them as the same thing is how businesses take on risk they didn’t mean to. A money market fund, such as Wise Interest, is an investment product regulated by the FCA. Returns aren’t guaranteed and your capital is at risk. A savings account is a deposit product: your balance is protected by FSCS up to £120,000 and can’t fall below what you paid in. A money market fund can pay a competitive return, but it isn’t a like-for-like replacement for a deposit account, so we keep it out of the main comparison.
Do I need to switch my current account to open a business savings account?
It depends on the provider. Tide Savings needs a Tide business account, Capital on Tap Savings needs a Capital on Tap account, and Allica’s savings pot sits inside its Business Rewards Account. The standalone challenger banks, Shawbrook, Aldermore, Hampshire Trust Bank, United Trust Bank and Cambridge & Counties, don’t make you move your main banking at all. None of them require you to close your existing account, so you’re adding a home for cash, not switching bank.

How We Reviewed Business Savings Account Providers

Ranking criteria. We ranked on the numbers a business actually banks: the live AER you will genuinely receive, how fast you can reach your cash, the FSCS position, and any linked-account or minimum-balance strings.

A conditional headline earns credit only at the rate most businesses will realistically keep, never its best-case ceiling.

Data sources. We checked every AER, notice period, deposit floor and eligibility rule against each provider’s own product pages on 17 July 2026, and confirmed each bank’s FSCS position and licence on the FCA register. We don’t use aggregator or comparison-site data.

Update cadence. We re-verify every provider on this page at least monthly, and whenever a provider changes pricing, eligibility or terms. The verification date reflects our most recent full check. Some links here are affiliate links, which never affect the ranking; see our editorial policy.

Cite this comparison. Best Business Savings Accounts UK, published by BusinessExpert. Data checked 17 July 2026. Coverage: more than 40 accounts across 11 providers.

Method: checked against provider product pages and the FCA register. Suggested attribution: “BusinessExpert, Best Business Savings Accounts UK (July 2026)”.

Best Business Savings Accounts UK (2026)

Best Business Savings Accounts at a Glance

Business Savings Account Providers Compared

How Business Savings Accounts Work

Instant Access vs Notice vs Fixed-Term Accounts

How Interest Is Calculated and Paid

FSCS Protection vs Safeguarding

Business Savings Account Rates and Returns

AER, Gross Rate and Bonus Rates Explained

Minimum and Maximum Deposit Limits

How Rates Vary by Access Type

Eligibility for Business Savings Accounts

Business Types That Can Apply

Minimum Deposit and Balance Requirements

Residency and Account Restrictions

How to Compare Business Savings Accounts

Choosing by Rate and Access

Choosing by Protection Type

Choosing by Platform and Account Management

Who Business Savings Accounts Are Best For

Best for Earning Interest on Surplus Cash

Best for Businesses That Need Fast Access

When a Different Cash Management Option May Be Better

Frequently Asked Questions

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