Metro Bank Business Account Review UK: Fees, Offers & Verdict
Metro Bank is unusual in 2026: while many banks are reducing their physical presence, Metro is still opening stores and putting Local Business Managers inside them. That makes it particularly interesting for cash-handling businesses and owners who value face-to-face support. The pricing, however, needs careful reading.
Is Metro Bank a good business account?
Metro Bank is a strong specialist choice rather than the obvious default for every small business.
If you regularly handle cash, want to sit down with a Local Business Manager or simply prefer having a real bank store available, Metro offers something increasingly rare.
If your company receives every payment electronically and you are comfortable running the business from an app, Starling, Monzo or Tide may be simpler and cheaper once Metro’s introductory offers end.
The reason Metro Bank deserves a fresh look in 2026
Metro Bank said in March 2026 that it had 78 locations and was continuing to open new stores, including planned sites in Newcastle and Leeds. Thirty-four stores had Saturday opening hours of 9:30am to 4pm. That is a very different strategy from much of the UK banking market.
Metro Bank has two very different fee-free offers
| Offer | Who it is for | What is included | Important exclusions |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31-month Full Switcher Offer | Eligible businesses completing a full CASS switch | No monthly maintenance fee, eligible transaction charges waived, no minimum balance, fee-free cash transactions up to £10,000/month | Overdrafts, international payments, CHAPS and certain additional services |
| 12-month New-to-Bank Offer | Eligible new Metro Bank business customers with turnover up to £2m | 12 months of fee-free day-to-day business banking without needing to complete a full switch | Cash, overdrafts, international payments, CHAPS and Commercial Online Banking are not included |
The distinction is important. If you bank significant amounts of cash, the 31-month switching offer is substantially more valuable because it includes fee-free cash paid in, paid out or exchanged up to £10,000 a month.
31 months of fee-free banking for qualifying switchers
Metro Bank’s current full-switch offer is one of the more aggressive business-banking promotions on the market.
Complete an eligible full switch through the Current Account Switch Service and Metro currently offers 31 months with:
- no monthly account maintenance fee;
- no charge on eligible everyday transactions;
- cash paid in, paid out or exchanged fee-free up to £10,000 a month;
- no minimum-balance requirement; and
- an optional enhanced rate on a Business Instant Access savings account, subject to the offer terms.
The switch itself is completed through the standard seven-working-day Current Account Switch Service.
Do not read “31 months free” as “nothing can cost me money”
Overdraft charges, international payments, CHAPS and other additional services remain outside the free-banking offer. Always compare the exact services your business uses.
If you are considering moving an existing account, read our business bank-account switching guide first.
12 months fee-free if you are new to Metro Bank
You do not have to close your existing business account to benefit from a Metro offer.
Eligible businesses new to Metro Bank can currently receive 12 months of fee-free day-to-day banking on the Business Bank Account.
This is aimed at businesses with annual turnover of up to £2 million.
The catch is that cash deposits, withdrawals and exchanges are not included in this particular offer. Neither are overdrafts, international payments, CHAPS and some additional services.
For a digital service business, that may make little difference. For a shop taking thousands of pounds in cash, it changes the economics considerably.
Metro Bank Business Account fees
The standard Metro Bank tariff has an unusual balance-based structure.
| Your balance during the month | Monthly account fee | UK transaction charges |
|---|---|---|
| £6,000 or more every day | £0 | First 30 eligible UK transactions free, then 30p each |
| Falls below £6,000 on any day | £8 | 30p for each eligible UK transaction |
The words “every day” matter. It is not based on your average monthly balance.
A slightly painful £1 example
If your balance sits above £6,000 for almost the whole month but falls to £5,999 at close of business on one day, the standard £8 monthly fee and transaction pricing can apply for that month. That makes cash-flow timing unusually important with this tariff.
What could the standard Metro Bank tariff cost?
Imagine your business makes 60 chargeable UK transactions in a month.
| Scenario | Monthly fee | Transaction cost | Illustrative total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balance stays at £6,000+ | £0 | First 30 free, remaining 30 × 30p = £9 | £9 |
| Balance falls below £6,000 | £8 | 60 × 30p = £18 | £26 |
That is why comparing Metro with a £0 digital account or a fixed monthly subscription requires more than looking at the headline monthly fee.
Metro Bank makes more sense for cash-heavy businesses than many app banks
Metro lets businesses pay cash into its stores, and registered business customers can also use Post Office services.
The current daily cash-deposit limit is £10,000 for the standard Business Bank Account, both in Metro stores and through the Post Office service.
Outside promotional free-cash allowances, Metro’s standard business tariff should be checked for the applicable cash transaction charge before choosing the account.
The practical advantage is access. A retailer, café or trades business can bank cash rather than being forced into a purely digital process.
Who benefits most from the 31-month offer?
A business regularly paying in several thousand pounds of cash may get far more value from fee-free cash transactions up to £10,000 a month than a consultant who receives every customer payment by bank transfer.
Metro Bank’s store network is the real differentiator
Metro’s strongest competitive advantage is not a budgeting feature in its app. It is being able to walk into a store and talk to someone.
Metro says each store has a Local Business Manager to support business customers. In many cases, it can also offer same-day in-store account opening, subject to the required checks and documents.
Not every store opens on Saturday, and the old image of Metro stores being open seven days a week is no longer accurate. Current store hours vary by location.
As of Metro’s March 2026 expansion announcement, 34 of its 78 locations offered Saturday opening from 9:30am to 4pm.
For an owner who wants face-to-face support, that still compares favourably with banks that have reduced their branch networks or app-only providers that never had one.
Local Business Managers and borrowing
Metro positions relationship banking at the centre of its small-business proposition.
There is a Local Business Manager in every store, and the bank also offers networking activity and introductions to services such as Xero and merchant services.
Eligible Business Bank Account customers can apply for an overdraft of up to £60,000, subject to approval and Metro’s lending criteria.
Metro also offers business credit cards, loans and wider commercial-finance products.
This gives Metro an advantage over a digital account where banking is excellent but borrowing options are unavailable or limited.
Using the Metro Bank business debit card abroad
Metro currently does not charge a non-sterling card-purchase fee in most European countries.
Outside those countries, the standard business debit-card purchase fee is currently 2.99%. Cash withdrawals outside the relevant European countries cost 2.99% plus £1.50.
That is acceptable for occasional travel, but a business constantly paying overseas suppliers or operating in multiple currencies should compare Revolut Business or Wise.
Who can open a Metro Bank Business Account?
Metro’s standard Business Bank Account is intended for businesses with annual turnover up to £2 million, including startups, sole traders and limited companies.
If turnover exceeds £2 million, Metro directs businesses towards its Commercial Current Account.
Residency requirements also apply. A sole trader or sole signatory must be UK resident. Where an account has multiple signatories, directors or beneficial owners, at least half must generally be UK residents.
The business must also meet Metro’s ownership and eligibility criteria.
If you are opening your first account, see our guide to opening a business bank account.
Is Metro Bank FSCS protected?
Metro Bank is a regulated UK bank.
Eligible deposits are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £120,000, subject to FSCS rules.
The old £85,000 protection figure that appears in older Metro Bank reviews is now out of date.
If your business regularly holds more cash than this, compare our business savings accounts guide and consider how deposits are distributed across authorised institutions.
Which businesses are a good fit?
Retail and hospitality businesses
Cash banking, stores and the switcher’s fee-free cash allowance can be genuinely useful for businesses handling physical money.
Owners who want a human contact
Local Business Managers give Metro a relationship-banking angle that app-only competitors cannot replicate.
Businesses switching from another bank
The current 31-month switcher offer can be extremely valuable if the company’s normal transactions fall within the included services.
Growing businesses that may need borrowing
Overdrafts, credit cards and wider lending options give Metro more room to support the business beyond the current account.
When Metro Bank may not be the best choice
- App-first businesses: Starling and Monzo offer stronger digital-first propositions without needing to think about maintaining a £6,000 balance.
- High-volume electronic businesses after the offer period: 30p-per-transaction pricing can become significant.
- International companies: Revolut Business or Wise may be better suited to regular currency exchange.
- Businesses nowhere near a Metro store: a large part of Metro’s differentiation disappears if you never use the physical network.
- Companies that prefer a simple fixed price: the balance-sensitive tariff adds an extra variable to monthly banking costs.
How Metro Bank compares with Starling, Monzo, Tide and Revolut
| Provider | Starting monthly cost | Best for | Biggest strength |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Bank | £0 if standard £6k balance rule met; introductory offers also available | Cash banking and face-to-face SMEs | Stores, Local Business Managers and strong switcher offer |
| Starling | £0 | UK-focused digital SMEs | Strong free account, invoicing and built-in accounting |
| Monzo Business | Lite £0 | App-first sole traders and small companies | Excellent app and useful paid admin tools |
| Tide | Free £0 | Sole traders and SMEs wanting admin tools | Broad small-business ecosystem |
| Revolut Business | Basic £10/month | International incorporated businesses | Multi-currency banking and FX allowances |
Read our Starling review, Monzo review, Tide review and Revolut Business review for more detail.
Metro Bank Business Account pros and cons
Pros
- 31 months fee-free for eligible full switchers.
- 12 months fee-free for eligible new-to-bank customers.
- Fee-free cash transactions up to £10,000/month under the switcher offer.
- Physical stores and Saturday opening at selected locations.
- Local Business Managers.
- Same-day in-store account opening possible in many cases.
- Overdrafts up to £60,000 subject to approval.
- Eligible FSCS protection up to £120,000.
Cons
- Standard tariff is only monthly-fee-free if £6,000 remains in the account every day.
- Falls below £6,000 and the standard monthly fee becomes £8.
- Standard UK transactions are 30p each unless the balance-based free allowance applies.
- Some services remain chargeable during promotional periods.
- International pricing is less attractive than specialist multi-currency accounts.
- Physical-network advantage matters less if there is no Metro store nearby.
What should your business check?
- Are you switching or simply opening? The 31-month and 12-month offers have materially different benefits.
- Cash: estimate how much you normally deposit each month.
- Average and minimum balance: could the account realistically stay above £6,000 every single day after the offer ends?
- Transaction count: calculate the 30p standard charges using a normal month of activity.
- Store location: check whether you would actually use the nearby Metro location and its opening hours.
- Borrowing: discuss the required overdraft before moving an existing facility.
- International payments: calculate overseas costs separately.
Metro Bank Business Account FAQs
How much is the Metro Bank Business Account?
On the standard tariff there is no monthly account fee if the balance stays above £6,000 every day for the month. If it falls below £6,000, the monthly fee is £8. UK transaction charges are normally 30p each, with 30 free transactions when the £6,000 balance condition is met.
Does Metro Bank offer free business banking?
Yes. Qualifying full switchers can currently receive 31 months of fee-free banking. Eligible businesses that are new to Metro Bank can receive 12 months of fee-free day-to-day banking without switching.
Is Metro Bank Business Banking FSCS protected?
Eligible deposits are protected by the FSCS up to £120,000, subject to the scheme’s eligibility rules.
Can I pay cash into a Metro Bank Business Account?
Yes. Business customers can pay cash into Metro stores and can register for Post Office business banking. The current daily cash-deposit limit for the standard Business Bank Account is £10,000.
Can I open a Metro Bank Business Account in a store?
Yes. Metro offers in-store applications and says same-day account opening is available in many cases, subject to documents, eligibility and required checks.
Does Metro Bank offer business overdrafts?
Eligible Business Bank Account customers can apply for an overdraft of up to £60,000, subject to approval and lending criteria.
Metro Bank is most compelling when you actually use what makes it different
If your business values stores, cash banking and a named human contact, Metro Bank deserves serious consideration.
The 31-month switching offer is particularly strong because it removes the usual balance requirement and includes fee-free eligible transactions plus up to £10,000 a month of qualifying cash transactions.
Once the introductory period is over, the account becomes more nuanced. Keeping £6,000 in the account every day can still produce attractive pricing, but dropping below that level changes the monthly economics immediately.
For a digital consultancy, Starling or Monzo may be easier. For a retailer banking cash on Saturday and wanting a Local Business Manager to call on Monday, Metro is solving a different problem.
Compare Metro Bank with other UK business accounts
Compare switching offers, cash banking, standard transaction fees, digital tools and support before choosing your next business account.
Eligibility, offers and fees can change. Check the latest Metro Bank terms before opening or switching an account.
Other business accounts for UK SMEs
If Metro Bank’s branch-led model is not right for you, compare these digital-first alternatives.
Revolut Business
- Basic from £10/month
- 25+ currencies
- Strong for international companies
Wise Business
- International payments focus
- Multi-currency features
- Useful alongside a main UK account
