Check out our switch offer: free banking on everyday transactions for 2 years.
Switch offer: Free business banking on everyday transactions for 2 years
To be eligible for 2 years of free banking on everyday transactions when you switch:
Your business's projected or existing annual turnover must be below £2m.
You'll need to make a full switch from an eligible business bank account to an Ulster Bank business bank account using the Current Account Switch Service (CASS).
You can't switch a NatWest or Royal Bank of Scotland business current account to Ulster Bank.
Check if your current bank participates in CASS.
If you're not eligible for the free banking offer, you can still use the CASS to switch your account if your turnover is under £6.5m. Find out more about eligibility.
Learn more about how the Current Account Switch Service works
The Current Account Switch Service will do all the work for you, moving everything across from your old account to your new account, including Direct Debits and Standing Orders, all within 7 working days.
- Apply online for any of our business accounts.
- Tell us you’re switching during the application, and we'll send over the form you'll need to complete.
- Send back the completed form with your old bank account details, and tell us when you want the switch to start. The Current Account Switch Service will take care of the rest.
- Free banking on everyday transactions will apply from the date the switch is complete, so you might incur fees outlined in the Guide to business current account fees document after your account is open.
Current Account Switch Guarantee (PDF, 40 KB)
Your Guide to switching your account to us (PDF, 2.3 MB)
We won't switch any standing orders with a frequency over a year into the new account. Once your account's open, you'll be able to set up standing orders with a frequency of up to 1 year.
Free banking means the charges for the day to day running of your account (known as your service charges) won’t apply during the free banking period. At the end of this period, you’ll start to incur fees for your everyday transactions. Charges for unarranged overdrafts, Bankline, international payments and any additional services are not part of the free banking offer. For details of our full charges and switcher offer eligibility criteria, please refer to the Guide to Business Current Account Fees on this page.
The 7-day switch guarantee
Start-up bank account
Our account for businesses trading less than a year with turnover of less than £1m.
Business bank account
Our account for businesses with turnover above £1m. Or, for businesses with turnover below £1m who have been trading for over a year.
Community account
Enjoy free banking or reduced tariff for up to 2 years depending on your turnover. Terms and conditions apply.
Full switch versus partial switch
The service you'll need depends on whether you need to keep your old account open, your eligibility (based on business circumstances), the mandate authorisation with your old bank and whether your old bank is part of the Current Account Switch Service.
- A full Current Account Switch Service is done within 7 business days, backed by the Current Account Switch Guarantee (PDF, 40 KB)
- If you're not eligible to use the Current Account Switch Service, Ulster Bank can provide a partial switch. A partial switch allows customers to select a date up to 90 days in the future and is not backed by the Current Account Switch Guarantee.
- You can find out more about each service from the FAQs below, or in our Switching Guide (PDF, 2.3 MB).
Check Third Party Provider permissions
If you've given permissions to Third Party Providers (TPPs) - such as financial comparison websites, money management apps and payment services - to make payments on your behalf, or to access your financial data, access to these services won't be transferred automatically to your new account as part of the Current Account Switch Service.
- Before you close your old account, check whether you have any TPP permissions set up and if so, who with.
- Once your new account is open, you can give your permission to the TPP to access your new account by providing them with your new account details. You'll need to contact the TPP directly yourself to set this up.
- If you’re unsure as to whether we’ll support TPP permissions on your account, you’ll need to discuss this ahead of your switch with us and we’ll be able to advise you of this.
Please check our terms and conditions for more information about Third Party Providers.
Useful information about switching business bank accounts
What you need to open an Ulster Bank business account
Participating providers of UK business bank accounts have agreed to a basic set of information that they will need from you to set up your UK business current account. Find out what you’ll need to provide using the simple business banking checklist from UK Finance, the UK’s leading trade association for financial services.
Account charges
At the end of your 2-year free banking period, you’ll start to incur fees for your everyday transactions.
Guide to Business Current Account Fees (PDF, 849 KB)
FreeAgent accounting software
Included with your business account, FreeAgent connects to your banking app to deliver real-time insights into your tax, cashflow, and invoicing.
Free programmes and tools for your growth
Our Entrepreneur hub offers a range of programmes and tools, plus you could tap into a network of specialists and peers who could offer help and guidance as you grow.
Business savings accounts that work harder for you
Our savings accounts could help you earn more interest and plan for your business's future.
Take contactless payments with just your phone
NatWest Tap to Pay from Tyl by NatWest (part of the same group) is an exciting way to take contactless payments from your customers with just your iPhone or Android smartphone. No need for card machines, as everything is app-based on the device you use everyday. Tap to Pay is Wi-Fi and network-ready too, making it seamless and super reliable. †
*FreeAgent is included for as long as you retain your Ulster Bank business bank account. Optional add-ons may be chargeable.
†To be eligible for Tyl by NatWest your business must be based in the UK, and you must be over 18. No monthly hire or PCI fees for Tap to Pay. Transaction fees and limits apply. Some contactless cards not accepted. Users may be charged for data usage by their network operator. Available on iPhone XS or later with iOS 16.4 or later and Android OS 10 or later (base OS 8.1+) with Google Services and NFC. Subject to Tyl eligibility criteria and terms and conditions.