This comparison simply includes all savings accounts.
Current Account Switch Guarantee
Why we like it: No minimum monthly funding or monthly fee to maintain the account. Earn up to 15% cashback with Retailer Offers. Stress-free account switching in 7 days with the Current Account Switch Service. £300 ATM withdrawal per day, Arranged Overdraft facility (subject to status). Online and Mobile Banking with text and email alerts. Must be 18 or older and live in the UK permanently. 39.94% EAR overdraft charge. Bank is registered with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), so any money you keep will be fully protected, up to £85,000
Why we like it: Access to Regular Saver Account paying 1.00% AER/Gross fixed for 12 months if saving between £25 and £300 a month (up to £3,600 per year). £250 interest-free overdraft (subject to status). No minimum monthly funding and no monthly account fee. Mobile banking app. UK based contact centre. Easy switching with the Current Account Switch Service. Must be 18 or older and UK resident. Get the £100 when switching as a new customer and paying in at least £1,000 within three months of the account opening
Why we like it: Free current account. Pays 0.05% AER interest on balances up to £85,000. Get set up in minutes. Send money abroad: Fast and secure money transfers to bank accounts in 38 countries worldwide. No fees when you pay with your card abroad or withdraw money. Get a spotlight on your spending: See what you’ve spent instantly with real-time payment notifications. 3 month interest holiday on the first £500 of an arranged overdraft. Best British Bank and Best Current Account in 2020 at the British Bank Awards. Awarded 5 stars by Defaqto. Bank is registered with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), so any money you keep will be fully protected, up to £85,000
Why we like it: A bank account that can build credit history. No credit check during sign up. Apply straight from your mobile. Instant online decision. Get your Contactless Debit Mastercard within 3-5 working days. Add Creditbuilder onto your account and it could help build your credit rating at no extra cost. Deposit cash into your account at any Post Office UK branch. Money is available in your account immediately. Manage your account 24/7 from any device with the banking app - get real time balance information, statements, add payees send payments and apply for extras. Automatic payment alerts. UK based Customer Services Team. Your money is protected up to £85,000 by the FSCS (Financial Services Compensation Scheme)
Why we like it: Earn 0.30% AER (variable) interest on balances up to a maximum of £20,000. Up to 3% cashback on household bills - 1% on council tax bills, Mobile and home phone bills, broadband and paid-for TV packages, and Santander monthly mortgage payments. 2% on Gas and electricity bills, Santander Home Insurance premiums and Santander Life Insurance premiums, and 3% on water bills. Monthly fee of £4. Cashback capped at £5 for each cashback tier each month. Must pay in £500 pm. Bank is registered with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), so any money you keep will be fully protected, up to £85,000
Why we like it: Can be opened by or on behalf of any child up to the age of 18. Debit or cash card available for those aged between 13 and 18. Monthly interest. No monthly fee. For children under age 13, the account must be opened in trust and managed by an adult (trustee). If you’re aged between 13 and 18 years old and live permanently in the UK you can apply online by telephone or in branch. No overdraft facility. 1% interest on the entire balance once the balance is £100, 2.00% AER/1.98% gross (variable) on the entire balance once the balance is £1,500, 3.00% AER/2.96% gross (variable) on the entire balance once the balance is £1,500 or over (up to a maximum of £2,000). Bank is registered with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), so any money you keep will be fully protected, up to £85,000
Why we like it: Earn £4 a month back in Rewards by making a minimum of 2 direct debit payments of at least £2 each. Plus earn an extra £1 a month in rewards with 1 mobile app login. Earn Rewards that you can redeem as cash back, gift cards or e-codes with our retail partners. Great money management tools with our mobile banking app. ‘Criteria Apply’. Arranged overdraft available (subject to eligibility). Multiple ways to pay: Apple Pay, Google Pay™ and Contactless Visa Debit. Must be 18 or older and UK resident. Customers need to pay at least £1,250 into any eligible personal current account every month (excludes transfers between your own accounts). Must not currently hold 2 Reward accounts. £2 monthly fee. Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200 you’ll be charged interest at 39.49% EAR variable
Why we like it: Earn £4 a month back in Rewards by making a minimum of 2 direct debit payments of at least £2 each. Plus earn an extra £1 a month in rewards with 1 mobile app login. Earn Rewards that you can redeem as cash back, gift cards or e-codes with our retail partners. Great money management tools with our mobile banking app. ‘Criteria Apply’. Arranged overdraft available (subject to eligibility). Multiple ways to pay: Apple Pay, Google Pay™ and Contactless Visa Debit. Must be 18 or older and UK resident. Customers need to pay at least £1,250 into any eligible personal current account every month (excludes transfers between your own accounts). Must not currently hold 2 Reward accounts. £2 monthly fee. Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200 you’ll be charged interest at 39.49% EAR variable
Why we like it: An everyday current account. Great money management tools with our mobile banking app. ‘Criteria Apply’. Multiple ways to pay: Apple Pay, Google Pay™ and Contactless Visa Debit Card. Limits apply. Arranged overdraft available (subject to eligibility). No monthly fee. Defaqto 5* rated. Must be 18 or older and UK resident. Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200 you’ll be charged interest at 39.49% EAR variable
Why we like it: An everyday current account. Great money management tools with our mobile banking app. ‘Criteria Apply’. Multiple ways to pay: Apple Pay, Google Pay™ and Contactless Visa Debit Card. Limits apply. Arranged overdraft available (subject to eligibility). No monthly fee. Defaqto 5* rated. Must be 18 or older and UK resident. Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200 you’ll be charged interest at 39.49% EAR variable
The Current Account Switch Service
The Current Account Switch Service was launched in 2013 to make it faster and easier to change your current account.
It has so far been used to switch over 3 million accounts, with more than 40 banks and building societies being part of the service. This means 99% of UK current accounts are included.
To use the Current Account Switch Service, you simply have to choose a new current account, then ask your new bank or building society to move your old account over using the Current Account Switch Service.
Your new current account provider will then do everything for you, moving your balance, your Direct Debits and standing orders over. This means you don’t have to spend time cancelling and restarting all your payments , which means you don’t risk missing a payment and getting into arrears.
What is the Current Account Switch Guarantee?
The Current Account Switch Service offers a Current Account Switch Guarantee, giving customers the following:
- Free current account switching
- Switch on a date of your choosing
- They will take care of all outgoing and incoming payments (e.g. your salary)
- They move any money in your old account to your new one
- They will let you know before your switch date if there are any issues
- If anything goes wrong, they will refund any interest (paid or lost) and any charges you incur
Compare current accounts to switch to
Thinking about changing your current account? Then you need to make sure you have carefully compared current accounts from all across the market to make sure you are getting the best possible deal.
Below are three of the most popular current accounts presently available, offering attractive rates of interest and other benefits.
Santander 123 current account
This accounts pays interest at 1.50% AER/1.49% gross (variable) up to a £20,000 balance. As well as this, you can also benefit from 1-3% cashback on various household bills, including payments on a Santander mortgage or insurance policy.
You have to pay a £5 per month account fee for this account and to qualify for cashback you are required to deposit at least £500 a month into the account and have two active Direct Debits.
TSB Classic Plus account
Earn 3% AER paid monthly on a balance of up to £1,500 with this account and you can also get £5 per month cashback when you have at least two Direct Debits from the account, plus another £5 each month that you use your debit card at least 20 times.
There is no monthly account fee, but to earn interest you must pay in a minimum of £500 each month.
Nationwide FlexDirect current account
Nationwide offer a highly competitive 5% AER (4.89% gross p.a.) interest on balances up to £2,500 for the first 12 months with this account. After this the interest drops to 1% gross p.a./AER (variable).
You won’t pay a monthly account fee, but this account doesn’t offer any cashback and you must pay in at least £1,000 a month to earn interest.
