Beginner⏱ 30 minutes to prepare and apply; approval time varies by provider

How to Open a Business Bank Account Online (2026 Guide)

How to open a business bank account online: check eligibility, identify beneficial owners and gather the right documents for the UK, US or Germany.

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Pin down the legal entity and where it is registered

Everything that follows depends on two facts: what kind of business you are (sole trader or freelancer, limited company, partnership) and in which country it is registered. Providers do not accept every entity type. Starling's business account, for example, is for limited companies and LLPs registered at Companies House, and does not support general partnerships or charities that are not registered as a limited company. N26 Business in Germany is meant for self-employed people and freelancers working under their own name, and the account must be opened in your own name rather than a company name, so it does not suit a GmbH. Check the provider's eligibility page for your entity type before you fill in anything.

Check residency, phone and industry rules before you apply

Eligibility rules can rule you out before any document is read. Residency rules differ sharply: Starling requires all directors and limited partners with access to the account to be UK residents, while Tide accepts limited company directors with a home address in the UK or overseas but requires every applicant to have a UK mobile number, and requires sole traders to have a UK home address and be registered with HMRC. Industry rules matter too: Starling lists sectors it cannot serve, including financial services, businesses holding client money such as accountants and solicitors, gambling, weapons, dealing in art, antiques, watches or precious metals, and CBD. If your business is in a listed sector, apply to a provider that serves it rather than risk a refusal on your record.

📸 Look for: Check for confirmation screens showing your details have been received. Look for a reference number or confirmation email.

Identify your beneficial owners, using the right threshold

Every provider must identify the people who ultimately own or control the business, and the threshold differs by country. In the UK, the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 define a beneficial owner of a company as anyone who owns or controls more than 25% of the shares or voting rights. In Germany, section 3 of the Geldwäschegesetz (GwG) also sets the line at more than 25 percent of capital or voting rights. In the United States, the FinCEN customer due diligence rule covers anyone who owns 25 percent or more, plus one individual with significant responsibility to control or manage the company. Worked example: a company owned 40%, 35% and 25% by three people. In the UK and Germany, two people are beneficial owners on the ownership test, because 25% is not more than 25%. In the US, all three are, plus one control person, who may be one of them. Prepare ID and address details for everyone who crosses the line in your country.

Gather the documents for your country

For a UK limited company, providers typically ask for the certificate of incorporation, the articles of association, and photo ID and proof of address for each director and beneficial owner; your Companies House record lets many providers check the rest automatically. For a US company, have your formation documents and your Employer Identification Number ready: the IRS issues an EIN free of charge, and online applications that are approved get the number immediately. For a German GmbH or UG, expect to supply a Handelsregister extract or, before registration, the notarial contract and shareholder list, ID for managing directors and shareholders, and beneficial-ownership details; the GwG says a bank may not rely on the Transparenzregister alone, so it will ask you directly even though the register exists. Sole traders usually need ID, proof of address and proof of self-employment such as a tax registration.

📸 Look for: Look for a summary page showing the exact amounts, exchange rates, or account details before you confirm.

German GmbH or UG: plan the share-capital deposit

A German GmbH needs a minimum share capital of 25,000 euros, and it can only be registered once at least half of the minimum, 12,500 euros, has been paid in; a UG must have its share capital paid in full before registration. The managing directors must declare the money is at their free disposal, and the register court may ask for proof such as a deposit confirmation from a bank or payment service provider in the EU. So the account you open first must be able to issue that confirmation. Worked example: four founders each taking a 6,250-euro share of a 25,000-euro GmbH must pay in at least a quarter of each share, 1,562.50 euros each, and together at least 12,500 euros; paying in exactly a quarter each would give only 6,250 euros, so they must pay in more. (Statutes as read on 1 August 2026; take professional advice on formation.)

Fill in the application exactly as your records show

Apply with a business email address if you have one. Enter the legal name exactly as registered, including punctuation and abbreviations, choose the correct legal structure, and use the registered address. If the form asks for an industry code, such as a UK SIC code, use the one on your company record. A mismatch between the form and the register gives the provider a question to ask, and questions take time.

📸 Look for: Verify the dashboard or transaction history reflects the correct status. Take a screenshot for your own records.

Complete the KYB checks

KYB (know your business) is the business version of identity checks. The provider verifies that the company exists, checks directors and beneficial owners against sanctions and politically exposed person lists, and confirms the registered address. Upload clear, complete copies of documents. Expect follow-up questions about expected turnover, where your customers are and how money will flow through the account; answer them specifically, because the provider is assessing whether the account will be used as you describe. If you are refused, our guide to a refused business account explains your options.

Fund the account and price the cash before you rely on it

Fund the account by bank transfer from your personal or previous business account. If your business takes cash, price the deposits before you commit, because they vary widely: Starling charges 0.7% with a 3-pound minimum at the Post Office, while Tide charges 2.50 pounds for Post Office deposits up to 500 pounds and a percentage above that. On 1,000 pounds a week, that is 7 pounds a week at Starling and 9.90 pounds on Tide's Free plan, or 364 and 514.80 pounds over a 52-week year. Then add the card to Apple Pay or Google Pay and set up supplier payments and any payment collection tools.

Connect accounting and lock down access

Connect the account to your accounting software, such as Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent or Sage, so transactions arrive categorised for reconciliation, and set rules for recurring items. Enable two-factor authentication for every user, give team members only the permissions their role needs, require a second approval for payments above a threshold, and review who has access every month, removing leavers promptly.

By Thomas Lovas Lokoy — researched and drafted with AI from published sources; edited and published by NorwegianSpark SA. Editorial policy.

Last updated: October 10, 2026

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