European SMEs are demanding faster onboarding, lower FX costs and more sophisticated digital tools from their financial providers. As cross-border commerce expands, businesses increasingly look beyond traditional banks to agile fintech challengers redefining the market. Recent shifts in the sector — from evolving European SME finance trends to the rapid growth of digital-first platforms covered in our analysis of Europe’s fintech landscape — underscore how critical the right banking partner has become for operational efficiency.

At the same time, rising international payment volumes mean companies must manage currency risk more carefully, especially given the pressures explored in our report on cross-border payments and FX costs. Against this backdrop, choosing the right business bank account can reduce fees, streamline operations and support international growth.

Below, we rank the best business bank accounts in Europe for 2025, based on pricing transparency, digital capabilities, FX performance, integrations and overall suitability for SMEs, startups and freelancers.

Our Top Picks

• Best Overall: Wise Business

• Best for Startups: Revolut Business

• Best for Cross-Border SMEs: Airwallex

• Best Traditional Bank: HSBC Kinetic

• Best for Freelancers: N26 Business Smart

Wise Business — Best Overall

Visit Wise Business
(Replace this text with your CTA button once you have affiliate links)

Wise Business is the strongest option for SMEs operating in multiple currencies. It offers local account details in EUR, GBP, USD, AUD and more — allowing businesses to invoice and operate globally without high bank FX spreads.

Key Features

• Hold & manage 40+ currencies

• Local account details in major markets

• Market-leading FX rates

• Batch payments & team permissions

• Integrates with Xero & QuickBooks

Pricing

• No monthly fee

• FX from 0.43%

• Low-cost international transfers

Pros

• Cheapest FX in Europe

• Fast onboarding

• Ideal for global SMEs

Cons

• No overdrafts or lending products

Revolut Business — Best for Startups

Open Revolut Business Account

Revolut Business combines multi-currency accounts, cards, FX, payroll and expense management in one platform. It is highly suited to fast-scaling companies and remote teams.

Key Features

• Corporate cards & multi-currency accounts

• Automated invoices & recurring payments

• Expense tracking

• Wide app integrations

Pricing

• Free plan

• Paid plans from €7/month

Pros

• All-in-one dashboard

• Great for SaaS & remote-first teams

Cons

• FX fees rise on free plan

• No physical branch support

Airwallex — Best for Cross-Border SMEs

Visit Airwallex

Airwallex excels for companies handling significant international payment flows — including ecommerce sellers, SaaS firms and import/export businesses.

Key Features

• Multi-currency accounts

• Virtual corporate cards

• Approval workflows & spend controls

• API for automated treasury operations

Pricing

• Free to open

• FX spreads typically 0.3%–0.6%

Pros

• Very low FX fees

• Excellent global coverage

Cons

• Not ideal for micro-businesses

HSBC Kinetic — Best Traditional Bank

Learn More at HSBC

HSBC Kinetic offers large-bank stability with a modern mobile-first interface. It suits SMEs wanting lending products and a trusted financial brand.

Pros

• FSCS-protected banking

• Overdrafts & credit options

• Mobile onboarding

Cons

• Higher fees than fintech challengers

N26 Business Smart — Best for Freelancers

Open N26 Business Account

N26 offers one of the cleanest mobile banking experiences in Europe, with real-time notifications and simple expense tagging.

Pros

• Excellent mobile UX

• Cashback on purchases

• Fast onboarding

Cons

• EUR-only

• Limited business features

Comparison Table

Provider | FX Fees | Multi-Currency | Cards | Best For
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wise Business | From 0.43% | 40+ | | SMEs, global operations
Revolut Business | Variable | | | Startups, SaaS & remote teams
Airwallex | 0.3%–0.6% | | | High-volume FX & global firms
HSBC Kinetic | Bank rates | | | Traditional financing needs
N26 Business | EUR-only | | | Freelancers & sole traders


(WordPress will format the table automatically once pasted.)

How We Ranked These Accounts

We evaluated:

• Pricing transparency

• FX spreads

• Multi-currency functionality

• Integrations with accounting tools

• Customer service

• Onboarding speed

• Suitability for SMEs vs startups vs freelancers

Final Verdict

For 2025, Wise Business and Revolut Business deliver the strongest mix of transparency, cost efficiency and digital features. Airwallex is unmatched for high-volume FX users, while HSBC Kinetic remains a dependable traditional option for companies needing lending products. N26 offers a streamlined experience for freelancers.

The post The Best Business Bank Accounts in Europe 2025 appeared first on European Business & Finance Magazine.