Business customers provided with a simpler and more secure way of staying on top of their bookkeeping.

Barclays plc (LON:BARC) is offering small businesses customers the possibility to automatically transfer transaction data from their bank to their accounting system free of charge.

FreeAgent has been chosen as the first online accounting software to deliver the automated data feeds direct from Barclays Business accounts. Under the agreement, Barclays DataServices - the new service from Barclays Business - will securely and automatically export customers' business account transactions and send the data directly to their FreeAgent accounts; saving customers time and reducing the risk of errors.

Ed Molyneux, CEO and founder of FreeAgent, said: "Staying on top of the finances is one of the biggest challenges that small business owners face, so we're delighted to launch this new automated bank feed capability with Barclays Business. By providing the ability to import bank data directly into FreeAgent, we'll be giving customers an easier and more efficient way of managing their books than ever before."

Richard Exton, Managing Director of Clearlybusiness, the innovative arm of Barclays Business. added: "This shifts the dial significantly in terms of speed, ease and clarity for business accounts."