Getting a business bank account is also trivial and you can do it over the phone. Pretty awesome.
Really? 2.5 years ago still involved going to a bank, signing in blood, and several hours. Most complicated past of the process, would be good to hear it had changed
I started a Ltd a couple of months ago and applied online for a Santander business account, I had my card and account set up within 7 days or so (I was away from home so it could've been quicker). I got a company credit card 2(!) days after applying online to Barclays. No phone calls, no visits to a branch for either.
Interesting. I switched to Barclays for my personal accounts, and they seem unusually tech savvy.
I'm with them for personal and the app is great (website also pretty good but it has an unusually strict timeout on entering indentity codes that makes me sit there with the app poised, so I can enter it within 3 seconds!)
Santander's mobile app is awful though. It kind of works but it's a chunky pre-iOS 7 hybrid monstrosity. Web access is pretty smooth however.
Co-op who I was previously are a crap beast on all counts.
It depends on the bank I think, some are still doing it that way but others you can set up over the phone no problem.
As in a useable account? IIRC in the UK we had to show birth certs, drivers licence, have an interview, present a business plan, sign several lots of dead tree, provide details of other finances ... just to get a deposit account.
Yes, I did it this year, over the phone, ready to use same day.