2021 Business Current Accounts and Business Credit Cards Star Ratings revealed

After a challenging year for many businesses, business owners may be considering switching to a new business current account or opening a new business credit card. To help narrow down these business owners’ choices, Moneyfacts has revealed its 2021 business current account and credit card star ratings, which highlight the best deals currently available on the market.

Although the number of business current accounts available in the market reduced in size by 9%, 38 accounts were awarded a five-star rating and 17 were awarded a four-star rating. Among the providers offering business current accounts that were awarded a five-star rating by Moneyfacts were Metro Bank, Virgin Money and TSB.

The number of business credit cards available to business owners remained the same this year and, of all business credit cards available, nine were awarded a five-star rating and three were awarded a four-star rating. Business credit card providers awarded a five-star rating include Barclaycard Business, Metro Bank, NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland.

Commenting on today’s star ratings announcement, Lee Tillcock, editor of Business Moneyfacts, said: “The challenges of the last year have seen the importance of products in the business current account and credit card sectors grow further. The impressive range of features offered to meet the needs of modern-day businesses means that there are plenty of options to consider when choosing a business current account – something that the sector and regulator are clearly keen to promote. Indeed, the CASS Dashboard figures for the first months of 2021 show that business switching volume totals continue to climb. The annual Moneyfacts Business Current Account Star Ratings provide businesses with valuable insight into the quality of the features on offer, before assessing the individual costs.

“It is also encouraging to see providers innovate and increase competition across the business credit card sector. However, as more businesses utilise business credit cards to assist them with keeping in control of expenses and keeping cash flow moving, it is still not easy for business customers to identify which deal will offer the best quality for their specific business needs. The annual Moneyfacts Business Credit Card Star Ratings look at the underlying features of a product, ensuring the business customer finds the most complete product in terms of flexibility and added extras, which will reward them over the longer term.”

Numerous features are considered when assessing the ratings, and some of these include:

Business Current Accounts

Flexibility

• Account management
• Card availability
• Services from other banks and branches

Benefits

• Introductory offers
• Loyalty bonus
• Exclusive offers
• Satisfaction guarantees
• Emergency card
• Preferential deals on other financial products

Features

• Introductory offers
• Credit interest
• Overdraft availability
• Standing charges
• Cash withdrawal facilities and charges
• Debit transaction charges
• Credit transaction charges
• Statement fees
• Transfers and faster payments
• Facilities and charges
• Cash exchanging facilities and charges.

Business Credit Cards

Flexibility

• Opening and operating options
• Payment options
• Balance transfer availability
• Contactless
• Number of additional cards

Charges

• Card fees
• Balance and money transfer fees
• Cash withdrawal fees
• Late payment charges
• Foreign usage charges
• Trace fees
• Minimum interest charges
• Dormancy fees
• Replacement card fees

Benefits

• Airport lounge access
• Free emergency card
• Free emergency cash
• Interest-free days
• Enhanced purchase protection
• Luggage insurance
• Free text alerts
• Cashback
• Travel accident insurance
• European/worldwide travel insurance
• Flight cancellation/delay insurance
• Medical insurance
• Personal liability insurance.