Pick a UK current account that actually pays you
More than 30 million UK adults hold at least one current account, but only one in five has switched in the past five years. The cost of staying loyal is often £100 to £500 in foregone bonuses, plus an overdraft rate that has not been benchmarked in years. This is the hub for taking five minutes to fix that.
£120k
FSCS protection per person, per UK bank (since 1 December 2025)
7 days
CASS switching time, including payments and direct debits
£100 to £500
Current switching bonuses in May 2026
30M+
UK adults with a current account (UK Finance)
7 working days, free
How the Current Account Switch Service actually works
CASS is the government-backed system that moves your account between UK banks. It handles your salary, direct debits and standing orders so you do not have to. Most people do not realise how complete the move is.
Open the new account
Apply at the new bank, online or in branch. You stay on your old account in the meantime.
Tick "switch with CASS"
Sign the consent form, pick a switch date, and the new bank takes it from there. There is no extra cost.
7 working days later
Your salary, direct debits and standing orders move automatically. The old account closes on the switch date.
3 years of redirects
Any incoming payment sent to the old account is forwarded for 36 months, with a note telling the sender to update.
Insider note
Most people never claim a switching bonus, not because they failed the criteria but because they never started the process. The two reasons: thinking it takes weeks (it does not), and worrying a direct debit will fail (CASS guarantees against this and will refund any charge). Open the new account first, switch second, your old account stays live until day seven.
Beyond the headline bonus
What actually matters in a UK current account
FSCS protection
Only fully UK-licensed banks give you the £120,000 deposit cover. Some e-money apps "safeguard" funds differently. Check first if you ever hold a large balance.
Overdraft EAR
Arranged overdraft rates run from 19% to 49.9% EAR. A "free" account with a 39% EAR can cost more than a £3 / month account at 19% if you dip into the red.
Switching incentive
Cash bonuses change every few weeks. In May 2026 the range is £100 to £500 plus extras like vouchers, cashback or fee waivers.
Reward and cashback
Chase pays 1% cashback. Santander Edge pays 1% plus 6% on a linked saver. Some traditional banks pay interest on the balance. Worth £50 to £250 a year if you spend on the card.
App quality
Instant notifications, budgeting tools, freeze-card, Apple Pay and Google Pay. Monzo and Starling still lead, but high-street apps have closed the gap.
Joint account support
Most challengers now offer joint accounts (Monzo, Starling, Chase). A few do not (Revolut joint accounts are not widely available in the UK). If you share bills, check before you switch.
Current accounts FAQ
The Selectra expert answers your questions
Seven working days under CASS. The new bank handles the move once you sign the consent form. Your salary, direct debits and standing orders all transfer automatically and your old account closes on the switch date. Any incoming payments sent to the old account are redirected for three years.
Opening a new account creates a hard credit search, which dents your score by a few points for a few months. CASS itself does not. The score recovers within six months if you do not apply for more credit. If you plan to apply for a mortgage in the next three months, hold off on switching.
Only if you use CASS. You can also open the new account in parallel and run both. Most cost-conscious UK adults hold two or three current accounts: a salary home, a digital bank for travel, and sometimes a third account that paid a switching bonus.
Yes, if the provider holds a UK banking licence. Monzo, Starling, Chase UK and (since March 2026) Revolut Bank UK Ltd are all fully licensed. Eligible deposits at each are FSCS-protected up to £120,000 per person per institution. E-money apps like Wise safeguard funds under different rules, so check the small print before keeping a large balance there.
Every twelve months is reasonable. Switching bonuses, overdraft rates and cashback offers all move every few weeks. The Selectra best current accounts shortlist is updated every quarter against the providers' published pages.
Ready to switch?
See 2026's best UK current accounts
Ranked by switching bonus, rewards, overdraft cost and customer satisfaction score. Independent and updated against live offers.
See the shortlist