Metro Bank Business Account: How to Open in the UK

Opening a Metro Bank business account starts with choosing the account that matches your business - its Business Bank Account is aimed at smaller businesses, while its Commercial Current Account is for businesses with annual turnover above £2 million. This guide explains how to open a Metro Bank business account, covering both of these options.

We've also touched on who can apply, what documents and fees to check, and why you might wish to consider Wise Business - a business account designed with globally oriented businesses in mind.

Discover Wise Business 🔎

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Note: Wise Business offers a free Essential plan for basic spending and transferring. If you need to receive money, set up direct debits, or generate invoices, you'll pay a one-time £50 setup fee to unlock the Advanced features.

Provider features, fees, eligibility checks, protections and timelines can vary by customer, business type, application outcome, payment route and country. Check the provider's website and terms and conditions for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

The Wise account is not a bank account but offers some similar features and your money is safeguarded.

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How to open a metro bank business account - summary of steps

Steps to open a Metro Bank business account

1. Choose the right Metro Bank account

Check your expected annual turnover and business structure first. The Business Bank Account is for eligible businesses with turnover up to £2 million a year, while the Commercial Current Account is aimed at businesses above that threshold.^1,2

2. Check the account requirements and documents

Read Metro Bank's eligibility criteria and account-opening guide before beginning. This is particularly important if the business has more than one director, partner, beneficial owner or account operator, as extra information or documents may be needed.^1,4

3. Apply online or visit a store

You can start a Business Bank Account application online, or open one in store. Metro Bank says it offers walk-in same-day account opening in stores, although it recommends booking an appointment or checking availability with your local store first.¹

4. Complete the application for all relevant people

For a business with multiple directors, Metro Bank's application page says other directors can use a unique code to complete their part of the application.¹

5. Review the account charges and services before using it

Once approved, check the current transaction and service tariff for the payment types you expect to use, including international payments, CHAPS, cash services and overdrafts. These can sit outside the headline monthly-account fee.¹

What Metro Bank business accounts are available and what types of companies do they suit?

The Business Bank Account suits small businesses, start-ups and limited companies

This account is for small businesses, including start-ups, sole traders and limited companies with annual turnover of up to £2 million. It includes online and mobile banking, debit cards and in-store support.¹

The Commercial Current Account suits larger businesses

According to Metro Bank's Commercial Current Account information, businesses with annual turnover above £2 million can speak to its relationship team about opening a Commercial Current Account. The account includes a dedicated Relationship Manager and commercial online-banking options for payment and administration needs.²

The Community Current Account suits clubs, societies and charities

According to Metro Bank's business-account comparison page, its Community Current Account is for clubs, societies and charities. The page lists 200 free transactions a month and free cash withdrawals and deposits up to £10,000 a month, for a £3 monthly charge.³

Does Metro Bank offer a foreign currency business account?

Metro Bank's business-account comparison page presents its Foreign Currency Account for businesses operating with international partners, and says it can send and receive payments in 14 commonly used currencies.³

For a business that needs a UK current account, cash services or in-store support, Metro Bank's account range may be a useful fit. But Wise Business can be the stronger option for a business whose main priority is managing money across currencies.

With Wise Business, eligible businesses can receive payments using local account details in 8+ currencies, hold money in 40+ currencies and send money to 140+ countries.

You can also convert funds at the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees, shown before you send or convert. Compare the currencies, account details, conversion costs and payment routes that matter to your business before choosing a setup.

Discover Wise Business 🔎

Wise Business offers a free Essential plan for basic spending and transferring. If you need to receive money, set up direct debits, or generate invoices, you'll pay a one-time £50 setup fee to unlock the Advanced features.

The Wise account is not a bank account but offers some similar features and your money is safeguarded.

Who can open a Metro Bank Business Bank Account?

According to Metro Bank's Business Bank Account information, the account is aimed at eligible UK-based small businesses. Its application journey asks whether annual turnover is £2 million or under, or above £2 million.¹

Before applying, check that the proposed account matches your turnover, structure and ownership. Metro Bank's eligibility and account-opening requirements can differ between a sole trader, limited company, partnership, community organisation or larger commercial business.

What documents do you need to open a Metro Bank business account?

Metro Bank says there are documents to bring when opening in store, and directs applicants to its account-opening guide for the full list.^1,4

The exact documents depend on the account and business structure. Before you apply, make sure the relevant people can provide the required identification, proof of address and business information, and use Metro Bank's current checklist to confirm the documents for your business.

Metro Bank business account fees

According to Metro Bank's Business Bank Account information, pricing depends in part on whether the balance stays above £6,000 for the whole month.¹

Metro Bank says that charges can also apply for services such as overdrafts, international payments and CHAPS. Review its full transaction and service charges before applying rather than relying only on the monthly-account-fee position.¹

Discover Wise Business: an alternative to Metro Bank

If Metro Bank's branch access and UK business-current-account features match your needs, it may be a useful base for domestic banking.

But if overseas supplier payments, international customer receipts or multi-currency operating costs also matter, consider opening a Wise Business account.

Wise Business offers a free Essential plan for basic spending and transferring. If you need to receive money, set up direct debits, or generate invoices, you'll pay a one-time £50 setup fee to unlock the Advanced features.

With Wise Business, you can:

• 🌍 Send money to 70+ countries and pay overseas invoices at the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees and no hidden exchange rate markups (product availability varies by region)
• 📥 Receive payments in 24 currencies and counting
• 💵 Get local account details for 8+ currencies, including USD and EUR, to let your customers pay in a currency they know and trust - convenience for them and peace of mind for you
• 💰 Hold money in 40+ currencies
• 🔁 Convert currencies anytime at the mid-market exchange rate with low, transparent fees
• ⚡ Use the batch payments tool to create and send up to 1,000 payments in a single transfer
• 👥 Run payroll and make international payments for up to 1,000 employees all over the world - including paying suppliers using local payment methods like ACH, SEPA, and Faster Payments
• 💳 Get business debit cards with 0.5% cashback for you and your team to keep track of team expenses and spend all over the world, with real-time visibility and categorisation. See full cashback terms and conditions
• 🏢 Manage cash in 55+ currencies across international offices from a single business account and move money between business accounts in seconds (exact speeds can vary depending on individual circumstances and may not be the same for all transactions)
• 🧾 Connect and sync every business transaction to your favourite accounting software, including Xero, Quickbooks, and more
• 🔐 Create your own payment approvals process to manage your team better with customised access for different team members, roles and permissions
• 📑 Create custom professional invoices and schedule invoice payments for future dates
• 📈 Earn variable returns on GBP, USD and EUR with Wise Interest (Capital at risk, growth not guaranteed. Your money is at risk if governments default or interest rates go negative. Rates vary by country and currency. Rates are variable. Visit Wise Interest to find out more)
• 🔗 Create payment links and QR codes to get paid easily (Card payment acceptance for new Wise Business customers is currently unavailable. Payment methods subject to eligibility and availability.)
• ⚙️ Automate payouts with the Wise API (comes with 24/7 customer support, a sandbox account to test integrations, API tokens, and clear documents on how to implement and make the most of our API)

Make the wise choice when selecting a business account for your domestic and global needs.

Be Smart, Get Wise.

Register for Wise Business ✍️

**Investments are not guaranteed, and your capital is at risk.

Wise is an Electronic Money Institution (EMI), so features like Interest and Stocks may be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). For standard cash balances, we safeguard your funds to meet regulatory obligations.

In the UK, Interest and Stocks are provided by Wise Assets, the trading name of Wise Assets UK Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA number 839689).

We do not provide investment advice, and taxes may apply. If unsure, seek qualified financial advice. Full fund information is available on our website.

The Wise account is not a bank account but offers some similar features and your money is safeguarded.

FAQs

Can I open a Metro Bank business account online?

Yes. According to Metro Bank's Business Bank Account information, you can apply for a Business Bank Account online. It also offers an in-store route.¹

What is the minimum balance required to open a Metro Bank business account?

Metro Bank's Business Bank Account page says that keeping a balance above £6,000 for the whole month removes the monthly account fee and gives you 30 free UK transactions for that month. It doesn't present that figure as an opening-balance requirement, so check the current account terms and tariff before applying.¹

Can a business with multiple directors apply for a Metro Bank Business Bank Account?

Yes, subject to Metro Bank's eligibility and onboarding checks. Its Business Bank Account page says businesses with multiple directors can use a unique code so other directors can complete their part of the application.¹

What if my business turnover is above £2 million?

Metro Bank's Commercial Current Account information says businesses with annual turnover above £2 million can talk to its relationship team about opening a commercial account.²

How long does it take to open a Metro Bank business account?

Metro Bank says it offers walk-in same-day account opening in stores, but it recommends booking before visiting. It doesn't state a universal approval time for every online or in-store application, so check your route and business circumstances with Metro Bank before relying on a timeline.¹

Is Metro Bank good for business accounts?

It depends on what your business needs. Metro Bank may be worth considering if branch access, in-person support and a UK current account are priorities. If your business regularly receives or pays money internationally, compare the foreign-currency features, transfer route and costs against a multi-currency option as well.

Sources:

1. Business Bank Account | Metro Bank
2. Commercial Current Account | Metro Bank
3. Compare business bank account options | Metro Bank
4. What do I need to open a Business Bank Account? | Metro Bank
5. Financial Services Compensation Scheme

Sources last checked on 8 September 2026