Compare current accounts

See if you could switch to a better current account or banking app.

Promoted for switching bonus

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Get £175 for switching

Requires credit check. T&Cs apply.

No monthly fee
Easy to apply
Interest-free overdraft up to £250

Promoted for welcome bonus

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£20 sign-up bonus

Low overseas fees
Quick sign-up
Earn cashback on spending

Best for extra features

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No overseas fees

Easy to set up
Good for budgeting and categorising spending
Automatic saving feature

How to compare current accounts

The best current account for a recent school-leaver in their first job probably won’t be the best for a jet-setting high-flyer, so think about which features are the most important to you. Here’s our checklist:

1. Check the ways you can bank. Do you need an extensive branch network that you can visit in person, or are you happy to manage all of your finances online or through an app? If your bank doesn’t have branches, how good is its customer support?
2. Check the bells and whistles. Some accounts just offer the basic features – fine if you just need your salary paid in and bills paid out. But perhaps you’re looking for a slick app, spending categorisation, budgeting tools, a flexible overdraft, etc.
3. Check the fees and costs. With free current accounts (all major banks offer these), there can still be charges for certain types of transaction, like using your card overseas. Need an overdraft? Confirm what interest you’ll pay.
4. Check if a “packaged” account would be better value. Some accounts charge a monthly fee in return for bundled benefits like phone/travel insurance or breakdown cover – great if the value of the perks outweighs the extra cost to you.
5. Is there a joining or switching incentive? Banks are vying for customers so they often have tasty offers to get you to sign up. The most popular incentive is (unsurprisingly) a cash lump sum.

How to switch

Had your account for years? Switching may seem daunting, and people stick with bad deals just to avoid hassle. But the process is in truth quite simple thanks to the Current Account Switch Service (CASS). Banks signed up to CASS switch your account for you in 7 working days, and you don’t need to do anything. Here’s how it works:

1. Your balance is transferred to your newly-opened account.
2. Incoming payments to your old account are redirected, along with outgoing direct debits, standing orders, etc.
3. Your old account is closed.

Compare current accounts

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20 of 22 results

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Finder Score	Account fees	Funding requirement	Interest (AER)	Arranged overdraft	Incentive	Representative example
Finder score 8.7Great Royal Bank of Scotland Premier Select Account	Finder score 8.7Great	£0	No minimum funding requirement	0% AER	39.49% EAR variable (subject to status)	£125 switch offer. T&Cs apply.	Representative Example: Effective Annual Rate: 39.49% EAR (variable). Representative APR: 39.49% APR (variable). Assumed credit limit: £1,200 Subject to status. How does this overdraft compare? Representative APRs help you compare the cost of different credit products.	More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score Not yet rated HyperJar Prepaid Card	Finder score Not yet rated	£0	No minimum funding requirement	0% AER	N/A	More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score 9.3Excellent TSB Spend & Save Finder Award	Finder score 9.3Excellent	£0	No minimum funding requirement	0% AER	39.9% EAR variable	Earn up to £310 to switch and stay with TSB. £100 welcome bonus and up to £90 in cashback. Plus, in March, choose a £120 hotel voucher or access to 12-months of activity tickets. T&Cs apply.	Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39.9% EAR variable.	Go to site More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score 9Excellent NatWest Select Account	Finder score 9Excellent	£0	No minimum funding requirement	0% AER	39.49% EAR variable (subject to status)	£175 when you switch to a NatWest Select account and open a Digital Regular Saver. T&C’s apply, limited availability offer.	For £125, use Current Account Switch Service to close your account held elsewhere and switch to NatWest. Pay in at least £1,250 and login to the NatWest app within 60 days. For an additional £50, open a Digital Regular Saver within 60 days of switching. If you have previously received a switching incentive for NatWest Group, you aren't eligible. Limited availability offer. T&C’s and restrictions apply. Specific account eligibility criteria and conditionals apply. Representative Example: Effective Annual Rate: 39.49% EAR (variable). Representative APR: 39.49% APR (variable). Assumed credit limit: £1,200 Subject to status. How does this overdraft compare? Representative APRs help you compare the cost of different credit products.	Go to site More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score 8.2Great First Direct 1st Account Offer	Finder score 8.2Great	£0	No minimum funding requirement	0% AER	0% EAR variable on the first £250 and then 39.9% EAR variable	Switch to a 1st Account and get £175*. Requires credit check. New customers only and T&Cs apply.	*Within 45 days of your account opening you need to switch to first direct using the Current Account Switch Service (including at least 2 direct debits or standing orders), deposit £1000, make 5+ debit card payments and log in to digital banking. New customers only, who haven’t previously held a first direct or HSBC product on or after 1 January 2018. Representative Example: How does our overdraft compare? The representative APR shows the cost of borrowing over a year, so you can use it to compare the cost of our overdraft against other overdrafts and ways of borrowing. 0% EAR variable on the first £250, 39.9% EAR variable thereafter, giving a representative rate of 30.5% APR variable (assumed arranged overdraft £1,200). For customers with an offset mortgage linked to a 1st Account, the interest-free limit will not apply.	Go to site More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score 8.5Great Santander Everyday Current Account Cashback	Finder score 8.5Great	£0	No minimum funding requirement	0% AER	39.94% EAR variable	Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39.94% EAR variable.	Go to site More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score 8.8Great NatWest Reward Cashback	Finder score 8.8Great	£2 per month	£1250 per month	0% AER	39.49% EAR variable	£175 when you switch to a NatWest Reward account and open a Digital Regular Saver. T&C’s apply, limited availability offer.	For £125, use Current Account Switch Service to close your account held elsewhere and switch to NatWest. Pay in at least £1250 and login to the NatWest app within 60 days. For an additional £50, open a Digital Regular Saver within 60 days of switching. If you have previously received a switching incentive for NatWest Group, you aren’t eligible. Limited availability offer. T&C’s and restrictions apply. Specific account eligibility criteria and conditions apply. Representative Example: Effective Annual Rate: 39.49% EAR (variable). Representative APR: 39.49% APR (variable). Assumed credit limit: £1,200 Subject to status. How does this overdraft compare? Representative APRs help you compare the cost of different credit products.	Go to site More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score 9.8Excellent Santander Santander Edge Cashback	Finder score 9.8Excellent	£3 per month	£500 per month	0% AER	39.94% EAR variable	Cashback of 1% on debit card spend at transport and grocery merchants, capped at £10 per month.	Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39.94% EAR variable. Account fee of £3 per month.	Go to site More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score 7.1Great TSB Spend & Save Plus Finder Award	Finder score 7.1Great	£3 per month	No minimum funding requirement	0% AER	0% EAR variable on the first £100 and then 39.9% EAR variable	Earn up to £310 to switch and stay with TSB. £100 welcome bonus and up to £90 in cashback. Plus, in March, choose a £120 hotel voucher or access to 12-months of activity tickets. T&Cs apply.	Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 0% EAR variable on the first £100 and then 39.9% EAR variable. Account fee of £3 per month.	Go to site More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score 9.8Excellent Monzo Current Account Finder AwardCashback	Finder score 9.8Excellent	£0	No minimum funding requirement	0% AER	39% EAR variable	Monzo Instant Access Savings Pot earns you 3.25% AER interest (variable), paid monthly into the Pot you create.	Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39% EAR variable.	Go to site More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score 8.8Great Royal Bank of Scotland Reward Cashback	Finder score 8.8Great	£2 per month	£1250 per month	0% AER	39.49% EAR variable	£175 when you switch to a Royal Bank of Scotland Reward account and open a Digital Regular Saver. T&C’s apply, limited availability offer.	For £125, use Current Account Switch Service to close your account held elsewhere and switch to Royal Bank of Scotland. Pay in at least £1250 and login to the Royal Bank of Scotland app within 60 days. For an additional £50, open a Digital Regular Saver within 60 days of switching. If you have previously received a switching incentive for NatWest Group, you aren’t eligible. Limited availability offer. T&C’s and restrictions apply. Specific account eligibility criteria and conditions apply. Representative Example: Effective Annual Rate: 39.49% EAR (variable). Representative APR: 39.49% APR (variable). Assumed credit limit: £1,200 Subject to status. How does this overdraft compare? Representative APRs help you compare the cost of different credit products.	Go to site More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score 7.8Great NatWest Premier Select Account Offer	Finder score 7.8Great	£0	No minimum funding requirement	0% AER	34.49% EAR (variable)	£175 when you switch to a NatWest Premier Select account and open a Digital Regular Saver. T&Cs apply. Limited availability offer.	For £125, use Current Account Switch Service to close your account held elsewhere and switch to NatWest. Pay in at least £1,250 and login to the NatWest app within 60 days. For an additional £50, open a Digital Regular Saver within 60 days of switching. If you have previously received a switching incentive for NatWest Group, you aren't eligible. Limited availability offer. T&C’s and restrictions apply. Specific account eligibility criteria and conditionals apply. You can apply for a Premier Select account if you are a UK resident, aged 18+ and have ONE of the following: at least £100k sole income or £120k joint income paid into a NatWest account, or a minimum £100k savings or investments held with NatWest, or £500k+ mortgage borrowing with NatWest. Representative Example: Effective Annual Rate 0% AER on arranged overdrafts up to £500: 34.49% EAR (variable) above £500. Representative 20.1% APR (variable). Assumed credit limit: £1,200. How does this overdraft compare? Representative APRs help you compare the cost of different credit products. The monthly cap for unarranged overdraft charges for a Premier Select account is £18.80. For more information, please visit the NatWest site.	Go to site More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score 7.9Great Nationwide Building Society FlexPlus Finder Award	Finder score 7.9Great	£18 per month	No minimum funding requirement	0% AER	39.9% EAR variable	Free travel accident insurance – covers account holder and family (also when travelling independently).	Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39.9% EAR variable. Account fee of £18 per month.	Go to site More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score Not yet rated Monzo Monzo Extra Finder AwardCashback	Finder score Not yet rated	£3 per month	No minimum funding requirement	0% AER	39% EAR variable	Get the best of Monzo money management: see your other banks and credit cards in Monzo, credit insights, personalised spending categories and more.	Account fee of £3 per month. 18+ only. T&Cs apply. You must have a Monzo Current Account to sign up to Monzo Extra. Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39% EAR variable. Account fee of £3 per month.	Go to site More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score 9.1Excellent Nationwide Building Society FlexDirect	Finder score 9.1Excellent	£0	No minimum funding requirement	0% AER	39.9% EAR variable	Earn 1% cashback on debit card spend, capped at £5 per month.	Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39.9% EAR variable.	Go to site More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score 8.6Great Nationwide Building Society FlexAccount	Finder score 8.6Great	£0	No minimum funding requirement	0% AER	39.9% EAR variable	Eligible for Member Credit Card.	Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39.9% EAR variable.	Go to site More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score 8.8Great NatWest Premier Reward Cashback	Finder score 8.8Great	£2 per month	£1250 per month	0% AER	39.49% EAR variable	£175 when you switch to a NatWest Reward Select account and open a Digital Regular Saver. T&Cs apply. Limited availability offer.	For £125, use Current Account Switch Service to close your account held elsewhere and switch to NatWest. Pay in at least £1,250 and login to the NatWest app within 60 days. For an additional £50, open a Digital Regular Saver within 60 days of switching. If you have previously received a switching incentive for NatWest Group, you aren't eligible. Limited availability offer. T&C’s and restrictions apply. Specific account eligibility criteria and conditionals apply. To apply for a Premier Reward account, you need to be aged 18+, UK resident and deposit £1,250 every month to any NatWest current account. Also, you must meet one of the following requirements: have a minimum of £100k individual income or £120k joint income into a NatWest account, or a minimum £100k savings or investments held with NatWest, or a £500k+ mortgage borrowing with NatWest. Representative Example: Effective Annual Rate: 39.49% EAR (variable). Representative APR: 39.49% APR (variable). Assumed credit limit: £1,200. How does this overdraft compare? Representative APRs help you compare the cost of different credit products. The monthly cap for unarranged overdraft charges for a Premier Reward account is £18.80. For more information, please visit the NatWest site.	Go to site More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score 9.6Excellent Santander Santander Edge Up Cashback	Finder score 9.6Excellent	£5 per month	£1500 per month	2.5% AER	39.94% EAR variable	Cashback of 1% on debit card spend at transport and grocery merchants, capped at £15 per month.	Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39.94% EAR variable. Account fee of £5 per month.	Go to site More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score Not yet rated Monzo Monzo Perks Finder AwardCashback	Finder score Not yet rated	£7 per month	No minimum funding requirement	0% AER	39% EAR variable	Get extra every day: a weekly Greggs treat, a monthly free cinema ticket, an annual Railcard every year, 3.75% AER (variable) interest in a linked instant access savings pot and more.	Monzo Perks is £7 per month. 18+ only. T&Cs apply. You must have a Monzo Current Account to sign up to Monzo Perks. Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39% EAR variable. Account fee of £7 per month.	Go to site More info Compare product selection Compare	loading
Finder score 7.8Great Santander 123 Mini Current Account	Finder score 7.8Great	£0	No minimum funding requirement	1% AER		Go to site More info Compare product selection Compare	loading

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Showing 20 of 22 results

Finder Score for bank accounts

To make comparing even easier we came up with the Finder Score. Fees, features and customer service across 20+ of the most popular banks are all weighted and scaled to produce a score out of 10. The higher the score the better the account – simple.

Read the full methodology

Frequently asked questions

• Can I get a current account?

  To be eligible to open a current account, you must be a legal UK resident, and at least 16 years old. Some banks may stipulate that you must be 18 if you don’t have parental approval. You may also need to be credit checked – this is because many current accounts will come with an overdraft that may be reduced if you have a poor credit history.

• How do I apply for a current account?

  With most banks, you can usually apply online – you will need to provide your personal and financial details. In some cases, you may then be asked to pop into a branch to have your ID verified. If you’re applying for an account with a digital-only bank, you’ll usually need to apply from the mobile app and to provide a picture of your ID.

• Can I add someone to my current account?

  You usually can. You’ll have to get in touch with your bank, who will be able to turn your personal current account into a joint account.

• How much should I pay into a current account?

  There are no fixed rules and you can keep as little as £1 in your current account. However, people usually have their salary paid into their current account and keep most of it there to spend it over the course of the month, together with some emergency funds that are thus easily accessible if anything goes wrong. It’s also a good idea to open a savings account to put your savings aside (so you’re less tempted to spend them). Finally, keep in mind that some current accounts may require you to deposit a minimum sum every month in order to access certain benefits.

• What type of current account is right for me?

  It all depends on your circumstances, but in a nutshell, you want: a) no fees, b) agility (your account must be easy to manage and use) and c) some nice rewards and perks if possible. In our opinion, the first two things beat the third one – rewards and bonuses are great, but being able to keep on top of your finances for free and with no headaches is much more important.