Is Saffron Building Society or HSBC Kinetic better for your small business?
Below we look at both Saffron Building Society and HSBC Kinetic 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 vs HSBC Kinetic Trustpilot Reviews
Saffron Building Society | HSBC Kinetic | |
Trustpilot Review Score (out of 5) | 2.2 | 1.9 |
Percent 5-Star Reviews | 21% | 0% |
Percent 1- Star Reviews | 73% | 100% |
Total Number of Reviews | 58 | 13 |
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/saffronbs.co.uk
https://www.trustpilot.com/review/hsbckinetic.co.uk
Saffron Building Society vs HSBC Kinetic App Reviews
Saffron Building Society | HSBC Kinetic | |
iPhone Review Score (out of 5) | 3.7 | 4.8 |
Number of iPhone Reviews | 24 | 15,000 |
Android Review Score (out of 5) | 3.7 | 4.7 |
Number of Android Reviews | 14 | 4,000 |
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/saffron-building-society/id1482290341
https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/hsbc-kinetic/id1457310350
Saffron Building Society vs HSBC Kinetic Account Fees & Charges
Saffron Building Society | HSBC Kinetic | |
Free Business Bank Account | No | Yes |
Free Business Account Term Length | NA | 12 Months |
Cheapest Monthly Account Fee | £10 | £6.50 |
Most Expensive Monthly Account Fee | £10 | £6.50 |
Electronic Payment Cost (in/out) | Free | Free |
Cash Payments Cost (in/out) | Free | 1.10% |
Cheques (in/out) | £1.50 | 50p per cheque |
CHAPS Payments Cost | £15 | £17 |
SEPA Payments Cost | 25p | 24p |
Saffron Building Society vs HSBC Kinetic Business Savings Rates
Saffron Building Society | HSBC Kinetic | |
Types of Business Savings Accounts | Regular Savings, Easy access, Fixed rate bonds, Notice accounts, Business/corporate accounts | Instant access, 30+ day, 60+ day |
Lowest Savings Rate (AER) | 1.20% | 1.94% |
Maximum Savings Rate (AER) | 5.75% | 2.02% |
Minimum Savings Amount | £1 | No |
Interest Paid On Foreign Currencies | No | Yes |
Saffron Building Society vs HSBC Kinetic Account Opening Times
Saffron Building Society | HSBC Kinetic | |
Can You Apply Online? | Yes | Yes |
How Long Does Opening An Account Typically Take? | Undisclosed | 48 hours |
Do They Check Your Credit? | Yes | Yes |
Current Account Switch Service | Yes | Yes |
Saffron Building Society vs HSBC Kinetic Features & Account Types


Saffron Building Society | HSBC Kinetic | |
Business Current Account | Yes | Yes |
Business Savings Account | Yes | Yes |
Business Credit Card | Yes | Yes |
Business Overdraft | No | Yes |
Accounts For Startups | No | Yes |
Accounts For Charities | Yes | No |
Accounts For Sole Traders | Yes | Yes |
Joint Business Accounts Available | Yes | No |
Card Type | Mastercard | Visa |
Online Banking | Yes | Yes |
Mobile Banking | Yes | Yes |
In Person/Branch Banking | Yes | No |
Branch Locations | Locations in Essex only | Can use HSBC branches for some services |
Saffron Building Society vs HSBC Kinetic Customer Support Options
Saffron Building Society | HSBC Kinetic | |
Phone Support Available | Yes | Yes |
Email Support Available | Yes | Yes |
App Based Support | Yes | Yes |
Web Based Support | Yes | Yes |
In person Customer Support | Yes | No |
Saffron Building Society vs HSBC Kinetic Foreign Currency Accounts
Saffron Building Society | HSBC Kinetic | |
US Dollar (USD) Bank Accounts | No | Yes |
Euro (EUR) Bank Accounts | No | Yes |
Other Currencies Available: | No |
|
Other Business Services From Saffron Building Society and HSBC Kinetic


Saffron Building Society | HSBC Kinetic | |
Business Loans | Yes | Yes |
Commercial Mortgages | Yes | No |
Invoice Financing | No | No |
International Payments | Yes | Yes |
Merchant Payment Services | No | Yes |
Card Machines | No | No |
Free Accounting Software | No | No |
Saffron Building Society vs HSBC Kinetic Banking Basics
Saffron Building Society | HSBC Kinetic | |
Bank Type | Building Society | High Street/Challenger |
FSCS Protection | Yes, up to £85,000 | Yes, up to £85,000 |
FCA Number | 100015 | 765112 |
Website | Saffron Building Society Website | HSBC Kinetic Website |
Common Comparison Questions
Does Saffron Building Society or HSBC Kinetic 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, HSBC Kinetic scores 1.9 out of 5 based 13 Trustpilot reviews. Of which 0% are 5-star and 100% are 1-star.
Does Saffron Building Society or HSBC Kinetic 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, HSBC Kinetic’s iPhone App is rated 4.8 out of 5 based on 15,000 reviews. And it’s Android App is rated 4.7 out of 5 based on 4,000 reviews.
Does Saffron Building Society or HSBC Kinetic 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, HSBC Kinetic offers Instant access, 30+ day, 60+ day accounts with interest rates ranging from 1.94% to 2.02% (AER).
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For other business bank accounts see our guide here.