Growing business account

Business Directplus

Ideal for start up or established businesses that occasionally pay in cash and cheques

  • £0 monthly fee for the first 30 months

  • Free access to our payment request tool Go Get Paid

  • Free access to our mobile and online banking services

  • Free accountancy software integration

  • Banking limits and £1000 minimum balance apply

Account overview

Only pay for what you use

30 months of no account fee for new to the Bank customers who keep their balance above £1,000. Once the introductory period has ended, customers will be moved to the standard tariff for the account.

Banking limits and minimum balance apply.

Account service
First 30 months (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times)
Standard Tariff (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times)
Credit balance falls below £1,000 at any time in the charging period
Account service Monthly service charges
First 30 months (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) Free
Standard Tariff (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) £7
Credit balance falls below £1,000 at any time in the charging period £7
Account service Automated credits
First 30 months (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) Free
Standard Tariff (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) Free
Credit balance falls below £1,000 at any time in the charging period Free
Account service Manual credits
First 30 months (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) Free
Standard Tariff (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) Free
Credit balance falls below £1,000 at any time in the charging period Free
Account service Cash paid in
First 30 months (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) £1,000 free per charging period and 80p per £100 thereafter
Standard Tariff (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) £1,000 free per charging period and 80p per £100 thereafter
Credit balance falls below £1,000 at any time in the charging period £1,000 free per charging period and 80p per £100 thereafter
Account service Cheques paid in
First 30 months (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) 25 free per charging period and 75p each thereafter
Standard Tariff (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) 25 free per charging period and 75p each thereafter
Credit balance falls below £1,000 at any time in the charging period 25 free per charging period and 75p each thereafter
Account service Cash and cheques paid in at Post Office®
First 30 months (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) 80p
Standard Tariff (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) 80p
Credit balance falls below £1,000 at any time in the charging period 80p
Account service Automated debits
First 30 months (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) Free
Standard Tariff (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) 35p
Credit balance falls below £1,000 at any time in the charging period 70p
Account service Cheques issued
First 30 months (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) 10 free cheques per charging period, then 50p for each subsequent cheque
Standard Tariff (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) 50p
Credit balance falls below £1,000 at any time in the charging period 70p
Account service Debit card purchases
First 30 months (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) Free
Standard Tariff (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) 35p
Credit balance falls below £1,000 at any time in the charging period 70p
Account service Cash withdrawals
First 30 months (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) Free
Standard Tariff (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) Free
Credit balance falls below £1,000 at any time in the charging period Free
Account service ATM withdrawals
First 30 months (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) Free (at a non-charging ATM within the UK)
Standard Tariff (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) Free (at a non-charging ATM within the UK)
Credit balance falls below £1,000 at any time in the charging period Free (at a non-charging ATM within the UK)
Account service Cash exchanged
First 30 months (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) £1.60 per £100
Standard Tariff (when credit balance is above £1,000 at all times) £1.60 per £100
Credit balance falls below £1,000 at any time in the charging period £1.60 per £100

All definitions are explained within the tariff PDF. Read the full tariff for all fees and charges, terms and details.

Extras Details How to apply

Savings

View our savings accounts
Choose a savings option that suits your business goals During your application

Overdrafts

View our overdraft options here
Organise your cashflow During your application

Ready to check your eligibility and apply?

Additional support

Smartphone depicting an account balance Laptop depicting online banking functionality

Bank online, on the phone, on the go

Manage your account in a way that suits you

  • Mobile banking

    Manage multiple businesses from the same account, multiple users with payment authority, transaction history and payments

  • Online banking

    Send a variety of payment types, receive fraud and account alerts, have safe and secure open banking and have a daily limit up to £250,000

  • Financial Director Online

    Optional subscription service for complex payment types like bulk BACS, enable multiple business management and get a dedicated help desk

  • In branch or Post Office® banking

    Get banking support in branch from friendly advisors and deposit cheques and money or get change from your local Post Office®.

Our business tools

Grow and manage your business with a range of optional tools

  • Free and easy business payment requests

    Go Get Paid is a free app to quickly send payment requests to anyone

  • Start a sustainability journey

    Zellar helps you manage and improve your business’ sustainability goals

  • Easy ways for your customers to pay

    Clover has lots of options for payment and commerce solutions

  • Protect your business with insurance

    AXA Insurance provides options for your organisation and property

  • Expert advice to support your business

    Business Concierge offers legal advice, IT support and HR management

Clover Flex merchant services device

The Bank you can hold to account

October 2022 Which Eco provider for current accounts
Business Moneyfacts award winners 2016-2024
Take five to stop fraud

I'm ready to apply

Check your eligibility and apply.

If you've already started one, you can continue your application here.

To be eligible for the Business Directplus account you and key individuals must be:

  • 18 or over
  • A UK resident with a business address in the UK
  • Free from county court judgements (CCJs), bankruptcy and individual voluntary arrangements (IVAs) over the last six years
  • Free from missed payments on any personal credit obligations in the last six months.

You or your organisation must be one of the following:

  • Sole trader
  • Partnership
  • Limited liability partnership
  • Limited company.

If your organisation is a limited company, the following must be true:

  • The director has never been disqualified
  • The business has never been subject to insolvency or an intention to dissolve
  • The business has not had a negative net worth in the last set of financial accounts.

Your application is subject to status. This means we’ll assess your financial circumstances and complete credit checks.

Not eligible for this account?

You may be eligible for one of our other accounts.

See other accounts

Read the following important documents and save copies for your future reference.

Business account terms and conditions PDF

Business Directplus tariff PDF

Standards of lending practice PDF

How we use your personal information PDF

Current account switch agreement PDF

To view information on charging periods and pre-notification dates please visit our account charging page.

  • Gather all the key information about your Organisation and the Key Individuals associated with the Organisation. By “Key Individuals”, we mean (i) You, (ii) all the other Directors/Trustees/Officers who are responsible for managing the Organisation and (iii) any Authorised Users whom the Organisation has appointed to also be responsible for operating the account. Without this information we cannot progress any further with the application. You can find a list of the required information in the 'Information you'll need' section on the first page of the application form.
  • We will check the details of any Key Individuals named on the application against credit reference and fraud prevention agency records. You need to be entitled to disclose information about any other Key Individuals named on the application. By continuing with the application, you confirm that you have gained prior consent from the other Key Individuals named on the application to disclose their information to us for the purposes mentioned above.

Criminals recruit people to help them hide their criminal profits

Never open a bank account in either your name/business name for someone else to use, or agree to move money through your account for someone else – even if they offer you money in return. If you do this, you could be committing a crime with serious consequences.

Learn more about money mules

  • Please note: Your application is subject to status. This means we’ll assess your financial circumstances and complete credit checks.

  • Accounts are usually opened within 5 business days

Apply for your Business Directplus account

Does your business have an account with The Co-operative Bank?

Are you a...

Continue a business bank account application

  • Sole traders, single directors, and limited companies (multiple directors), partnerships and limited liability partnerships with 10 or less key individuals

    Continue an application

  • Limited companies (multiple directors), partnerships and limited liability partnerships with 11 or more key individuals

    Continue an application

Already have a business current account somewhere else?

The Current Account Switch Service makes switching your account simple, fast and free.

Learn how to switch your business account to us.

Current Account Switch Guarantee logo

Not found what you're looking for?

Review and compare our business current accounts.

See other accounts

Financial Services Compensation Scheme

Your eligible deposits held by a UK establishment of The Co-operative Bank plc are protected up to a total of £85,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, the UK's deposit guarantee scheme. This limit is applied to the total of any deposits you have with The Co-operative Bank and smile. Any total deposits you hold above the limit between these brands are unlikely to be covered.

Please read further information on the FSCS scheme here or visit their website.