Current account reviews: Which? Recommended Providers
Recommended current account providers
Which? Recommended Providers are companies that are both rated highly by our members in our unique customer survey, and have products that meet the high standards of our researchers.
To feature as a Recommended Provider, a company must have achieved a score of 70% or above in our latest customer satisfaction surveys and must offer a least one top 10 account for either credit interest, overdrafts, or current account mortgages.
Which? closely monitors the products and practices of all Recommended Providers, and reserves the right to exclude any company that does not treat its customers fairly.
All satisfaction surveys used to compile the tables are carried out twice a year, collating the opinions and experiences of thousands of Which? members.
Providers must be fully covered by the UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme in order to be included as a Which? Recommended Provider.
Finally Which? Recommended Providers must offer a free debit card, free direct debits and free withdrawals from UK cash machines, and accounts must be available nationally.
Which? recommended bank account providers  | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | Which? verdict | Customer score | Find out more |
| Average score of all current account providers rated by Which? Money | 61% | ||
| First Direct | Owned by HSBC. First Direct will pay £100 if you switch. Customers need to pay £1,500 into their account or will face a monthly fee £10 fee. | 88% | First Direct |
| The One Account | Owned by RBS. This bank specialises in accounts which combine your mortgage with your current account. | 88% | The One Account |
| Co-operative Bank | An account with £200 fee-free overdraft. Its promise to invest money ethically is an attraction to many customers | 86% | Co-operative Bank |
| Smile | Owned by The Co-operative Group. This is an internet bank with a current account with a 12-month £500 fee-free overdraft. | 85% | Smile |
| Nationwide BS | Its debit card charges for spending abroad are the lowest on the market. It offers full branch and internet banking facilities. | 72% | Nationwide BS |
Poor customer satisfaction
Some banks score particularly poorly in our customer satisfaction survey. Banks with customer scores below 50% are highlighted here.
Warning: Poor customer satisfaction  | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | Which? verdict | Customer score | Find out more |
| Bank of Scotland | Owned by Lloyds Banking Group. A £1 daily charge is payable for customers who use their authorised overdrafts | 45% | Bank of Scotland |
| Northern Bank | Owned by Danish group Denske Bank. Branches only available in Northern Ireland. | 47% | Northern Bank |
| Santander | Always at the bottom end of our satisfaction tables, but has a market leading account that pays 5% | 47% | Santander |
| Halifax | Owned by Lloyds Banking Group. A £1 daily charge is payable for customers who use their authorised overdrafts | 48% | Halifax |
Improve your service
Follow our top tips to make sure you get the best service from your bank.
- Complain If you have a problem with customer service or a product, complain to your bank in writing. Under the regulations it has a maximum of eight weeks to deal with your complaint. If you are still unhappy, go to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
- Switch Don't put up with poor service or a bad deal from your bank. It’s easy to switch.
- Remove your details If you don't want to be bombarded with mail and phone calls from your bank, ask it to take you off its marketing mailing lists.
- Try phone or internet banking If you are fed up with queues in branches, why not try using your bank’s phone or internet service? Most banks now offer both options. If you have to visit your branch and face queues every time, write to the manager and ask for more counter staff.
- Cash machines Remember you can withdraw cash free from almost all bank or building society cash machines with a debit card. However, watch out for so-called ‘convenience’ cash machines that charge around £1.50 to £2 per transaction.