CashFlows research reveals British small businesses pay over 2.3bn pounds each year to banks in fees

News provided by

11 Jul, 2012, 09:00 BST

- Payment of base rate interest on business accounts could contribute 330m pounds to the UK economy

CAMBRIDGE, England, July 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- An investigation into the state of the British business banking market by CashFlows, the provider of innovative business-to-business financial services, has revealed that small businesses are collectively spending more than 2.3 billion pounds per year[1] on transaction charges and fees to run their business banking, while simultaneously not being offered the ability to earn interest on their business accounts. The study exemplifies why changes in the services available to small businesses are in need of urgent review to help British business in their efforts to rebuild the economy.

According to the study, which was conducted by YouGov for CashFlows, 24 per cent of small businesses surveyed (over 1 million in Great Britain), pay an average of 1,792 pounds on business banking charges every year, such as transaction fees[2]. Perhaps unsurprisingly, over half of businesses (52%) would move their business current account to another provider in order to receive lower cost business banking services.

Nick Ogden, Chairman and CEO, CashFlows, said: "There is widespread demand for a change in the way that businesses are served by the existing financial services industry. Our research clearly demonstrates that there is a considerable gap in the business banking services currently being delivered by British banks and the services that customers actually require. There is a real need, and an ability, to simplify and reduce fees and charges to give businesses transparency and competitive choices."

"One of the ways to reduce some of these fees and get to a position where interest could be paid is by consolidating a range of services into one current account. This is an area we have been exploring with our Cashflows Account and already businesses are able to reduce their expenditure on fees, adding interest to this account could directly impact bottom-line business cashflow and stimulate increased expenditure and investment."

[1] See data table I below. CashFlows has calculated this figure using YouGov research findings and statistics from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

[2] See data table II below. CashFlows has calculated this figure using YouGov research findings and statistics from the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

-Ends-

Notes to editors:

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 503 Small Business Senior Decision Makers. Fieldwork was undertaken between 11th - 14th June 2012. The survey was carried out online.

Data table I: CashFlows' calculation of bank fee payments:
In an average month, how much does your business pay in total in financial services fees for its merchant and business account services, including all monthly and transaction charges?


Monthly and transaction charges in average month	Percentage of GB businesses	What this equates to in actual number of businesses, according to data from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (http://www.bis.gov.uk/analysis/statistics/business-population-estimates)	Amount paid on average each month by GB businesses (Taking the mid-point value from each band)
0 pounds - nothing	21.87%	959,000	0 pounds
1 pound to 25 pounds	23.66%	1,037,491	18,156,093 pounds
26 pounds to 50 pounds	15.11%	662,574	25,177,793 pounds
51 pounds to 100 pounds	10.54%	462,179	34,894,515 pounds
101 pounds to 250 pounds	7.55%	331,068	58,102,346 pounds
More than 250 pounds	5.77%	253,015	63,253,625 pounds
Don't know	15.51%	680,114	---
		*There are 4,385,000 GB businesses with 1-49 staff	Total paid in fees in an average 12 month period: 2,395,012,455 pounds

Data table II: CashFlows' calculation of bank fee payments:
In an average month, how much does your business pay in total in financial services fees for its merchant and business account services, including all monthly and transaction charges?


Monthly and transaction charges in average month	Percentage of GB businesses	What this equates to in actual number of businesses, according to data from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills (http://www.bis.gov.uk/analysis/statistics/business-population-estimates)	Amount paid on average each month by GB businesses (Taking the mid-point value from each band)
51 pounds to 100 pounds	10.54%	462,179	34,894,515 pounds
101 pounds to 250 pounds	7.55%	331,068	58,102,346 pounds
More than 250 pounds	5.77%	253,015	63,253,625 pounds
TOTAL	24%	1,046,262	156,250,486 pounds
		*There are 4,385,000 GB businesses with 1-49 staff	(1,046,262 businesses pay 156,250,486 pounds per month) Total paid in fees PER BUSINESS in an average 12 month period: 1,792 pounds

About CashFlows

CashFlows® delivers a range of business to business financial services that are provided from a single account, designed to help businesses manage and maximise their cash flow. The CashFlows® account enables businesses to offer their customers a full range of payment channels including, online, mobile, mail and telephone orders. The CashFlows® account is fully integrated into the VoicePay® mobile wallet service which delivers guaranteed transactions.

CashFlows® is a principal member of VISA and MasterCard and supplies payment card issuing and acquiring services.

CashFlows® is operated by Voice Commerce Limited, and is regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Based in Cambridge, England, it provides payment processing services to a wide range of businesses.

Note to editors: 330m pounds calculation is based on average UK business holding 15,000 pounds in balance and receiving the current Bank of England interest rate of 0.5%.

SOURCE CashFlows