Every UK bank & money guide, in one place
From the Big Four high-street banks to Monzo, Revolut and the next wave of digital fintechs, plus the comparisons, current-account picks and money-transfer guides that help you save. All reviewed by Selectra UK.
13
UK banks reviewed
5
Major digital challengers
4
Money-guide categories
The UK retail-banking market is split between the "Big Four" high-street banks (Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and Santander), the Lloyds and NatWest groups that own most of the rest of the high street, and a fast-growing wave of digital-only challengers led by Monzo, Starling and Revolut.
Whichever route suits you, the right account, plus the right money app on top of it, can save hundreds a year in fees, overdraft charges and FX losses. Selectra's UK money desk reviews them all.
The most-read bank reviews
The five UK banks people search for the most
The Big Four high-street giants and the digital challenger that's overtaking them all. Start here if you're thinking about switching.
Barclays
One of the UK's "Big Four" banks. Branches nationwide, a polished mobile app and a wide range of current and savings accounts.
Read the reviewHSBC
A global high-street bank with strong international transfers, expat accounts and Premier benefits for higher-balance customers.
Read the reviewLloyds
The UK's largest retail bank by current accounts. Club Lloyds, Avios rewards and a strong everyday banking app.
Read the reviewSantander
Best known for the 123 account, cashback on bills and competitive in-credit interest. Solid app and high-street presence.
Read the reviewMonzo
The UK's most popular digital bank. Hot-coral debit card, instant spending notifications, Pots, Salary Sorter and a Plus / Premium upgrade path.
Read the reviewEvery bank we cover
Compare all 13 UK banks & digital challengers
Filter by what you actually need: a traditional high-street bank, an app-only digital account, or something in between.
Barclays
High street
One of the UK's "Big Four" banks. Branches nationwide, a polished mobile app and a wide range of current and savings accounts.
HSBC
High street
A global high-street bank with strong international transfers, expat accounts and Premier benefits for higher-balance customers.
Lloyds
High street
The UK's largest retail bank by current accounts. Club Lloyds, Avios rewards and a strong everyday banking app.
Santander
High street
Best known for the 123 account, cashback on bills and competitive in-credit interest. Solid app and high-street presence.
Halifax
High street
Part of the Lloyds Banking Group. Reward Current Account, sturdy mortgage range and one of the most-used banking apps in the UK.
Bank of Scotland
High street
Scotland-focused retail bank, also part of the Lloyds group. Vantage savings booster and full current-account range.
Royal Bank of Scotland
High street
Part of the NatWest Group. Reward, Premier and student accounts plus a market-leading mobile app.
Ulster Bank
Northern Ireland
NatWest Group bank serving Northern Ireland and, historically, the Republic of Ireland. Everyday current and business accounts.
thinkmoney
Budget account
A managed budgeting current account aimed at customers with limited credit history. Fee-based with built-in money-management tools.
Monzo
Digital · App-only
The UK's most popular digital bank. Hot-coral debit card, instant spending notifications, Pots, Salary Sorter and a Plus / Premium upgrade path.
Starling Bank
Digital · App-only
Multiple "Best British Bank" awards. Full UK current account, joint accounts, Spaces savings buckets and free spending abroad.
Revolut
Digital · Fintech
Multi-currency accounts, low-cost foreign exchange, crypto and stock investing all inside a single app. Premium and Metal tiers add travel perks.
N26
Digital · EU
European digital bank that previously operated in the UK. The N26 review covers features, Metal and what the UK closure means for ex-customers.
Money guides
Browse the 4 guide categories
Switching, sending, comparing or going digital: pick the lane that matches what you're trying to do.
Compare banks
Side-by-side comparisons of UK banks and money apps, including Monzo vs Revolut, Starling vs Monzo and more.
Open categoryCurrent accounts
Best UK current accounts for switching bonuses, in-credit interest, rewards and fee-free overdrafts.
Open categoryMoney transfer
Cheapest ways to send money abroad. Reviews of Wise (TransferWise), WorldRemit, XE and more.
Open categoryTechnology
Best UK budgeting apps, digital-only banking and the next-gen tools that make managing money easier.
Open categoryReader favourites
The 6 most-read guides right now
6 things to check
How to pick the right UK bank account
Every bank pitches itself differently. These are the six checks that actually move the needle for most UK adults.
Switching bonus
Several high-street banks pay between £100 and £200 to switch using the Current Account Switch Service. Always check the small print before pulling the trigger.
Overdraft fees
Unarranged overdraft fees can eat into a paycheck overnight. Look for fee-free buffers, transparent daily caps and easy-to-set spending alerts.
Mobile-app quality
A clean app with instant notifications, Pots/Spaces and built-in budgeting is doing more for your finances today than any branch network.
Spending abroad
Most legacy banks add a 2.75% non-sterling fee. Digital challengers like Starling, Monzo and Revolut waive it, saving heavy travellers hundreds a year.
In-credit interest & cashback
Some accounts pay rewards on bills (Santander 123), interest up to a cap (Club Lloyds, Chase), or cashback on debit-card spend. Worth the maintenance fee or not?
FSCS protection
Every bank in our reviews is covered up to £85,000 per person by the FSCS. If you hold more, spread savings across separately-authorised banking licences.
Switching, in numbers
Switching your UK current account, in numbers
The Current Account Switch Service moves your direct debits, standing orders and salary to a new bank in seven working days, with a guarantee against any errors. More than ten million UK current accounts have been switched this way.
7 days
From kick-off to first salary in new account
£100+
Typical switching cash bonus on offer
100%
Guaranteed refund of any switching errors
All UK retail banks that subscribe to the Current Account Switch Service must honour the guarantee. Check the latest switching offers before you start.
Money FAQ
UK banking, answered
The "Big Four" are Barclays, HSBC, Lloyds and NatWest. Between them they hold the majority of UK personal current accounts, although their share is gradually shrinking as Monzo, Starling and other digital banks pick up new switchers.
Yes. Monzo, Starling and Chase all hold a full UK banking licence and are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £85,000 per person. Revolut operates under its own EU banking licence and is rolling out UK FSCS protection; check its current status before you transfer large balances.
The Current Account Switch Service (CASS) moves your direct debits, standing orders and salary to your new bank in seven working days. The old account is automatically closed at the end of the switch. If anything goes wrong, the participating banks refund any charges or interest under the Current Account Switch Guarantee.
Independent surveys consistently rank Starling, Monzo and Chase at the top for mobile-app quality, with features like instant notifications, in-app categorisation, Pots/Spaces and built-in budgeting tools. Among legacy banks, NatWest, RBS and Lloyds have invested heavily and now sit close behind.
Specialist services such as Wise (formerly TransferWise), WorldRemit and XE are nearly always cheaper than a high-street bank wire transfer. They use the mid-market rate and charge a small, transparent fee. Our money-transfer guides compare the main options for the UK.
Yes. There is no legal limit. Many UK adults run a main current account at one bank and a second account at a digital challenger for travel, budgeting or savings buckets. Holding multiple accounts can also help you collect more than one switching bonus over time.
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Find a better bank for your money in minutes
Comparing accounts is the fastest way to cut what you pay in fees, overdraft charges and FX costs. Browse every UK bank we cover, or jump straight into the most-read guides.