Business integrations FAQs: banks and accounting software
Important: This guide provides general information, not personalised financial advice. Financial products, rates and eligibility rules can change, so check the provider’s current terms before applying. You can check a firm’s details on the FCA Register.
Quick answer
Short answers on connecting a business bank account to accounting software — how feeds work, what they cost and what to do when they stop.
If you only read one thing: check the connection from both sides — your bank’s integrations page and your software’s list of supported banks.
Who it’s for
- Businesses setting up Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent or Sage
- Owners preparing for Making Tax Digital
- Anyone whose bank feed has stopped working
- Accountants onboarding new clients
Who should skip it
These are general points to weigh up, not advice. These FAQs may not be what you need if:
- You want a provider matrix — see the integrations comparison
- You need help choosing software — see accounting and bookkeeping software
- Your issue is a software bug — contact your software provider
- You need tax advice
The catch
Integrations depend on two companies. If either side changes its connection, your feed may need reconnecting.
Full explanation
Where to go next
See Business accounts with accounting integrations, Accounting and bookkeeping software and business tools and software.
FAQs
What is a bank feed?
An automatic link that sends your bank transactions into your accounting software, so you don’t have to upload statements.
Do bank feeds cost extra?
Usually not from the software side, but some banks put integrations on paid plans — Monzo’s are on Business Pro and Team.
Which banks include accounting software?
Mettle includes FreeAgent if you make one transaction a month; NatWest offers FreeAgent free with a business current account; Barclays includes 12 months of Sage.
How quickly do transactions appear?
It depends on the bank. Starling’s Xero feed is real-time, Revolut syncs roughly every 4 to 6 hours and Tide’s Xero feed updates every 24 hours.
My feed has stopped — what should I do?
Reconnect it from your software or bank app, then check for missing dates and import a statement to fill any gap.
Can I connect more than one bank?
Yes. Most accounting software lets you connect several bank accounts.
Do I need software for Making Tax Digital?
MTD for Income Tax requires digital records and quarterly updates through compatible software for qualifying income above £50,000 from April 2026 (GOV.UK, checked 4 October 2026).
Is it safe to connect my bank to software?
Feeds use agreements between providers or regulated Open Banking access. Only connect through your bank’s or software’s official screens.
What if my bank isn’t supported?
Most software lets you import CSV or OFX statements instead.
See which banks connect to which software:
Get our weekly email
The Friday Finance Lowdown — five minutes of the money stuff worth knowing.
Free to join. See our privacy policy for how we handle your email address.