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The Co-operative Bank: Business Account reviews

Name: Business Account
Rating: 1.32 (82 reviews)

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1.28

Based on 82 reviews, last reviewed 2nd Mar 2025

No new 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

100% decrease in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

87%

Latest highest rating:

5

club and charity account they dont take off big amounts fir charges etc, they support local causes and groups, they are extremley helpful and friendly in branch and online ev... Read more Reviewed on: 31st January 2023

Latest lowest rating:

2

We set up a housing coop and we're lucky enough to r... We set up a housing coop and we're lucky enough to receive a large donation that was however time sensitive. We were members of COOPS UK who put us di... Read more Reviewed on: 2nd March 2025

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The Co-operative Bank business banking reviews at Smart Money People are helping other business people to fund out what being a business banking customer at The Co-operative Bank is really like. With business banking and aspects such as access to finance being so important to many business owners, Smart Money People is becoming the UK's leading source of The Co-operative Bank business banking reviews. Remember that you can write yours too, and join our mission to increase trust and transparency in financial services.

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The Co-operative Bank Business Account reviews (82)

website too bad

their online banking too slow and down many time Reviewed on: 20th January 2022

Worst banking experience in 30 years.

The single worst bank I have ever dealt with in 30 years of business banking!! -Impossible to log in for online banking. -On hold for 2 hours at a time with Telephone banking.EVERY TIME. - Transactions arranged after 2 hours on hold are then not carried out, so another call of 2 hours is needed. -Thousands of pounds held for months without access via online, telephone or personal banking. - I could list so much, but haven't the will to carry on. Needless to say, I will be closing my account. Although, "notice has to be sent by written letter and will take 6 weeks to action". Business banking?? One word: RIDICULOUS!!! Reviewed on: 12th January 2022

Would liked to have had the option to have given zero

Trying to close account, have sent form but had no response. Phone waiting time quoted as 60+ minutes. this is not a banking service. Reviewed on: 22nd December 2021

Pathetic

I have been trying to close my business account for over 6 weeks now ( because it is so archaic ) you have to fill a form in and post it ( so 1980's ) someone actually did call me 10 days ago and said they would call me in a couple of days to complete the closure , still waiting ! I have been a customer since 2006 and they have gradually gone down hill Reviewed on: 21st December 2021

I expect the return of the next ice age before the phone gets answered - over 70 minutes and STILL waiting!!

The timer has just passed over 60 minutes whilst I wait for someone to answer the phone, it must be a bankers lunch! More likely some underpaid overworked administrator stuck on a switchboard with a stacked call log, maybe employ more staff or improve the on-line banking services to reduce the number of calls. It is unreal how long this bank expects you to wait. I transferred from the NATWEST using the business current account switch. How very stupid of me, I should have read these reviews first. Reviewed on: 10th December 2021

Nightmare

The Co op could not make it any more difficult to access online banking if they tried. First of all you have to go online, print off a form, fill it in, scan it back in and email it to them so they can send you a token with passwords and user codes and a telephone number to ring to activate the token. The waiting times are currently 30 minutes on an 0345 number which means if these numbers are not included in your package you can be charged up to 30p a minute some mobile network providers. There is no warning like there used to be such as ‘you could be charged for this call’. I have currently been on hold waiting for 42 minutes. Once and ‘if’ I get through I then have to ask about whether I qualify for the Business Banking Mobile App as this is not automatic. There are no branches near me so I can only access my account online. . . Only I can’t. I wish I had NEVER EVER switched to the Co op Bank, it is so bad it is verging on criminal. I currently cannot access my own money. Reviewed on: 8th December 2021

Awful experience - Business bank

The banking platform is stuck in the stone age! It's so badly designed and complicated to use. Want to pay someone new right now? Well, you can't, you have to wait for the 'cooling-off period' to finish. Which depending on what day of the week it is could be between 2-24 hours! Want to pay yourself or someone on a weekend? Nope, can't do that either. The platform logs you out within minutes of no activity, taking security to an annoying new level. You have to use a physical 'token' to access your account as their new banking app doesn't have this feature. Which other banks have had for many many years! Everything is so overcomplicated and fiddly and has no user experience whatsoever. It makes the most simple tasks complicated. I am switching to Barclays business banking next week! Reviewed on: 7th December 2021

Avoid This Bank Like The Pestilence

Avoid this branch and the uncooperative bank like the pestilence. The cooperative bank trades on the big selling point of being ethical, what a joke. I have PTSD, ADHD and Autism and when I tried to make a cash withdrawal from the Doncaster branch of the aforementioned bank they would not give me my own money because they did not believe what I was spending it on. I produced my autism awareness card but was still treated beneath contempt. Bear in mind I phoned online banking before going in to the bank to make my cash withdrawal and was told that I would encounter no problems. Anyway the cashier said I was basically lying about my intended purchases, then asked me how I wanted my money, gave me the slip of which I signed and then said I could not have my own money. I once more showed her my Autism awareness card, she called the manager who further intimidated me and I left the branch minus my own money, totally distraught and publicly humiliated. When I got home I made a complaint and jokingly said, “What do I have to do to withdraw my own money, wear a mask and brandish a shot gun?” The phone line went dead and then come the weekend I received a visit from the Police, yes the bank reported me to the police for my off the cuff remark, the Policeman saw the joke and advised me to change banks. I replied, the none ethical cooperative bank have given me thirty days notice of closure of an account that I’ve held for over twenty five years. I escalated my complaint and they offered me thirty quid, but I have reported this none ethical bank to the ombudsman, whatever you do don’t open an account with this bank, because they do not want you to have access to your own money and are, given my above experience not disable friendly, uncaring, unfriendly, belligerent and totally without any ethics and discriminatory in their handling of disabled customers. I suggest a name change for this bank to the, “Uncooperative Bank” Reviewed on: 6th December 2021

The Cooperative bank is discriminatory

The cooperative Bank Is Discriminatory The cooperative bank trades on the big selling point of being ethical, what a joke. I have PTSD, ADHD and Autism and when I tried to make a cash withdrawal from the Doncaster branch of the aforementioned bank they would not give me my own money because they did not believe what I was spending it on. I produced my autism awareness card but was still treated beneath contempt. Bear in mind I phoned online banking before going in to the bank to make my cash withdrawal and was told that I would encounter no problems. Anyway the cashier said I was basically lying about my intended purchases, then asked me how I wanted my money, gave me the slip of which I signed and then said I could not have my own money. I once more showed her my Autism awareness card, she called the manager who further intimidated me and I left the branch minus my own money, totally distraught and publicly humiliated. When I got home I made a complaint and jokingly said, “What do I have to do to withdraw my own money, wear a mask and brandish a shot gun?” The phone line went dead and the I received a visit from the Police, who saw the joke and advised me to change banks. I replied, the none ethical cooperative bank have given me thirty days notice of closure of an account that I’ve held for over twenty five years. I escalated my complaint and they offered me thirty quid, but I have reported this none ethical bank to the ombudsman, whatever you do don’t open an account with this bank, because they do not want you to have access to your own money and are given my above experience not disable friendly, uncaring and totally without any ethics and discriminatory in its handling of disabled customers Reviewed on: 6th December 2021

Worst buisness online banking I have ever encountered

If you are a fan of fiddly, over complicated ways of managing your bank account online then this is the bank for you. Want to transfer money from your Coop account to one of your other accounts? Then be prepared to wait for anything from 20 mins to half an hour for your money to get there. Every other bank is instant but I guess the Coop likes to be different. Logging on to your account online involves using a minute card reader with rubber buttons that don't always respond when you press and a very hard to read screen. Once you eventually get in to your account the fun just goes on and on. Everything you want to view or set up like adding or deleting beneficiaries can only be done with this very irritating card reader. Then when you do set one up you can't just go ahead and pay that person/business right away...oh no! You must wait for 24 hours before you are allowed to do that. Why? Who knows! If you have the audacity to try and send money to one of your befeficiaries after 8pm - not a chance. They will hold on to that payment till after 12. And, if your're transferring from one account to a Coop account don't expect them to move all your direct debits and standing orders. Nope. Not happening. If you need to speak to their customer services then be prepared for a min 40 min wait on a premium rate line. All in all I can safely say my blood pressure has risen significantly since I opened this account but I wont be hanging around for long. Reviewed on: 21st November 2021

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