---
title: Why your company needs its own bank account
description: Why your company needs its own bank account
---

[Skip to content](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/why-your-company-needs-its-own-bank-account#main-content)

[![image 4](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/hubfs/image%204.svg)](https://www.1stformations.co.uk/)

- [Help Centre](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/)

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

- [Help Centre](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/)
- [Login](https://www.1stformations.co.uk/login/)

[Login](https://www.1stformations.co.uk/login/)

 How can we help you?

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

1. [Accounting Service](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service?hsLang=en-gb)
2. [New Company Essentials](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/new-company-essentials?hsLang=en-gb)
3. [Getting Started](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/new-company-essentials?hsLang=en-gb#getting-started)

# Why your company needs its own bank account

## Using a personal bank account for your company can create big problems

A separate business bank account is not a strict legal requirement, but because the company is a separate legal entity, it is effectively essential from day one.

### The problems a shared account causes

Every personal transaction in a shared account lands in the company's records. Each one has to be identified and posted to your director's loan account, which slows the bookkeeping, generates queries, and can build an overdrawn loan balance without you noticing.

### Getting set up

Open a business bank account in the company's full registered name, connect the bank feed to Xero, and run all company income and costs through it from the first transaction. Most app-based business accounts open within a day or two.

💡 **Good to know:** If you traded through a personal account before the business account opened, tell us. Once you have identified the company transactions, we will help you record them properly.

### Not found what you're looking for?

Please get in touch and we'll be happy to help:

**Email:** You can submit a request using our [contact form](https://forms.1stformations.co.uk/contact/)

**Phone:** 020 3897 2233

**Live Chat:** Select the live chat icon on the bottom right

- [Your Plan](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/your-plan?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Understanding Your Plan](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/your-plan?hsLang=en-gb#understanding-your-plan)
    - [Compliance Included in Your Plan](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/your-plan?hsLang=en-gb#compliance-included-in-your-plan)
    - [Your Xero Plan](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/your-plan?hsLang=en-gb#your-xero-plan)
    - [Add-ons Explained](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/your-plan?hsLang=en-gb#add-ons-explained)
- [Working with Us](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/working-with-us?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [How to Contact Us](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/working-with-us?hsLang=en-gb#how-to-contact-us)
    - [Your Accountant and Support Team](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/working-with-us?hsLang=en-gb#your-accountant-and-support-team)
    - [Keeping Your Details Up to Date](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/working-with-us?hsLang=en-gb#keeping-your-details-up-to-date)
- [New Company Essentials](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/new-company-essentials?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Getting Started](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/new-company-essentials?hsLang=en-gb#getting-started)
    - [Before and Beyond Trading](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/new-company-essentials?hsLang=en-gb#before-and-beyond-trading)
- [What You Can and Can't Claim](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/what-you-can-and-cant-claim?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Benefits, Perks, and Grey Areas](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/what-you-can-and-cant-claim?hsLang=en-gb#benefits-perks-and-grey-areas)
    - [Mileage, Travel and Subsistence](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/what-you-can-and-cant-claim?hsLang=en-gb#mileage-travel-and-subsistence)
- [Xero Training and Analytics](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/xero-training-and-analytics?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Weekly Xero Training Sessions](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/xero-training-and-analytics?hsLang=en-gb#weekly-xero-training-sessions)
    - [Xero Health Checks](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/xero-training-and-analytics?hsLang=en-gb#xero-health-checks)
    - [Syft Analytics](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/xero-training-and-analytics?hsLang=en-gb#syft-analytics)
- [Tax Reviews and Webinars](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/tax-reviews-and-webinars?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Annual Tax Efficiency Review](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/tax-reviews-and-webinars?hsLang=en-gb#annual-tax-efficiency-review)
    - [Quarterly Business Performance Review](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/tax-reviews-and-webinars?hsLang=en-gb#quarterly-business-performance-review)
    - [Topical Webinars](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/tax-reviews-and-webinars?hsLang=en-gb#topical-webinars)
- [Bookkeeping Basics](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/bookkeeping-basics?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Day-to-Day Bookkeeping Workflow](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/bookkeeping-basics?hsLang=en-gb#day-to-day-bookkeeping-workflow)
    - [Bank Reconciliation](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/bookkeeping-basics?hsLang=en-gb#bank-reconciliation)
    - [Recording Sales and Purchases](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/bookkeeping-basics?hsLang=en-gb#recording-sales-and-purchases)
    - [Managing Receipts and Best Practice](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/bookkeeping-basics?hsLang=en-gb#managing-receipts-and-best-practice)
- [VAT Registration and Submissions](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/vat-registration-and-submissions?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Do I Need to Register for VAT](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/vat-registration-and-submissions?hsLang=en-gb#do-i-need-to-register-for-vat)
    - [Submitting VAT Returns](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/vat-registration-and-submissions?hsLang=en-gb#submitting-vat-returns)
    - [VAT on Sales and Purchases](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/vat-registration-and-submissions?hsLang=en-gb#vat-on-sales-and-purchases)
    - [VAT Payments and Schemes](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/vat-registration-and-submissions?hsLang=en-gb#vat-payments-and-schemes)
- [Paying Yourself and Employees](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Paying Directors: Salary vs Dividends](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#paying-directors-salary-vs-dividends)
    - [Your Payslip and National Insurance](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#your-payslip-and-national-insurance)
    - [Dividends: Legal Process](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#dividends-legal-process)
    - [Payroll Essentials for New Directors](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#payroll-essentials-for-new-directors)
    - [Hiring and Employment Status](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/paying-yourself-and-employees?hsLang=en-gb#hiring-and-employment-status)
- [Corporation Tax and Year-End](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Corporation Tax Fundamentals](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#corporation-tax-fundamentals)
    - [Allowable Expenses and Year-End Planning](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#allowable-expenses-and-year-end-planning)
    - [PAYE and Payroll Basics](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#paye-and-payroll-basics)
    - [Director's Loan and HMRC Communications](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#directors-loan-and-hmrc-communications)
    - [Losses, Rates and Reliefs](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/corporation-tax-and-year-end?hsLang=en-gb#losses-rates-and-reliefs)
- [Invoices & Payments](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/invoices-payments?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Creating Invoices and Getting Paid](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/invoices-payments?hsLang=en-gb#creating-invoices-and-getting-paid)
    - [Invoice Numbering and Record Keeping](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/invoices-payments?hsLang=en-gb#invoice-numbering-and-record-keeping)
- [Personal Tax for Directors](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/personal-tax-for-directors?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Drawing Money from Your Company](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/personal-tax-for-directors?hsLang=en-gb#drawing-money-from-your-company)
    - [Self Assessment Practical Guide](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/personal-tax-for-directors?hsLang=en-gb#self-assessment-practical-guide)
    - [National Insurance and Benefits](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/personal-tax-for-directors?hsLang=en-gb#national-insurance-and-benefits)
    - [Household Finances](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/personal-tax-for-directors?hsLang=en-gb#household-finances)
- [Using Xero](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/using-xero?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Getting Started with Xero](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/using-xero?hsLang=en-gb#getting-started-with-xero)
    - [Bank Feeds and Making Tax Digital](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/using-xero?hsLang=en-gb#bank-feeds-and-making-tax-digital)
    - [Xero for VAT and Payroll](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/using-xero?hsLang=en-gb#xero-for-vat-and-payroll)
- [Understanding your Numbers](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/understanding-your-numbers?hsLang=en-gb#main-content)

    - [Key Accounting Terms Explained](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/understanding-your-numbers?hsLang=en-gb#key-accounting-terms-explained)
    - [Reading your Financial Reports](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/understanding-your-numbers?hsLang=en-gb#reading-your-financial-reports)
    - [Using Your Numbers to Make Decisions](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/understanding-your-numbers?hsLang=en-gb#using-your-numbers-to-make-decisions)
    - [Your Compliance Calendar](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/accounting-service/understanding-your-numbers?hsLang=en-gb#your-compliance-calendar)

- Terms & Conditions
- Privacy Policy
- Cookie Policy

[![1stformations logo white](https://help.1stformations.co.uk/hs-fs/hubfs/1stformations%20logo%20white.png?width=142&height=30&name=1stformations%20logo%20white.png "1stformations logo white")](https://www.1stformations.co.uk)

<https://www.facebook.com/> <https://www.twitter.com/> <https://www.instagram.com/> <https://podcasts.apple.com/> [mailto:email@email.com](mailto:email@email.com)

 Copyright 2026 © 1st Formations  
We are proud to be a Certified B Corporation™