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Switching current account incentives
Why we like it: 5.00% interest for 12 months on balances up to £2,500 for the first year. You must pay in £1,000 or more each month to receive interest (excluding transfers from any Nationwide account held by you or anyone else). 12 month fee-free arranged overdraft available. No monthly fee. Recommend a friend - If you're a Nationwide member you can earn up to £500 per tax year by recommending five friends (£100 each). Access to Flexclusives - Select Credit Card and low personal loan rate. 3.0% APR Representative. Must be aged 18 or older
Why we like it: Earn 1.50% AER (variable) interest on balances up to a maximum of £20,000. Up to 3% CASHBACK on various household bills. Monthly fee of £5. Must pay in £500 pm.
Why we like it: 0.50% AER (variable) payable on your entire balance up to £2,000. Linked to instant access savings account currently paying 1.00% AER, paid quarterly. Zero transaction fees wherever you spend worldwide (arranged and un-arranged lending, other providers & other fees and interest may still apply). Apple Pay & Google Pay enabled contactless debit card. Rated ‘outstanding’ by Moneyfacts. Must be 18 or older and a UK resident. No account fee. No minimum funding required to open account or requirement to pay in regularly
Why we like it: UK & Europe Breakdown Cover, Worldwide family travel and mobile phone insurance, and commission-free cash withdrawals and card payments abroad. Free mobile banking app, text alerts and secure online banking. Recommend a friend - If you're a Nationwide member you can earn up to £500 per tax year by recommending five friends (£100 each). Access to Flexclusives - Select Credit Card and low personal loan rate. £13 monthly account fee
Why we like it: Everyday current accout. No monthly account fee. Recommend a friend - If you're a Nationwide member you can earn up to £500 per tax year by recommending five friends (£100 each). Access to Flexclusives - Select Credit Card and low personal loan rate. 3.0% APR Representative (terms and conditions apply)
Compare switching current account incentives
If you are unhappy with your existing current account and wondering if you can get a better offer elsewhere, switching incentives can help to draw you to one particular bank or building society over another.
Many providers now offer very generous switching offers to move your current account, with a number of banks and building societies now offering over £100 in upfront bonuses as well as cashback and other incentives.
Although a current account switching incentive may be enough to make you want to move accounts by itself, you also need to bear in mind other factors, such as what interest rate you will earn on your savings and pay on your overdraft.
With that in mind, we have compiled a list of the top switching offers for current accounts available right now, to help you when researching which current account to switch to.
M&S Current Account - £185 M&S gift card to switch and stay
If you regularly shop at M&S this offer may be particularly attractive. Move your day-to-day banking to M&S using the Current Account Switch Service and you will receive a £125 M&S gift card. All you need to do is move two or more active monthly Direct Debits to the account to qualify.
You will then receive an extra £5 onto your gift card every month for the first 12 months the account is open. To earn this reward, you simple need to pay in at least £1,000 a month and keep two Direct Debits active. Over the first year it is possible to earn a total of £185 in M&S credit.
The account also offers 5% AER/gross fixed for the first 12 months, plus a minimum £500 overdraft with the first £100 interest free.
Co-operative Bank Current Account - £110 cash switching bonus + up to £5.50 per month
The highest cash offer right now as a switching incentive comes from the Co-operative Bank Current Account. They will give you £110 cash if you use the Current Account Switch Service to switch your everyday banking to them, as long as you move at least four active Direct Debits to your new account.
Sign up for the Co-op’s Everyday Rewards scheme and you can then earn up to £5.50 extra per month in cashback. Over the first year, this adds up to a grand total of £176 in cash rewards.
The Co-operative Bank Current Account comes with no monthly account fee to pay and you can apply online within minutes.
First Direct 1st Account - £100 cash switching bonus
First Direct offer £100 cash as a joining bonus when you open a 1st Account with them. To qualify you will need to switch your everyday banking to First Direct using the Current Account Switch Service and you need to deposit at least £1,000 during the first three months for you hold the account.
As an added bonus, if you decide to leave within the first 12 months the account is open, First Direct will pay you another £100. To qualify for this leaving offer, you must have paid in at least £1,000 a month for six months, be a first time customer with First Direct and you need to inform them of your decision with 12 months of opening the account.
Find out more about the First Direct 1st Account here >>
Halifax Current Account - £75 cash switching bonus + £3 per month cashback
By switching your current account to Halifax with the Current Account Switching Service you can earn a £75 cash bonus. You will need to move all active credits and debits from your previous current account to your new one to qualify.
You can also earn £3 cashback per month if you pay in at least £750 a month, have two or more active Direct Debits and stay in credit. That adds up to £111 in your first year between the switching bonus and monthly cashback.
TSB Classic Plus Account - £120 cashback per year
The TSB Classic Plus Account won’t earn you a bonus upfront for switching, but you will earn £5 cashback every month if you maintain at least two active Direct Debits. Use your debit card to make at least 20 purchases in any given month and you will earn another £5 for each qualifying month. This means you can earn up to £120 in cashback each year.
The TSB Classic Plus Account also gets you 3% AER variable interest on balances up to £1,500, making it one of the most generous accounts for interest on your savings. To qualify, you need to pay in at least £500 a month, register for internet banking, paperless statements and paperless correspondence. As an added bonus, there is no monthly account fee to pay.
Find out more about the TSB Classic Plus account here >>
Should you switch your current account for incentives?
Switching offers can be very tempting, but you also need to consider your long term needs when deciding whether to move your day-to-day banking. Things like the interest rate you earn on your savings and other benefits can soon add up in value and potentially outweigh even a generous switching incentive.
For example, a Santander 1|2|3 Current Account will currently earn you interest of 1.5%AER on your entire balance up to £20,000 plus cashback of between 1-3% on a range of household bills. This means if you tend to be in credit by a significant amount and pay various household bills out of your account each month, these benefits could be worth more than many switching bonuses.
Compare switching current account incentives and more
Whether your main goal when switching your current account is to get better ongoing benefits or you are tempted by a particularly generous switching offer, it is essential to do plenty of research of the available options before making a final decision. Take a look at some of the top current accounts on offer from across the market right now to see which offers the best deal for you.
