Current accounts

We'll move your payments for you

• Incoming payments, e.g. your salary.
• Outgoing payments, e.g. bills.
• Direct debits, e.g. an internet bill.
• Standing order, e.g. paying money into a savings account.
• Money in your account, e.g. if your account has a £500 balance then we will transfer £500 into your new account.

Keep in mind

We will arrange for payments accidentally made to your old account to be automatically redirected to your new account. We will also contact the sender and give them your new account details.

If something goes wrong.

You're covered by the Current Account Switch Guarantee. If anything goes wrong with the switch, as soon as we are told, we will refund any interest (paid or lost) and charges made on either your old or new current accounts as a result of this failure.

We have designed the Current Account Switch Service to let you switch your current account from one bank or building society to another in a simple, reliable and stress free way. It will only take seven working days.

As your new current account provider we offer the following guarantee.

• The service is free to use and you can choose and agree your switch date with us.
• We will take care of moving all your payments going out (for example, your Direct Debits and standing orders) and those coming in (for example, your salary).
• If you have money in your old account, we will transfer it to your new account on your switch date.
• We will arrange for payments accidentally made to your old account to be automatically redirected to your new account. We will also contact the sender and give them your new account details.
• If there are any issues in making the switch, we will contact you before your switch date.
• If anything goes wrong with the switch, as soon as we are told, we will refund any interest (paid or lost) and charges made on either your old or new current accounts as a result of this failure.
  

Read the account switching guide (PDF, 350KB)opens in new tab

1. What is the Current Account Switch Service? It’s a free service that lets you switch your current account from one participating bank or building society to another. It has been designed to be simple, reliable and stress-free and is backed by the Current Account Switch Guarantee.
2. Can I switch my account on a date that suits me? Yes, you can choose and agree a date with your new bank or building society and the process will start 6 working days before that date. (Working days are Mon - Fri excluding bank and public holidays.)
3. What happens to payments that people send to my old account, i.e. salary, pension or benefit payments? The Current Account Switch Service will redirect payments to your new account. Each time an electronic payment is redirected an automatic message is sent back to the originator advising them of the new account details so they can update their records. Some organizations may contact you directly to confirm your details have changed.
4. What happens if there is a mistake or unnecessary delay in the current account switching process? The Current Account Switch Service is backed by the Current Account Switch Guarantee. This guarantees that any charges or interest incurred on your old or new account, as a result of a failure in the switching process will be refunded when you bring this to our attention.
5. Will switching my current account affect my credit rating? No, providing you repay any outstanding overdraft(s) on your previous account(s) as required by your old bank or building society. If there are any problems with payments (as part of the switching process) we will correct them and ensure your credit rating is not affected.
6. Can I switch my current account if I am overdrawn? Yes, and we may be able to provide facilities to help you pay off any overdraft, subject to their normal lending criteria. If this isn’t the case you must make separate arrangements to repay your old bank or building society what you owe.
7. What if I change my mind? You can cancel your switch up to seven working days before your switch date. After that only certain elements can be cancelled. We will guide you through this process if you choose to do this.
8. When will the money in my old account be transferred to my new account? You will be able to access the funds in your old account up to and until your switch date when they will be transferred to your new account.
9. Do all Banks and Building Societies offer the same Current Account Switch Service? High Street banks and building societies and Internet and Telephone banks that display the ‘Current Account Switch Guarantee’ Trustmark will offer the Current Account Switch Service. You can find a list of participating organisations at www.currentaccountswitch.co.uk
10. What type of accounts can I switch using the Current Account Switch Service? The Current Account Switch Service is for current accounts only. This includes personal, small business and charity current accounts. Small business accounts are those with an annual turnover that does not exceed £6.5 million and employs fewer than 50 people. Small charities have an annual income of less than £6.5 million and small trusts with a net asset value of less than £6.5 million. If you are still unsure if you qualify then please ask us to confirm. If you would like to switch other account types, such as a savings account, you will need to ask us if we are able to help you do this.
11. What happens to any debit card transactions that I have asked my old bank to stop? The Current Account Switch Service should not interfere with this process and any debit card transactions that you have asked your bank to stop should remain so after your switch.
12. Can I prevent my new account details being given to someone who sends one-off payments to my old account? You may be able to transfer your payments to us without redirecting payments from your old account, and you should discuss this requirement with your new bank.
13. What should I take with me to my new bank or building society? The requirements for opening an account will vary between individual banks and building societies, so please ask them to confirm what they will need from you. However, in order to ensure your switch is successful, it is advisable that as a minimum you should take a recent bank statement and your debit card so we can identify you and link you to your old account.
14. Does the Current Account Switch Service cover joint accounts? Yes, the Current Account Switch Service does cover joint accounts, but both named parties on the account will need to complete the relevant forms. Please note it is not possible to use the Service to switch a joint account to a sole account.
15. My new bank says I need to update my details with my old bank. Do I? Why? If the details you provide to us do not match the details held by your old bank then you may be asked to contact your old bank to update the details they hold about you. Examples include if you have got married and not changed your maiden name to your married name or if you have moved house and not told your old bank your new address. When you are updating your details at your old bank you do not have to tell them that you will be switching to a new bank.
16. Do you have to close your old account as part of the Current Account Switch Service? Yes. Closure of the old account is part of the Current Account Switch Service process. This allows any payments made to your old account to be automatically redirected to your new account. You can switch and keep the old account open if you want to, but you won’t be able to use the Current Account Switch Service – so you won’t get any of the benefits detailed in the Current Account Switch Guarantee.
17. What should I do if my bank doesn’t meet the seven working day guarantee? Will I get any compensation? If anything goes wrong with your switch then we will refund you any interest (paid or lost) and charges made on either the old account or the new account. Whether you receive compensation above and beyond this is a customer-service issue for your particular bank to decide on.
18. Are account opening and account switching all part of the same process? Account opening and account switching are separate processes. We have to carry out ‘know your customer’ security checks as part of our account opening process. Once these are complete to our satisfaction, you can choose and agree your switch date.
19. If the switch is delayed for any reason, can I use my new account straight away? Yes, if the new account is open and you have money in it (or an overdraft agreed) then you can use it.
20. What will happen to my Paym registration when I switch? On your switch date your old bank or building society will de-register your mobile phone number from Paym. You can then re-register your mobile number with us. You can do this on or after your switch date, or earlier if you de-register your mobile number at your old bank or building society yourself.