Monese Review [2025]: Business Account Features, Fees and Customer Support

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Statrys Score Card
Monese Business Account
7
Features
5
Fees
5
Customer Support
9
Ease of Opening an Account
9

Monese Business Account

Our Rating Methodology

Click "More info" to understand how we calculate our Monese Business Account ratings.

What Is Monese?

Founded in 2015, Monese is a UK-based neobank that offers mobile-only banking services, catering for individuals and businesses in the United Kingdom and the European Economic Area (EEA). It was created to provide inclusive financial services, making banking accessible to those without a UK address or good credit history.

While it doesn’t have a full banking licence, Monese operates as an e-money institution regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the UK, ensuring secure transactions and fund protection through safeguarded accounts.

With backing from investors like PayPal Ventures, HSBC, Kinnevik, Investec, and Augmentum, Monese has expanded its services to 31 countries with over 2 million sign-ups.[1]

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Disclaimer: Information in this article is accurate as of 13 February 2025. Please note that details may change. We recommend checking with Monese for the most current information.

Screenshot of the Statrys payment platform's business account dashboard. The interface displays account details for "Happy Client Limited," showing a total balance of HKD 886,277.52 across multiple currencies (HKD, USD, EUR). The left sidebar contains navigation options such as Accounts, Transfer, Convert, Secure your FX Risk, Payees, Cards, Team, Statements and documents, and Integrations. A prominent "Add a payee" and "View Account Details" call-to-action section is visible.

Is Monese Right for Your Business?

Pros of Monese Business Account

Why Monese May Be a Good Option

  • 100% account setup
  • No fee for sending and receiving UK bank transfers.
  • Cash deposits at PayPoint and post offices across the UK.
  • Complimentary debit Mastercard® to use online, offline or at ATMs.
  • Track, manage and categorise transactions via the app.
  • Have personal and business accounts in one app.

Cons of Monese Business Account

Why Monese May Not Be a Good Option

  • Can hold only GBP balance.
  • No cheque services.
  • No accounting software integration (e.g., Xero, FreeAgent).
  • Receiving international transfers requires a GBP 20 yearly fee and incurs a 2% fee per incoming transaction.
  • Cannot share account access with your team.
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Important: Monese is not onboarding new business clients at the moment due to ongoing changes. Please contact Monese for the latest updates.

Monese Business Features

Monese offers current accounts for both individuals and businesses. However, this article will focus only on Monese business accounts.

Business Account

Monese business accounts are GBP-only accounts, meaning you can hold in GBP only.

With a Monese business account, you can[3]:

  • Send and receive GBP Faster Payments.
  • Make international money transfers with competitive rates based on wholesale exchange rates.
  • Send money instantly between Monese accounts for free.
  • Set up and manage Direct Debits.
  • Schedule recurring payments and transfers.
  • Create and share invoices to collect payments from your clients.
  • Set aside money for future goals with up to 10 savings pots.
  • Track transactions and get real-time notifications.
  • Deposit cash at over 40,000 PayPoint or Post Office locations across the UK.
  • Secure your account with multi-factor authentication and encryption.
  • Get a complimentary Monese Classic Personal Account when signing up.

Do note that there are some limitations to keep in mind.[4]

Maximum account balance

GBP 100,000

Incoming UK Faster Payment

  • GBP 50,000 per transaction
  • GBP 100,000 per month

Outgoing UK Faster Payment

  • GBP 50,000 per transaction
  • GBP 100,000 per month

Outgoing UK Direct Debit Payment

GBP 50,000 per transaction

Cash deposits

  • GBP 250 per transaction
  • GBP 1,000 per day
  • GBP 2,500 per week
  • GBP 10,000 per month
  • GBP 50,000 per year

Debit Cards

Every account comes with Mastercard® debit card. Here are the features of Monese business debit cards.[5]

  • Make business purchases both in-store and online, and withdraw cash at any ATMs that accept Mastercard®.
  • Pay contactless via Apple Pay and Google Pay.
  • Lock and unlock your cards via the mobile app.

In addition, there are limitations when using the Monese card as well.

ATM withdrawals

  • GBP 500 per transaction
  • GBP 2,000 per week
  • GBP 4,000 per month

Card transactions

  • GBP 10,000 per transaction
  • GBP 10,000 per day
  • GBP 20,000 per month

Multi-currency IBAN

Monese offers a multi-currency IBAN add-on for GBP 20 per year[6], allowing you to receive payments from outside the UK. With this feature, you can receive money in 30+ currencies, including AUD, JPY, CNY, EUR, USD, SGD, NZD, and HUF, from over 150 countries.[7]

Monese Business Feature Rating is 5/10

Monese provides essential business banking features like GBP Faster Payments, Direct Debits, cash deposits, and invoicing. However, it lacks accounting software integration, requires a paid add-on for international payments, and only supports GBP balances. Additionally, account access cannot be shared with employees, limiting flexibility for business operations.

While it meets the basic needs of UK businesses, Monese falls behind competitors like Revolut and Wise due to limited features and fewer business-friendly tools.

Fees Charged By Monese

You can open a Monese business account for free. However, you have to pay GBP 9.95 per month for an account. Below is the pricing for services Monese provides.

Transfers and FX Fees

Fee Type

Amount

Incoming UK Faster Payment

Free

Outgoing UK Faster Payment

Free

Subscription for receiving international transfers

GBP 20 per year

Incoming international transfer

2% (min GBP 4)

Outgoing international transfer

No fee, but subject to a conversion fee.

Transfers between Monese accounts

Free

Exchange rate

Based on wholesale rates

Exchange fee

From 0.5% of transaction value (min GBP 2)

Other Fees

Fee Type

Amount

Additional cards

GBP 4.95 per card

Card replacement

The first replacement is free of charge. After that, a delivery fee will apply.

ATM withdrawals

6 times free per month, after that GBP 1 per withdrawal

Transactions in non-pound sterling

Mastercard® wholesale rate + 0.5% of the transaction.

Monese’s Fee Rating is 5/10

Monese charges a monthly fee of GBP 9.95, but international transactions come at an extra cost. Clients must pay GBP 20 per year to receive transfers in foreign currencies and 2% per incoming overseas bank transfers (min GBP 4), making it expensive for businesses with frequent international payments.

Compared to other digital business accounts, Monese's fee structure is less competitive, with higher international transfer costs and no multi-currency support. These additional charges make it less attractive for businesses seeking affordable global banking options.

Customer Support

Monese provides support in 14 languages, including English, French, Spanish, Italian, Latvian, Polish, German, Portuguese, Romanian, and Turkish. Business account users can contact the team via in-app chat by tapping “Get Help” in the top left corner.

You can also call +44 1706 304001, which is available Monday to Friday, 8 AM – 5 PM GMT.[8]

For non-urgent issues, you can email support@monese.com or browse the FAQs, which are also available in 14 languages, for quick answers.[9]

Monese’s Customer Support Rating is 9/10

Monese offers strong multilingual support in 14 languages, ensuring accessibility for a diverse customer base. The in-app chat, email, and FAQs in multiple languages provide both real-time and self-service support options.

The addition of phone support improves accessibility for urgent issues. However, no weekend or 24/7 support is a drawback, as issues can arise outside of regular working hours.

Eligibility Requirements for Opening a Monese Business Account

To open a Monese business account, you must meet the following criteria:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Be the sole director of a UK-registered business.
  • Have a valid UK residential address, UK phone number, and email address.
  • Ensure your business is not involved in restricted industries such as charities, cryptocurrencies, or gambling.
  • Have a compatible iOS or Android device to manage the account via the Monese app.[10]

You can apply for the Monese Business Account using the mobile app. Monese claims that the process is quick and straightforward, and it does not involve checking your credit score. However, we couldn't find any information regarding the expected timeframe for account approval and activation on the Monese website.

The Ease of Opening a Monsese Business Account is 9/10

Opening a Monese Business Account is straightforward and fully app-based, making it easier than many traditional banks. The requirements are clear and minimal, focusing on sole directors of UK-registered businesses.

While approval times are not specified, the account opening process is hassle-free for eligible applicants. If the approval times were more transparent, this would have been a 10/10 instead.

Have a Business in Asia? Consider Statrys

If you run a business in Asia or plan to expand into this region, we recommend Statrys for managing your finances.

Founded in 2019, Statrys is a licensed payment service provider in Hong Kong that offers multi-currency business accounts supporting 11 major currencies. Within a single account, you can hold, receive, and send money in HKD, USD, EUR, GBP, AUD, and SGD.

Statrys provides competitive FX rates based on real-time mid-market exchange rates, helping businesses save on currency conversions and international payments. You can also pay suppliers and employees through local payment systems in 12 currencies for faster and cheaper transactions.

In addition, Statrys offers forward exchange contracts that let you lock in exchange rates for future payments, protecting your budget from market fluctuations. Statrys can also integrate with Xero to simplify your bookkeeping and accounting process.

Moreover, every account comes with a dedicated account manager for personalised support.

You can reach out to Statrys team via multiple channels like the website chatbot, phone, WhatsApp and WeChat. 

Here’s the summary of Statrys’ services

A summary of Statrys' services
Screenshot of the Statrys payment platform's business account dashboard. The interface displays account details for "Happy Client Limited," showing a total balance of HKD 886,277.52 across multiple currencies (HKD, USD, EUR). The left sidebar contains navigation options such as Accounts, Transfer, Convert, Secure your FX Risk, Payees, Cards, Team, Statements and documents, and Integrations. A prominent "Add a payee" and "View Account Details" call-to-action section is visible.

FAQs

Is Monese protected by the FSCS?

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No, Monese is not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). However, as an e-money institution regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), Monese safeguards client funds by holding them in separate bank accounts at major banks. This means your funds are protected, but they are not guaranteed by the FSCS if something goes wrong.

Does Monese charge monthly fees?

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Can I integrate my Monese business account with accounting software like Xero or QuickBooks?

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Can I open a Monese business account if I have multiple directors in my company?

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Disclaimer

More info

Statrys does not directly compete with Monese because we do not provide business accounts in the UK and Europe. Click More info to read the full disclaimer on our review.

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