In order to take credit / debit cards on your website, you need a Merchant bank account. This is separate from any business account you may have and is specifically used only for acquiring the money from your customers who pay by card. Most UK banks have merchant facilities available and it's worth shopping around as the transaction rates (the amount they charge you for acquiring each payment) can vary quite a bit, depending on your specific business and turnover.
You will also need a payment acquirer - this can be likened to an online version of the card terminal you see in a shop. It provides a secure link between your customers payment details and your merchant bank. Some banks offer their own solutions, however almost all can be used with 3rd party methods. We highly recommend SagePay (formerly Protx) for this. They are a UK payment acquirer with a very competitive service price. You can apply for an account with them via the following link: SagePay Application Form. As a SagePay partner, we are highly experienced in integrating their systems into websites and can provide assistance with this if required.
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