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HSBC VS Bank of Scotland: Business Banking Review & Fee Comparison


By: Ian Wright | Last Updated: May 22, 2025

Is HSBC or Bank of Scotland better for your small business?



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Below we look at both HSBC and Bank of Scotland reviews on Trustpilot along with their App reviews from Apple and Google.

We then look at typical fees, business savings rates, foreign currency options and a whole bunch of other account features to help you make up your mind.

HSBC Homepage
HSBC Homepage


Bank of Scotland Homepage
Bank of Scotland Homepage
 

HSBC vs Bank of Scotland Trustpilot Reviews

HSBCBank of Scotland
Trustpilot Review Score (out of 5)1.51.6
Percent 5-Star Reviews7%12%
Percent 1- Star Reviews88%80%
Total Number of Reviews8,399649
Sources:
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.hsbc.co.uk
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/www.bankofscotland.co.uk

HSBC vs Bank of Scotland App Reviews

HSBCBank of Scotland
iPhone Review Score (out of 5)4.84.8
Number of iPhone Reviews1,400,000269,400
Android Review Score (out of 5)4.84.5
Number of Android Reviews260,00044,100
Sources:
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/hsbc-uk-mobile-banking/id1220329065
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/bank-of-scotland-mobile-bank/id485728109

HSBC vs Bank of Scotland Account Fees & Charges

HSBCBank of Scotland
Free Business Bank AccountYesYes
Free Business Account Term Length12 Months12 Months
Cheapest Monthly Account Fee£6.50£8.50
Most Expensive Monthly Account Fee£10£8.50
Electronic Payment Cost (in/out)35pFree / 20p
Cash Payments Cost (in/out)£1.50£85p / £1.50 per £100
Cheques (in/out)50p per cheque85p per cheque
CHAPS Payments Cost£17£30
SEPA Payments Cost20p£5

HSBC vs Bank of Scotland Business Savings Rates

HSBCBank of Scotland
Types of Business Savings AccountsBusiness Money Manager, Business Money Market, Clients DepositFixed Term Deposit, Notice Accounts, Instant Access Account
Lowest Savings Rate (AER)0.10%1.31%
Maximum Savings Rate (AER)2.02%4.37%
Minimum Savings Amount£1£1
Interest Paid On Foreign CurrenciesYesYes
 

HSBC vs Bank of Scotland Account Opening Times

HSBCBank of Scotland
Can You Apply Online?YesYes
How Long Does Opening An
Account Typically Take?
7 to 10 Working days7 Working days
Do They Check Your Credit?YesYes
Current Account Switch ServiceYesYes

HSBC vs Bank of Scotland Features & Account Types

HSBC Account Types
HSBC Features & Account Types


Bank of Scotland Account Types
Bank of Scotland Features & Account Types


HSBCBank of Scotland
Business Current AccountYesYes
Business Savings AccountYesYes
Business Credit CardYesYes
Business OverdraftYesYes
Accounts For StartupsYesYes
Accounts For CharitiesYesYes
Accounts For Sole TradersYesYes
Joint Business Accounts AvailableYesYes
Card TypeVisaVisa
Online BankingYesYes
Mobile BankingYesYes
In Person/Branch BankingYesYes
Branch LocationsUK-wideScotland only

HSBC vs Bank of Scotland Customer Support Options

HSBCBank of Scotland
Phone Support AvailableYesYes
Email Support AvailableYesYes
App Based Support YesYes
Web Based SupportYesYes
In person Customer SupportYesYes

HSBC vs Bank of Scotland Foreign Currency Accounts

HSBCBank of Scotland
US Dollar (USD) Bank AccountsYesYes
Euro (EUR) Bank AccountsYesYes
Other Currencies Available:
  • Australian dollar (AUD)
  • Bahraini dinar (BHD)
  • Brunei dollar (BND)
  • Canadian dollar (CAD)
  • Chinese yuan (CNY)
  • Czech koruna (CZK)
  • Danish krone (DKK)
  • Hong Kong dollar (HKD)
  • Hungarian forint (HUF)
  • Indian rupee (INR)
  • Indonesian rupiah (IDR)
  • Israeli shekel (ILS)
  • Japanese yen (JPY)
  • Kuwaiti dinar (KWD)
  • Malaysian ringgit (MYR)
  • New Zealand dollar (NZD)
  • Norwegian krone (NOK)
  • Omani rial (OMR)
  • Polish zloty (PLN)
  • Qatari riyal (QAR)
  • Saudi riyal (SAR)
  • Singapore dollar (SGD)
  • South African rand (ZAR)
  • South Korean won (KRW)
  • Swiss franc (CHF)
  • Swedish krona (SEK)
  • Thai baht (THB)
  • United Arab Emirates dirham (AED)
  • Swiss Franc (CHF)
  • Australian Dollar (AUD)
  • Canadian Dollar (CAD)
  • New Zealand Dollar (NZD)
  • Hong Kong Dollar (HKD)
  • Singapore Dollar (SGD)
  • Japanese Yen (JPY)
  • Chinese Yuan (CNY)

Other Business Services From HSBC and Bank of Scotland

HSBC Account Types
Other HSBC Services


Bank of Scotland Account Types
Other Bank of Scotland Services


HSBCBank of Scotland
Business LoansYesYes
Commercial MortgagesYesYes
Invoice FinancingYesYes
International PaymentsYesYes
Merchant Payment ServicesYesYes
Card MachinesYesYes
Free Accounting SoftwareNoYes

HSBC vs Bank of Scotland Banking Basics

HSBCBank of Scotland
Bank TypeHigh StreetHigh Street
FSCS ProtectionYes, up to £85,000Yes, up to £85,000
FCA Number765112169628
WebsiteHSBC WebsiteBank of Scotland Website

Common Comparison Questions

Does HSBC or Bank of Scotland have better customer reviews?

HSBC scores 1.5 out of 5 based 8,399 Trustpilot reviews. Of these reviews 7% are 5-star and 88% are 1-star.

Whereas, Bank of Scotland scores 1.6 out of 5 based 649 Trustpilot reviews. Of which 12% are 5-star and 80% are 1-star.

Does HSBC or Bank of Scotland have a better App?

HSBC’s iPhone App is rated 4.8 out of 5 based on 1,400,000 reviews. And it’s Android App is rated 4.8 out of 5 based on 260,000 reviews.

In comparison, Bank of Scotland’s iPhone App is rated 4.8 out of 5 based on 269,400 reviews. And it’s Android App is rated 4.5 out of 5 based on 44,100 reviews.

Does HSBC or Bank of Scotland have better business savings rates?

HSBC offers the following types of business savings accounts: Business Money Manager, Business Money Market, Clients Deposit with interest rates ranging from 0.10% to 2.02%. (AER)

In contrast, Bank of Scotland offers Fixed Term Deposit, Notice Accounts, Instant Access Account accounts with interest rates ranging from 1.31% to 4.37% (AER).

See Other Comparisons:
HSBC vs Metro Bank
HSBC vs TSB
HSBC vs Starling Bank
HSBC vs Shawbrook Bank
HSBC vs RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland)


For other business bank accounts see our guide here.

 



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