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Saffron Building Society VS Charity Bank: Business Banking Review & Fee Comparison


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

Is Saffron Building Society or Charity Bank better for your small business?



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Below we look at both Saffron Building Society and Charity Bank 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.

Saffron Building Society Homepage
Saffron Building Society Homepage


Charity Bank Homepage
Charity Bank Homepage
 

Saffron Building Society vs Charity Bank Trustpilot Reviews

Saffron Building SocietyCharity Bank
Trustpilot Review Score (out of 5)2.23.3
Percent 5-Star Reviews21%33%
Percent 1- Star Reviews73%34%
Total Number of Reviews583
Sources:
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/saffronbs.co.uk
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/charitybank.org

Saffron Building Society vs Charity Bank App Reviews

Saffron Building SocietyCharity Bank
iPhone Review Score (out of 5)3.7No Rating
Number of iPhone Reviews24No Reviews
Android Review Score (out of 5)3.7No Rating
Number of Android Reviews14No Reviews
Sources:
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/saffron-building-society/id1482290341
https://www.apple.com/uk/app-store/

Saffron Building Society vs Charity Bank Account Fees & Charges

Saffron Building SocietyCharity Bank
Free Business Bank AccountNoNo
Free Business Account Term LengthNANA
Cheapest Monthly Account Fee£10Free
Most Expensive Monthly Account Fee£10Free
Electronic Payment Cost (in/out)FreeNo
Cash Payments Cost (in/out)FreeFree
Cheques (in/out)£1.50Free
CHAPS Payments Cost£15£10
SEPA Payments Cost25p20p

Saffron Building Society vs Charity Bank Business Savings Rates

Saffron Building SocietyCharity Bank
Types of Business Savings AccountsRegular Savings, Easy access, Fixed rate bonds, Notice accounts, Business/corporate accountsCITR accounts, Easy Access, Notice Accounts, Fixed Account
Lowest Savings Rate (AER)1.20%2.02%
Maximum Savings Rate (AER)5.75%4.51%
Minimum Savings Amount£1£1,000
Interest Paid On Foreign CurrenciesNoNo
 

Saffron Building Society vs Charity Bank Account Opening Times

Saffron Building SocietyCharity Bank
Can You Apply Online?YesYes
How Long Does Opening An
Account Typically Take?
UndisclosedUndisclosed
Do They Check Your Credit?YesYes
Current Account Switch ServiceYesYes

Saffron Building Society vs Charity Bank Features & Account Types

Saffron Building Society Account Types
Saffron Building Society Features & Account Types


Charity Bank Account Types
Charity Bank Features & Account Types


Saffron Building SocietyCharity Bank
Business Current AccountYesYes
Business Savings AccountYesYes
Business Credit CardYesNo
Business OverdraftNoNo
Accounts For StartupsNoYes
Accounts For CharitiesYesYes
Accounts For Sole TradersYesYes
Joint Business Accounts AvailableYesYes
Card TypeMastercardMastercard
Online BankingYesYes
Mobile BankingYesNo
In Person/Branch BankingYesNo
Branch LocationsLocations in Essex onlyTonbridge

Saffron Building Society vs Charity Bank Customer Support Options

Saffron Building SocietyCharity Bank
Phone Support AvailableYesYes
Email Support AvailableYesYes
App Based Support YesNo
Web Based SupportYesYes
In person Customer SupportYesNo

Saffron Building Society vs Charity Bank Foreign Currency Accounts

Saffron Building SocietyCharity Bank
US Dollar (USD) Bank AccountsNoNo
Euro (EUR) Bank AccountsNoNo
Other Currencies Available:NoNo

Other Business Services From Saffron Building Society and Charity Bank

Saffron Building Society Account Types
Other Saffron Building Society Services


Charity Bank Account Types
Other Charity Bank Services


Saffron Building SocietyCharity Bank
Business LoansYesYes
Commercial MortgagesYesYes
Invoice FinancingNoNo
International PaymentsYesYes
Merchant Payment ServicesNoNo
Card MachinesNoNo
Free Accounting SoftwareNoNo

Saffron Building Society vs Charity Bank Banking Basics

Saffron Building SocietyCharity Bank
Bank TypeBuilding SocietyChallenger
FSCS ProtectionYes, up to £85,000Yes, up to £85,000
FCA Number100015207701
WebsiteSaffron Building Society WebsiteCharity Bank Website

Common Comparison Questions

Does Saffron Building Society or Charity Bank have better customer reviews?

Saffron Building Society scores 2.2 out of 5 based 58 Trustpilot reviews. Of these reviews 21% are 5-star and 73% are 1-star.

Whereas, Charity Bank scores 3.3 out of 5 based 3 Trustpilot reviews. Of which 33% are 5-star and 34% are 1-star.

Does Saffron Building Society or Charity Bank have a better App?

Saffron Building Society’s iPhone App is rated 3.7 out of 5 based on 24 reviews. And it’s Android App is rated 3.7 out of 5 based on 14 reviews.

In comparison, Charity Bank’s iPhone App is rated No Rating out of 5 based on No Reviews reviews. And it’s Android App is rated No Rating out of 5 based on No Reviews reviews.

Does Saffron Building Society or Charity Bank have better business savings rates?

Saffron Building Society offers the following types of business savings accounts: Regular Savings, Easy access, Fixed rate bonds, Notice accounts, Business/corporate accounts with interest rates ranging from 1.20% to 5.75%. (AER)

In contrast, Charity Bank offers CITR accounts, Easy Access, Notice Accounts, Fixed Account accounts with interest rates ranging from 2.02% to 4.51% (AER).

See Other Comparisons:
Saffron Building Society vs Cumberland Building Society
Saffron Building Society vs Redwood Bank
Saffron Building Society vs Amaiz
Saffron Building Society vs ICICI Bank UK
Saffron Building Society vs Intergiro


For other business bank accounts see our guide here.

 



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