It took the top spot, despite a slip in performance, in the Forum of Private Business' (FPB) Private Business and Their Banks report.

It was joined in equal first place by Yorkshire Bank, with the Clydesdale Bank retaining third place and closing the gap on the two best performers.

The report ranks banks by their performance, the ease of switching, tracking transactions, transmission charges and the impact of recommendations made by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT).