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Are we compatible?

Before you apply, it’s worth checking if you're eligible for an account.

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At Mettle, we’d like to offer an account to as many businesses as possible. But unfortunately, there are some business activities and industries we can’t support.
Key eligibility criteria

  • Your business must be registered and trading in the UK

  • You’ll need to be a UK resident

  • You’ll need a UK phone number

  • You’ll need an iOS or Android device to open and manage the account. For Apple devices, you’ll need to be on iOS 13 or later and for Android you’ll need to be on 7.0 or later

  • Your main account balance is up to £1 million for both limited companies and sole traders

  • You and any other person of significant control (PSC) have to be 18 or over to open an account

  • You’ll need to be a UK tax resident only

  • You only pay tax in the UK

  • You are not a US Person for tax purposes

Sole traders

A sole trader is someone who is self-employed and the sole owner of their business. They pay tax on business profits, via a self-assessment tax return.

We support most sole traders (depending on business activities) apart from partnerships where multiple sole traders are working together.

Limited companies

Limited companies are registered with Companies House, and will have at least one director. Here are a few requirements for limited companies:

  • Only one owner can access the account

  • There needs to be at least one person of significant control (PSC) listed for your company

  • The person opening the account must be a director and a PSC

  • There can't be more than two PSCs, and all PSCs must be individuals 

  • Your limited company must be in an ‘active’ state on Companies House

Business types we don’t support

Here are some examples:

  • Public limited companies (PLC)

  • Private company limited by guarantee without share capital

  • Private Fund Limited Partnerships (PFLP)

  • Unlimited companies (Unltd)

  • Limited liability partnerships (LLP)

  • Community interest companies (CIC)

  • Industrial and provident societies (IPS)

  • Royal charters (RC)

  • Charities (registered or unregistered)

  • Non-profit organisations

  • Clubs or societies

  • Trusts

Business activities we don’t support

Here are some example activities and industries that we currently don’t support:

  • Alcohol and tobacco manufacturing

  • Adult entertainment or services

  • Distilleries

  • Armaments and defence

  • Gambling

  • Pharmaceutical companies

  • Some manufacturers (including manufacturers of rubber products, manufacturers of medical, dental or veterinary equipment, and others)

  • Embassies and consulates

  • Trust and company service providers – eg involvement in the formation of other companies

  • Money Service Businesses (MSB) – eg foreign exchange

  • Virtual currency or cryptocurrency

  • Freight shipping

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Not quite what you’re looking for?

Check out NatWest’s range of business accounts to see if there’s a good fit.

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