07 Sept 2026

How to switch your bank account

Switch your bank account in just seven working days. Here, we explain how to switch, the best time of the month to do it and what to do if something goes wrong

Chiara CavaglieriSenior researcher & writer

Chiara is an award-winning investigative reporter who specialises in banking and fraud, joining Which? in 2015 following six years as a personal finance journalist at a national newspaper.

In this article

Why switch bank accounts?
Best bank account switching bonuses
Bank switching offer reviews
More on switching bank account

Why switch bank accounts?

Not all banks are the same, and some offer far higher interest rates and lower overdraft fees than others, not to mention better customer service.

Better still, the Current Account Switch Service means that your new provider does most of the admin for you.

Here, we reveal the banks offering the biggest incentives to switchers and the pitfalls to look out for.

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Best bank account switching bonuses

We don't recommend switching just because a bank is offering short-term perks – we think you should focus on interest rates, overdraft charges and its Which? customer score.

But if you're already looking to move, it's worth seeing what incentives are on offer.

Note: Accounts with particularly high fees are likely to be packaged accounts, which include benefits such as travel insurance. Find our scores for them here.


Santander Everyday	£240	71%	1 September - 7 October 2026	£0	£1,500	£0	2	None
HSBC UK Bank Account	£220	72%	15 June 2026 - tbc	£0	£2,000	£0	2	None
NatWest Select (Everyday)	£200	74%	6 May 2026 - tbc	£0	£1,250	£0	0	None
NatWest Reward	£200	74%	6 May 2026 - tbc	£2	£1,250	£1,250	0	None
Royal Bank of Scotland Select (Everyday)	£200	73%	6 May 2026 - tbc	£0	£1,250	£0	0	None
Royal Bank of Scotland Reward	£200	73%	6 May 2026 - tbc	£2	£1,250	£1,250	0	None
RECOMMENDED PROVIDER First Direct 1st Account	£175	84%	tbc	£0	£1,000	£0	2	5
RECOMMENDED PROVIDER Nationwide FlexDirect	£175	84%	21 May 2026 - tbc	£0	£1,000	£0	2	1
RECOMMENDED PROVIDER Nationwide FlexAccount	£175	84%	21 May 2026 - tbc	£0	£1,000	£0	2	1
RECOMMENDED PROVIDER Nationwide FlexPlus	£175	84%	21 May 2026 - tbc	£18	£1,000	£0	2	1
RECOMMENDED PROVIDER Starling Bank Personal Account	SURI Pro 2.0 toothbrush	86%	10 August - 11 October 2026	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

Table notes: Data correct as of 7 September 2026. (a) Which? customer score: Our rating for customer satisfaction, based on feedback from real customers. The score is made up of a customer's overall satisfaction with the brand and how likely they are to recommend that brand to a friend. We surveyed 6,665 members of the public in August 2025. Our full table includes scores and star ratings for all banks, including those chosen to be a Which? Recommended Provider (WRP).

Bank switching offer reviews

Santander - £240

Get £240 when when you switch to an Everyday current account and save £200 in a Santander Regular Saver from 1 September to 7 October 2026.

To get the bonus you must use the Current Account Switch Service and transfer at least £1,500 and two direct debits. Your switch must complete within 60 days of your initial switch request.

You'll also need to fund a Santander Regular Saver with at least £200 within 60 days of your switch request.

The Everyday account is a free basic current account, while the higher tiers carry monthly fees of £5 and £17 in exchange for benefits.

This offer is available to both new and existing customers. To qualify for the incentive, the account you are switching from must be held with a bank outside of the Santander Group (i.e. not Santander, Cahoot, or Cater Allen). You also won't be eligible if you have previously received a switch incentive payment from Santander, or if you held a Santander current account on or after 1 January 2026.

HSBC - £220

Switch to an HSBC UK Bank Account and receive £220 starting from 15 June 2026.

To qualify, you must open a new account through the mobile banking app and within 60 days complete a full switch using the Current Account Switch Service. You cannot be eligible for the offer if you open the account via other channels such as branch or telephone banking.

You'll also need to transfer two direct debits, deposit £2,000 into your new account, and spend £500 on your HSBC debit card.

The account is fee-free and offers access to a range of savings accounts, retail offers, and the HSBC Global Money Account which allows you to convert, spend and send multiple currencies with no fees.

You are ineligible if you are an existing HSBC UK or First Direct customer or if you have opened an HSBC UK or First Direct current account on or after 1 January 2023.

NatWest and RBS - £200

Switch to a NatWest or Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Select or Reward account and receive £200 starting 6 May 2026.

To receive the £200 bonus, you must use the Current Account Switch Service to move a current account (not held with NatWest, RBS, or Ulster Bank) to your new account. Within 60 days of the switch completing, you'll need to pay in at least £1,250 into the account and log into the NatWest mobile app.

The bonus will be paid into your new account within 30 days.

The Select account is a free everyday bank account. The Reward account has a £2 monthly fee and you'll need to pay in £1,250 every month. The account pays £4 a month in cashback when you have at least two direct debits of £2 or more, plus an extra £1 a month for logging into the mobile app. You can earn more rewards when you spend at partner retailers and you can exchange rewards into cash, e-gift codes, or donate to charity.

You won’t be eligible if you previously received a switching incentive from NatWest Group, including NatWest, RBS or Ulster Bank. You also can’t switch from another NatWest Group bank.

First Direct - £175

First Direct is currently offering a £175 switch offer.

To qualify for the switching bonus, you must use the Current Account Switch Service and move across at least two direct debits or standing orders.

You must also deposit £1,000 or more into your account, make at least five debit card payments, and log on to online banking within 45 days.

The £175 will be credited to your account on the 20th of the month after you meet the switching criteria.

This account also includes a £250 interest-free overdraft (subject to status) and gives you access to the Regular Saver Account, which offers 7% fixed AER for 12 months on deposits between £25 and £300 per month. Interest is added at the end of the year, and depositing the full £3,600 will earn you £136.50.

You're not eligible for this offer if you've previously held any First Direct financial product or if you opened a HSBC current account on or after 1 January 2018.

First Direct is a Which? Recommended Provider for current accounts.

Nationwide - £175

Switch to a FlexAccount, FlexDirect or FlexPlus (a packaged account) and receive £175 starting from 21 May 2026.

To receive the £175 bonus, you must use the Current Account Switch Service and transfer at least £1,000 and two direct debits. Your switch must complete within 28 days of opening your Nationwide account.

Within 31 days of opening your account, you'll also need to make one debit card payment. This includes Contactless, Apple Pay and recurring payments -- but note that gambling and crypto transactions, taking out cash, and money transfers will not count.

The bonus will be paid into your new account within a 10 days of the switch completing.

You can switch to one of Nationwide's three main current accounts. The FlexDirect account offers 5% AER interest on balances up to £1,500 and 1% cashback on debit card spending for the first 12 months. The everyday FlexAccount offers a no-fee option with both online and in-branch banking. For £18 per month, the FlexPlus account provides a packaged deal with benefits like worldwide family travel insurance, mobile phone insurance, and UK and European breakdown cover.

You won't be eligible for this offer if you've previously held a Nationwide current account or received a switching offer from Nationwide since 2021.

Nationwide is a Which? Recommended Provider for current accounts.

Starling Bank - free electric toothbrush

Switch to a Starling personal current account between 10 August to 11 October and you can get a free electric toothbrush.

You'll receive a voucher code to claim against a SURI Pro 2.0 toothbrush and UV clean-and-charge case worth £105.

To get the voucher, you must use the Current Account Switch Service to complete a full switch within 30 days of opening your Starling personal current account.

There are no minimum direct debit or pay-in requirements but for it to be a complete switch you must move across everything in the account you are switching from (balance, salary, payees, direct debits, standing orders) and close the account.

Once you have completed the switch, you will receive an email with a unique voucher code and instructions on how to claim your SURI toothbrush on the SURI website.

The Starling personal current account is fee-free and lets you set aside money in Spaces, with virtual debit cards linked to each for dedicated spending. You can also deposit cheques by simply taking a photo of them through the Starling app.

Starling Bank is a Which? Recommended Provider for current accounts.

How do I switch bank accounts?

There are plenty of reasons to switch bank accounts, as our video explains:

Most banks have agreed to use the new switching service, which means it should take just seven working days to switch you over from your old account once the new account is opened.

If you want to check which banks and building societies are participating, you can search by name here on the Current Account Switch Service (CASS) website.

The switching service is largely automated. The step-by-step process below details exactly what happens.

Step 1: find your new bank account

If you don't yet have an account in mind, you can skip to our advice on choosing the best current account below.

Step 2: apply for your chosen account

When you apply to the new provider, it will undertake its normal account-opening procedures.

Banks and building societies have to comply with strict money-laundering rules, so when you open an account you'll be asked to provide two separate documents for proof of identity and proof of address.

You'll then need to complete a Current Account Switch Agreement form and a Current Account Closure Instruction form provided by your new bank or building society.

Step 3: know your rights

Your new bank or building society will confirm whether it's using the Current Account Switching Service, which is backed by the Current Account Switch Guarantee.

This guarantee means that it will correct any problems with payments as a result of the switching process.

Step 4: choose a switch date

You'll be able to agree a convenient switch date for you with the new bank or building society.

It can't be a Saturday, Sunday or a bank holiday, and must be at least seven working days after your account has been opened.

Once this date has been agreed, your new bank will provide confirmation that the switch has begun and will be completed on the agreed switch date.

You'll continue using your old current account up until the agreed switching date, although don't set up new payments such as direct debits and standing orders during the seven working days leading up to your agreed switch date.

Your new provider will contact you if there are any issues during this period.

Step 5: start using your new account

On the switch date, your new bank or building society will be responsible for moving your incoming and outgoing payments and transferring any money to your new account before closing the old account and sending confirmation that the process is complete.

More on switching bank account

Applying for multiple current accounts can affect your credit rating in the short term – because banks must run credit checks for the overdraft facility – but having one or two credit application searches will have minimal impact.

Ideally, you should spread credit applications out, so if you're applying for a mortgage or car finance it may be best to wait until you've secured this before switching bank accounts.

It can be beneficial to have a longstanding relationship with your bank when you apply for credit but lenders are far more interested in your actual credit history so don't let this put you off switching to a better bank account.

Find out more: How to check your credit score for free

Yes, having an overdraft isn't a barrier to switching but you'll need to pay off any debt with your old bank.

Whether or not the new account provider offers you an overdraft facility and whether or not it matches your current overdraft limit will depend on your circumstances.

If you have a record of managing your overdraft well, most banks will consider taking the existing overdraft on.

If the new provider won't let you move your existing overdraft across, you can still switch but you will need to discuss a way of paying off your overdraft with your old bank.

Some may agree to keep the old account open to help you pay it off gradually but others may insist you clear the debt before you switch.

No, if you don't want to close your old account, you can do a partial switch instead.

The main downside is that you aren't covered by the service guarantee, so you aren't automatically refunded for any charges incurred as a result of a direct debit or standing order failing to transfer properly.

It may also take longer than seven days to complete the switch.

And, the best switching incentives are often reserved for customers who use the full switch (CASS).

The Current Account Switch Guarantee outlines how the switching service works and what rights you have if anything goes wrong with the switch.

All providers offering the Current Account Switch Service will abide by these rules:

The service is free to use, and you can choose and agree your switch date with the new bank.
The new bank will take care of moving all your payments going out (eg direct debits and standing orders) and those coming in (eg your salary) to your new account.
Your new bank will arrange for the closure of your old account and for the remaining balance to be transferred to your new account on the agreed switch date.
For 36 months, the new bank will arrange for payments accidentally made to your old account to be automatically redirected to your new account. The new bank will also contact the sender and give them your new account details.
The responsibility lies with the new bank to contact you before the switch date if there are any issues.
The new bank must refund you for any charges incurred as a result of a direct debit or standing order not having been successfully transferred to the new account.

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