To open a business bank account (I've opened a few in the UK in the last couple of years) you'll probably need
*Certificate of incorporation
*If hasn't just been formed, evidence that it hasn't traded.
*ID for each of the directors - along the lines of that required for a personal bank account, photo id, and something that proves your address.
*You'll need your company secretary to sign the application. ie. If you've got a corporate company secretary you'll have to send the application form off to them.
*You may have to jump through some silly "paper" hoops - like having a board meeting at which you pass a resolution to open the account.
The exact requirements will depend on the Bank.
If you don't want significant credit then it will be a lot easier than if you do, when you'll need business plans, security etc....
As for registering the company - that's quite easy to do yourself, but if you do want a registered office service / company secretary then you may as well go for one of the many online company registration agents. I used
http://www.companyregistrations.co.uk/ (Nice relevant domain!) - and they've been fine - they've done everything they said they would quickly and efficiently.
You will have a choice between a pre-registered company (possibly with one that has been in existance for a number of years) and a new one. Opening the bank account will be slightly easier with a new one (no need for evidence it hasn't traded) and is slightly "cleaner".
Opening a bank account at a bank where the directors / signatorys all ready have accounts will be easier - as they have allready established identity - however I would advise against this - just "keeping things separate".
Abbey (Anbussiness.com) do free banking up to certain limits (electronic transactions tend to be unlimited), however their service hasn't been great for me. If you do go for Abbey - make sure you check you're getting an appriopriate card (They'll give a company a Visa Electron!), also you can't do international transfers (online or by phone), and doing them offline appears complex to me.
