For a few months now, the main financial institutions have been competing with each other to get a business that seems increasingly juicy: that of SMEs and the self-employed. If until recently the banks included this group in the much more generic “companies”, it seems that a small “war” has been unleashed in the sector to capture a business fabric that, as a consequence of the crisis, is increasingly fragmented.
Of course, the end customer benefits from this, who has seen the number of accounts without commissions multiplying, those that promise all kinds of free transfers, those associated with points and loyalty programs, etc. In this special we review the most interesting options.
ING Direct Business Account
We head our list with ING Direct, for being the last financial institution that has gone on the “hunt for the self-employed” with its new “Business Account” . Its main advantages include:
No commissions
Account maintenance, national transfers and within the European Union up to € 50,000, payroll payments, transfer remittances and check receipts.
Free cards
No fees for having Mastercard credit or debit cards: neither by issuance, nor by renewal. In addition, they return 3% to us at GALP service stations when refueling or making any purchase, with no amount limit.
Barclays Trading Account
Although unlike many of the ones we will see in this special, Barclays will charge us some commissions, it offers some quite interesting advantages in other areas.
Free Multi-risk Insurance for Theft, Expoliation, Accidents and Civil Liability
If we maintain an average monthly balance greater than 1,502 euros, we will have access to insurance that will cover the loss of goods as a result of theft (merchandise, fixed assets, electronic equipment, cash and transit, etc.) for an amount of double of the average daily income in the last 45 days with a maximum of 6,000 euros, accidents up to an amount of 6,000 euros and liability up to 6,000 euros.
Free POS
For both magnetic stripe and chip cards.
La Caixa Self-Employed Zero Account
The La Caixa Self-Employed Zero Account lives up to its name and basically makes it possible for the self-employed to pay as little as possible. Its main advantages are precisely the absence of commissions.
Zero commissions
Maintenance and administration of the account, annual fee for a debit card, direct debit of up to 20 bills per month, 1 transfer per month (national, international or check deposit).
The only condition to be able to enjoy these advantages is to have the income domiciled (payroll, pension or Social Security receipts) or to bring them within 2 months after opening the account.
Santander Bank Companies Welcome Account
The Business Welcome Account charges a single commission to the self-employed or small entrepreneur, but in return it allows you to carry out all the operations and notes you want, without any limit. It also allows us to centrally change the direct debit of supply receipts.
However, if we want something more, we can always bet on the Super Global Companies Account, which offers, among other advantages, the possibility of having overdrafts, POS and vehicle rental with preferential conditions.
Business Expansion Account (Sabadell / Banco Herrero, CAM)
Banco Sabadell has been incorporating its financial products to all the entities that it has “acquired” since the FROB machinery was launched. Your Expansión Negocios account offers the following:
No commissions
The administration and maintenance of the account, the transfers in euros via BS Online, the deposit of checks, the remote banking procedures and the debit and credit cards will not cost us anything.
Paid account
In addition to serving as a checking account, it acts as a deposit, offering us a much more interesting interest rate than that of a “basic” account.
e-Commerce
We will have a team of experts who will help us in the adventure of marketing our products on the Internet.
BBVA Self-Employed Commitment Account
The BBVA Self-Employed Commitment Account eliminates administration or maintenance fees if the client makes two monthly direct debits and manages payments to social security through it. Other of its advantages are the following:
- Credit account with a discount on the interest rate.
- Discovered up to € 1,000 without commissions for a maximum of 7 days a month.
- Checks and transfers without costs.
- Exclusive Business Card, without fees during the first year and with discounts of 2% in the Repsol Group’s EESS.
Deutsche Bank Business + db Account
Although it is not as well known as many of the ones we have seen so far, the Negocios + db Account is one of the most complete. Let’s see its advantages.
No commissions
No maintenance and administration fees for the account, for issuing transfers within Europe in euros and for check deposits in euros.
Free services
- Up to 2 Visa Business Gold or Visa Business Silver credit cards2.
- Issuance of payroll through Deutsche Bank.
- Registration of both wireless and fixed POS.
- Direct debit of receipts automatically.
- Account paid by tranches according to the balance.
- Personal manager assigned from the moment of becoming a client.
Banesto Professional Account
For freelancers without administration or maintenance fees (in case of having an average quarterly balance of more than 6,000 euros for the latter).
This product offers the possibility of overdrafts for four days worth a thousand euros and free credit and debit cards during the first year, which offer accident insurance and legal assistance.
