Business bank accounts that link to accounting software

Most UK business bank accounts now send transactions to accounting software through a bank feed, so you rarely need to type in statements. Starling lists Xero, QuickBooks and FreeAgent integrations, Tide includes a Xero Connector on its paid plans, and NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank and Mettle give you FreeAgent free. All details below come from each provider’s website, checked on 6 November 2026, and providers are listed alphabetically.

How does a bank feed work?

A bank feed copies your business account transactions into your accounting software automatically. Xero says its feeds update daily, can be refreshed by hand, and can also pull in payment providers such as Stripe and PayPal.

Most feeds now run over open banking. The software provider, or a partner it uses, is regulated by the FCA and gets read-only access with your consent. Only the UK’s nine largest banks and building societies are required to share data this way; smaller providers can opt in.

Which bank accounts link to which software?

This table shows the integrations each provider names on its own site. A blank in a provider’s list does not mean a link is impossible; it means the page we opened did not say.

Starling’s page did not mention Sage. Tide names only Xero, though it lists “third-party accounting integration” on every plan. Check your software’s own list of supported banks too; Xero keeps one in Xero Central.

Which banks make accounting software free?

Two banking groups bundle FreeAgent at no extra cost.

• NatWest Group. NatWest says FreeAgent is free while you keep its business current account. FreeAgent extends the same offer to Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank customers.
• Mettle. Mettle, also part of NatWest Group, includes FreeAgent if you make at least one transaction a month from the account. Mettle says this saves at least £150 a year based on FreeAgent’s lowest tariff. Without a monthly transaction, or if you close the account, FreeAgent fees apply.

FreeAgent lists £19 a month for sole traders and £33 for limited companies, excluding VAT, so the saving is real if FreeAgent suits you. Compare it with other options in our guide to accounting software for sole traders.

Tide and Starling

Tide. Tide’s pricing page lists the Xero Connector on Smart (£12.49 a month), Pro (£27.49) and Max (£69.99), but not on the free Lite plan. Pro adds Tide Accounting, Tide’s own bookkeeping tool, and Max adds Admin Extra.

Starling. Starling says you can integrate with Xero, QuickBooks and FreeAgent and with your other business bank accounts. It also has built-in Starling Accounting; the page we opened did not give a price for it.

For the wider fee picture, see business bank account fees compared.

What are the limits of bank feeds?

Feeds save time but have three common catches.

1. Consent renewals. Since 26 March 2022, the FCA has let banks drop the requirement for you to log in again every 90 days. Instead, the app must get your explicit consent at least every 90 days. If you miss it, the feed stops until you reconfirm.
2. Fees. Xero’s pricing page says some UK banks charge for bank feeds and that Xero passes the fee on.
3. Gaps. If your bank has no feed, Xero lets you upload a CSV export, edit it before import and skips duplicates.

A feed only imports transactions. You still need to match them to invoices and bills; see how to do a bank reconciliation.

How to connect your bank account

The steps are similar in Xero, QuickBooks and FreeAgent.

1. Register for online banking with the business account.
2. In your software, open the banking or bank accounts section and choose to add a bank.
3. Search for your bank and pick the account type.
4. Log in to your bank when redirected and approve read-only access.
5. Choose how far back to import transactions.
6. Set a reminder to reconfirm consent when the software asks.

Only the account holder, or someone with authorised online banking access, can approve the connection.

Which applies to you?

• If you already use FreeAgent, a NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank or Mettle account removes the subscription.
• If you use Xero and want a free account, check that Starling or Tide Lite supports the feed you need; Tide’s named Xero Connector starts on Smart.
• If you use QuickBooks, Starling names it directly; for other banks, check QuickBooks’ supported bank list.
• If you are switching banks, connect the new feed before closing the old account so no transactions are missed. See how to switch business bank accounts.

Frequently asked questions

Which business bank accounts work with Xero?

Starling and Tide both name Xero on their websites, with Tide’s Xero Connector on plans from £12.49 a month. Xero says most major UK banks and many smaller providers are supported.

Which bank gives you FreeAgent free?

NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank business current accounts include FreeAgent, as does Mettle if you make one transaction a month.

How often do bank feeds update?

Xero says its feeds update daily, and you can refresh them by hand to pull in the latest transactions.

Why has my bank feed stopped?

The most common reason is expired consent. FCA rules require apps to reconfirm your consent at least every 90 days, and the feed pauses until you do.

Can I use accounting software without a bank feed?

Yes. You can upload bank statements as CSV files or enter transactions by hand, though it takes longer.