What business banking solutions work best for UK drinks founders, and how do you navigate account opening?

Members recommend a two-bank approach: pairing an online-first bank with a high street option for security and broader services. Starling is widely praised for ease of setup, modern app experience, strong Xero integration, receipt tracking via company cards, and recently increased deposit insurance (£85k). HSBC Kinetic was highlighted as quick to set up with modern app features plus overdraft facilities. Wise is recommended specifically if you trade in multiple currencies. However, members note that online banks have limitations: Starling's company card requires naming a person of significant control at Companies House, which can restrict team access; they also offer less depth in financing services like invoice finance and FX hedging compared to traditional banks.

For new company account openings, members reported frustration with recent rejections and lengthy timelines (3–4 months previously reported with Barclays). Lloyds was suggested as the most straightforward high street option. The consensus is that traditional banks offer broader financing options and better one-to-one relationship support, but are less flexible operationally—so the choice depends on your specific needs: if you need speed and modern UX plus basic functionality, go online-first and add a high street bank for lending and FX services; if you need serious lending or hedging options, start with a traditional bank despite slower setup.