Switching your bank account is one of the easiest financial wins available to UK adults. The Current Account Switch Service (CASS) moves everything — direct debits, standing orders, incoming payments, and salary — to a new bank in 7 working days, with a full guarantee that covers any losses if something goes wrong. Switching bonuses fluctuate constantly, but live offers checked in September 2026 have ranged from around £150 up to £240 for a process that takes around 20 minutes of your time — always check the current live amount before applying, since offers open and close with little notice.
This hub covers everything you need to know about UK current accounts: choosing the right account for your needs, using CASS to switch safely, earning switching bonuses, and understanding your FSCS protection.
Current Account Types in the UK
| Account type | Monthly fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Standard current account | £0 | Most employed adults — debit card, overdraft option, direct debits |
| Basic bank account | £0 | Those with poor or no credit history — no overdraft, no credit check |
| Packaged account | £10–£25/month | Travellers and car owners who’ll use bundled insurance |
| App-first / challenger account | £0 | Mobile-first banking, budgeting pots, instant notifications |
| Student current account | £0 | Students — 0% overdraft, in-branch access |
| Business current account | Varies | Self-employed and limited company directors |
Most adults on standard salaries benefit most from a fee-free current account that pays cashback, a high-interest linked savings account, or a meaningful switching bonus — and using CASS to switch to it costs nothing.
How the Current Account Switch Service Works
The Current Account Switch Service (CASS) is run by Pay.UK and backed by all major UK banks. Every bank that participates in CASS is bound by the Switch Guarantee.
| Step | What happens | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Apply to new bank | Open the new account and request a full switch | Day 0 |
| 2. New bank contacts old bank | Migration of direct debits and standing orders begins | Days 1–3 |
| 3. Payments redirect | Salary, direct debits, standing orders all move | By Day 7 |
| 4. Old account closes | Switch is complete; old account becomes read-only | Day 7 |
| 5. Old payments forwarded | Any company still using old details is automatically redirected | 3 years |
The CASS guarantee means your new bank must refund any charges or losses resulting from a switching error. In practice, errors are rare — over 8.1 million switches have been completed successfully, and over 99% complete within 7 working days.
What CASS does not handle automatically: standing orders you have set up yourself through online banking (as opposed to direct debits set up by payees). Check your standing orders list and update any that don’t move.
Switching Bonuses — What’s Available in 2026
Switching bonuses are cash payments from banks trying to grow their customer base. They’re typically paid within 30–60 days after you meet the qualifying criteria — the exact window varies by bank, so check the terms.
Typical qualifying conditions:
- Use CASS to complete a full switch (partial switches usually don’t qualify)
- Set up a minimum number of active direct debits (usually 2–3)
- Pay in a minimum amount — often a one-off deposit of £1,000–£2,000 rather than a recurring monthly requirement, though this varies by bank
- Keep the account active for a set period after switching (commonly 30–90 days)
Bonus range checked in September 2026: roughly £150–£240 cash, with the highest live offers coming from Santander and HSBC at the time of checking. This changes constantly — check current live offers in our Best Bank Account Switching Bonuses guide before applying to any bank.
Worked Example: Earning a Switching Bonus
Sarah switches from her long-standing high-street bank to a challenger bank offering a cash incentive (illustrative figure: £175):
- She opens the new account via the bank’s app and requests a full CASS switch
- Within 7 working days, her salary, 9 direct debits, and 2 standing orders have moved
- Her old bank redirects two payments sent to her old sort code
- She receives the cash bonus once she has met all the criteria — typically within 30–60 days
- Total active effort: approximately 20 minutes
If Sarah switches again in a year or two to a different bank, she can earn another bonus, subject to that bank’s eligibility rules. There’s no rule limiting how often you can switch — though excessive applications in a short period may affect your credit file (soft checks used by app banks don’t leave a mark, but hard checks from high-street banks do).
Comparing Current Accounts — What to Look For
Beyond switching bonuses, these are the factors that affect everyday value:
| Factor | What to check |
|---|---|
| Overdraft rate | Rates typically range from around 15% to 39.9% EAR. If you use one regularly, this cost outweighs any bonus |
| Cashback on spending | Chase UK pays 1% cashback on spending (capped); others pay cashback on bill payments |
| Interest on balance | A small number of accounts pay in-credit interest (usually up to a monthly balance cap) — note this is different from a linked savings account, which some app-based banks (like Starling) use instead |
| Linked savings rate | Some banks (e.g. First Direct) offer a high-rate regular saver linked to your current account |
| App quality | Instant notifications, spending categories, card freeze, and budgeting pots |
| Customer service | Which? bank satisfaction scores and Trustpilot reviews reflect real-world experience |
| Branch and cash access | High-street and Post Office access matters if you regularly handle cash — some banks, including Barclays, have significantly reduced branch numbers in recent years |
| International spending | Fee-free abroad spending is standard on app-based accounts (Chase, Monzo, Starling) |
The right account depends on your usage. A cashback card plus a fee-free current account will outperform a packaged account for most people who don’t use travel insurance regularly.
FSCS Protection on Current Accounts
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protects your money if your bank fails. Protection limits apply per person, per banking licence — not per account. The standard limit rose from £85,000 to £120,000 on 1 December 2025 — if you’ve seen the older figure elsewhere, it’s now out of date.
| Situation | Protection amount |
|---|---|
| Sole account | £120,000 per banking licence |
| Joint account | £240,000 total (£120,000 per person) |
| Temporary high balance | Up to £1.4 million for 6 months after qualifying event |
Temporary high-balance qualifying events include: sale of a residential property, receipt of an insurance payout, redundancy payment, inheritance, or divorce settlement. You must notify your bank for the enhanced protection to apply.
Brands that count as one bank: deposits across the brands in each group below share one £120,000 limit.
- Lloyds Bank plc: Lloyds and Lloyds Bank accounts with a sort code starting 30 or 77.
- Bank of Scotland plc (a separate limit from Lloyds Bank plc): Halifax, Bank of Scotland, and Lloyds accounts with a sort code starting 11.
- National Westminster Bank plc: NatWest, Ulster Bank, First Active, Mettle, NatWest Premier and NatWest Boxed.
- The Royal Bank of Scotland plc (a separate limit from NatWest): Royal Bank of Scotland, Child & Co, Holts and Drummonds.
- HSBC UK Bank plc: HSBC UK, HSBC Private Bank, first direct, M&S Bank and M&S Savings and Investments.
- Santander UK plc: Santander, cahoot, Santander Business and Santander Corporate & Commercial.
- Barclays Bank UK PLC: Barclays, Barclays Business Banking, Barclays Premier Banking, Barclays Wealth Management and Tesco Bank.
- Nationwide Building Society: Nationwide and Virgin Money.
If you hold more than £120,000 in savings, spread it across different banking licences. Use the FSCS website to check which brands share a licence.
Opening a Bank Account in the UK
Most banks require:
- Proof of identity: passport or UK driving licence
- Proof of address: utility bill, council tax bill, or bank statement (usually dated within 3 months)
- UK residency: some banks require you to have been a UK resident for 3+ months
If you don’t have standard ID: Basic bank accounts have reduced identity requirements. Monzo and Starling accept a range of documents including provisional licences, biometric residence permits, and national identity cards. See our How to Open a Bank Account guide for the full list of accepted documents, including options for new UK residents, students, and those with no fixed address.
Articles in This Cluster
- Current Account Switch Service Guide — step-by-step CASS walkthrough, checklist of what moves automatically, and what to do if something goes wrong
- Best Bank Account Switching Bonuses UK 2026 — current live cash offers ranked, eligibility criteria explained, and how to maximise your bonus
- Best Current Accounts UK 2026 — top picks by category: cashback, interest, overdraft, and app quality
- Best Current Accounts for Paying Bills — accounts that pay cashback on household bills and reward you for direct debits
- How to Open a Bank Account UK — ID requirements, options for bad credit, non-UK citizens, students, and no-fixed-address applicants
- How to Close a Bank Account — step-by-step closure process, what to do before you close, and how to handle outstanding direct debits
- What Happens to Direct Debits When You Switch Banks? — exactly what CASS moves automatically, what you must move yourself, and what to check after day 7
Related Hubs
- Joint Accounts — how joint accounts work, FSCS protection, and what happens at separation or death
- Bank Reviews — individual bank comparisons: Monzo, Starling, Chase, Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and more
- Specialist Accounts — basic accounts, student accounts, accounts for bad credit, credit unions
- Payments and Transactions — direct debits, standing orders, CHAPS transfers, and payment problem resolution