Tide referral code: get £50 when you open a business account

Looking for a Tide referral code? Use the code JOPOQW when you open a Tide business account and you'll get £50 in free credit. No spending requirement — the credit is yours once your account is approved.

This guide explains what Tide offers, how the referral works, and whether it's the right business account for you.

What is Tide?

Tide is a UK digital business bank account designed for small businesses, freelancers, and sole traders. Over 500,000 UK businesses use Tide to manage their finances.

Key features:

• Opens in minutes — not the weeks you'd wait with a high-street bank
• Free basic plan including bank transfers and direct debits
• Built-in invoicing — create and send invoices from the app
• Expense categorisation — automatic tagging for tax time
• Accounting integrations — connects to Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, and Sage
• Tide Mastercard included with your account

Tide is FCA-authorised and holds your funds as safeguarded electronic money through a regulated partner.

How does the Tide referral work?

1. Download the Tide app
2. Enter the referral code JOPOQW during sign-up
3. Verify your identity by scanning your ID
4. Submit your application — approval is typically same-day
5. Receive £50 credit in your Tide account after approval

The whole process takes minutes. You'll need your personal details and, if you're a limited company, your company registration number. Sole traders can sign up with just their personal ID.

Who is Tide best for?

Tide works best for:

• Sole traders and freelancers who need a separate business account quickly
• New limited companies that need a business bank account to start trading
• Small businesses that want integrated invoicing and accounting tools
• Anyone tired of waiting weeks for a high-street bank to open an account

If your business needs are more complex — multi-currency payments, large lending facilities, or dedicated relationship managers — a traditional bank or Revolut Business may be more suitable.

Tide pricing

Most sole traders and small businesses will find the free plan covers everything they need. The paid plans are worth considering once you have employees or need to give your accountant direct access.

Tide vs Starling Business vs Monzo Business

The biggest difference is FSCS protection — Starling and Monzo hold full banking licences, so your deposits are guaranteed up to £85,000. Tide uses e-money safeguarding instead, which ringfences your funds but doesn't carry the same government-backed guarantee. For most small businesses with modest balances, this is a manageable difference. For larger balances, the FSCS protection at Starling may be worth prioritising.

Should you open a Tide account?

If you need a business bank account that opens fast and comes with useful built-in tools, Tide is a strong choice. The £50 referral credit is a nice bonus, and the free plan covers the basics well.

Get your £50 Tide referral bonus here.