Lloyds TSB Business Bank Account

I have had personal accounts with Lloyds for more than 20 years. No problems there.

But I want to move my business accounts from Santander and started the process to 'switch" banks which Lloyds offer to do for you. As I was 'switching" and not simply setting up a new account I had to physically go into a branch to meet a business banking manager and take 6 months of bank statements etc, etc. So went off to Clapham branch, jumping through their hoops.

Sadly, the business banking "manager" had no clue what he was doing. I had to sit and wait for 30 minutes whilst he was on the phone to some other department trying to decide if I should have a “client account” or not. He should have known this before I arrived, and not whilst I am sitting there in the office. Particularly as I don't have a 'client' account now and I did not request a client account. Then they decided I did need a client account but I can't have one because we work from home. Furthermore, they decided I should have one but they won't allow me to open one. It was complete lunacy and a terrible amateur show.

Although the so called business banking manager then promised to investigate further and call the following the day, he has not been heard from since. I have probably had a lucky escape.

We have been customers of Lloyds Bank for more than 50 years both with personal accounts and Business accounts and have always had an excellent relationship with them. That is until 3 years ago. Against our wishes they transferred 3 of our business accounts to TSB which does not have a branch in our town and means an 8 mile trip to the nearest branch if we need to pay cheques in. Visits to the local branch of Lloyds and phone calls met with a brick wall so we reluctantly accepted the change. This week Lloyds has surpassed itself and suddenly closed the remaining 2 business accounts without telling us why just sending cheques for the balances on the accounts. Both accounts have been in existence for 10 years and in that time have never been overdrawn. Again a visit to the local branch produced no answers because they do not have business managers in branch. After an hour on the phone being passed from one unhelpful operator to another I finally was put through to the so-called Customer Services manager who was quite rude and told me that it was no good going to the Ombudsman because Lloyds Bank has a right to close any account they want without giving any reason at all. So much for loyalty and customer service - it is clear that Lloyds Bank do not want small business customers particularly if you are profitable and do not go overdrawn.

We have been customers of Lloyds Bank for more than 50 years both with personal accounts and Business accounts and have always had an excellent relationship with them. That is until 3 years ago. Against our wishes they transferred 3 of our business accounts to TSB which does not have a branch in our town and means an 8 mile trip to the nearest branch if we need to pay cheques in. Visits to the local branch of Lloyds and phone calls met with a brick wall so we reluctantly accepted the change. This week Lloyds has surpassed itself and suddenly closed the remaining 2 business accounts without telling us why just sending cheques for the balances on the accounts. Both accounts have been in existence for 10 years and in that time have never been overdrawn. Again a visit to the local branch produced no answers because they do not have business managers in branch. After an hour on the phone being passed from one unhelpful operator to another I finally was put through to the so-called Customer Services manager who was quite rude and told me that it was no good going to the Ombudsman because Lloyds Bank has a right to close any account they want without giving any reason at all. So much for loyalty and customer service - it is clear that Lloyds Bank do not want small business customers particularly if you are profitable and do not go overdrawn.

One Business telephone operator put my account on stop, due to a change in the business. I wasn't given the opportunity to explain the situation over the phone or the opportunity to provide supporting evidence at all. I even said that my experience with Lloyd's was good and that this telephone call and lack of any level of customer service would be my reason for issue. Within the hour I went into the local branch, explained the situation to the Branch Bank Manager who unfortunately had no control of the business banking, I closed the account and the Branch Manager apologised for the poor customer service and said they were sorry to loose my business.

I wish I had read the numerous bad reviews on Lloyds Banking service. You cannot put businesses who have 5+ years track record and employ people who rely on wages in compromising situations. I will never go anywhere near Lloyds Bank again.

My nightmare with Lloyds is still ongoing. I applied to transfer a business loan from one name to another in November 2015. It's still not done.

Communication virtually non existential, terrible Birmingham based account manager who doesn't seem to care - quotes 48 hour SLA but has to be chased constantly.

Call Centre staff rude and take ages to answer.

Complaint registered- asked for an evening call which never came.

Slow in every manner & have no customer awareness.

Lloyds never apologise or manage expectations- I would never, ever use them again.

It's a bank; money goes in and comes out, after 18 months they charge you a service fee for doing very little as anything you do is charged on top of that. I never needed a business loan so I am not sure what they be like for that but what I don't like is the constant extra charge for buying things aboard 2.9% for what exactly? Seems like extortion to me.

Lloyds Bank have seriously lost their way, they provide by far the worse service from any company we deal with. They are obstructive, unhelpful and offensive. For some reason they feel it is a good idea to question large withdrawals and large payments into the business account, what has it to do with them provided the funds are in the account and the security details are compiled with? There is no business manager available in branch and you need to jump through hoops to get to speak to one.I will be transferring our account, but sadly not expecting any better service from one of the other big banks. What has happened to customer service in this country!

Do not open a tsb business account, takes forever, they just don't care, never follow anything up.

Go try another bank, save your self the hassle.

We opened an account with them a few years back - all their systems very slow, inefficient, bureaucratic. They have now started their due diligence process on our company re money laundering presumably as we have international contacts and the amount of information we, as a small company have had to provide, is enough to make anybody lose the will to live - and they use arrogant, unpleasant staff to carry through these systems. Their payment system is antediluvian. Individual staff can be pleasant but they should find a job elsewhere. Have just tried to make a routine company online payment and their anti-fraud system has picked it up and sent me to a phone answering service on a loop - no possibility at all of sorting it out - but this is entirely typical.

Sharpen up Lloyds Business!

Business account looked perfect on paper, I've been banking with Lloyds for 25 years, have ISA's loans and mortgage with them and figured it was another notch for the bank.

As it turns out loyalty only goes one way - my history gives me no advantage, even with simpler access to information, and I was quoted 4 - 6 weeks to open a Ltd company account. Most other providers can do the same in 2 days to 2 weeks. I can't imagine that Lloyds do any more due-diligence than any other bank out there, so I am thinking they are probably suffering from one or more of the following: incompetence, poor capacity or are simply incapable. None of which provide confidence that ongoing management will be any better.

On top of this, my one experience of the account line (where I discovered the long lead times) the call handler seemed rude until I mentioned I had not yet opened an account and was checking to see how Lloyds business treat their customers before deciding.

Her tone promptly changed. Could have been having a bad day, either way the lead times were enough to put me off, I will open an account with Nat West and will be trading by this weekend ...