The best bank accounts: Compare switch offers and more perks

Products featured in this article are independently selected by This is Money’s specialist journalists. If you open an account using links which have an asterisk, This is Money will earn an affiliate commission. We do not allow this to affect our editorial independence.

The best bank accounts go the extra mile, with many current accounts coming with incentives or extra perks to help you get the most from your money.

But people rarely change their bank accounts, often sticking with one they opened as a young worker, student or even child, despite there being much better deals – and even free cash – out there. 

The latest statistics from the Current Account Switch Service (Cass) suggest that bank account switches are becoming more popular in the UK, with 2025 being the third consecutive year of over a million switches. But when you consider there’s almost 54million adults in the UK, it’s clear most people are staying put.

Savvy customers should consider jumping ship for a better deal or service though. There are lots of banks to choose from, offering different current accounts to suit different people. Options range from those that pay interest to ones that offer cheaper spending abroad, good apps and budgeting tools, a better overdraft rate, or extras such as insurance.

There are often generous incentives on offer to encourage you to switch bank account. At the moment you can bag up to £220 just by switching, with deals from the likes of HSBC and Santander available.

Nationwide has also paid out £100 in bonuses to qualifying members with current accounts for the past four years – and is promising to keep its branches open. 

Some banks have competitive linked savings rates. Starling pays 2.5 per cent and Monzo pays 2.75 per cent for linked instant access savings, while Chase pays 2.25 per cent – but this is boosted to 4.5 per cent for new customers.

Banks such as Barclays, HSBC and Santander also grant access to exclusive easy-access savings rates. If you’re unhappy with your current bank or spot a better deal elsewhere, it may be worth considering a switch. You can find our pick of the best bank accounts below.

> Read more: The best cash Isa rates 

Best current accounts: Top accounts and perks at a glance TOP ACCOUNTS FOR FREE CASH, INTEREST AND PERKS AT A GLANCE Account Perks ConditionsOverdraft  Barclays Bank Account + Blue Rewards£200 switch bonus. Apple TV+. Cashback at popular retailers. 3.96% Rainy Day Saver. To get bonus you must switch by 27 August 2026, including two active direct debits. The switch needs to complete and you must pay in £2,000 within 30 days. £5 monthly fee to join Blue Rewards and you must pay in at least £800 in monthly. 35% Chase 2% cashback on eligible purchases (groceries, restaurants and cafes, takeaways, transport, fuel, public EV chargers), max £20 a month. Fee-free spending abroad. Access to linked easy-access savings paying 2.25% (4.5% with boost for 12 months). Round-ups option for spare change pays 5%.None required. You have to use the app. No branches.N/AClub Lloyds Pays 0.75% in-credit interest on up to £4k, and 3% on £4k-£5k. Choose a reward each year from either 12 months Disney+, six cinema tickets, an annual digital Coffee Club and Gourmet Society membership or an annual magazine subscription. Fee-free spending abroad.£5 monthly fee unless you deposit £2,000 a month into the account. Interest paid when paying two direct debits each month.£100 interest free. 29.9% variable after. First Direct 1st Account   £200 switching bonus. £250 interest-free overdraft. Earn 7% via Regular Saver Account. £200 bonus ends 15 July. Within 45 days pay in £1,000, switch at least two direct debits and use debit card five times. You have to log on to digital banking. No branches.£250 interest free. 39.9% variable after. Kroo In-credit interest paying 2.65% on balances up to £500k. No fees when spending abroad. Online and smartphone-only bank. 39.9% Monzo Bank Linked instant-access saver paying 2.75%. Fee–free spending abroad. Instant spending notifications. Cashback at select retailers.Online and smartphone-only bank.19%, 29% or 39% depending on  credit score.Nationwide FlexDirect, FlexPlus, FlexAccount£175 switch bonus. FlexDirect: New customers get 1% cashback up to £5 a month, and 5% interest on balances up to £1,500 for the first year which drops to 1% after.  No fee for FlexDirect. FlexPlus: £18/month fee.£50 interest free, 39.9% above NatWest Reward* & RBS Reward account£200 bonus. £5 a month back in rewards. Digital Regular Saver pays 5.25% on first £5,000 (can only pay in up to £150 a month).£2 monthly fee. Must set up two direct debits a month for £4 bonus, and then log into mobile banking once a month for £1 bonus. You must pay in £1,250 minimum each month – and pay this in within 60 days of switching for £200 bonus, as well as log in to mobile app.39.49% Santander Edge Up current account £180 switch bonus. Pays in-credit interest of 2.1% on up to £25k. Santander pays 1% cashback a month on select bills up to £15 monthly. No charge for using your debit card abroad. Cashback at retailers with Santander Boosts. £5 a month fee. You must pay in £1,500 a month and have two active selected direct debits. To get switch bonus, you must meet those two conditions and complete switch within 60 days of request. 39.94% Starling Bank current account*2.5% linked easy-access savings. Fee-free spending and ATM withdrawals abroad.  Online and smartphone-only bank15, 25 or 35% depending on credit score.Triodos Bank Promises only to lend on projects that make a positive impact for people and the planet. £3 monthly fee.N/A Zopa Bank 2% interest on current account balances fixed for 12 months (uncapped). 7.1% regular saver, 2% cashback on bills (only up to £30 a year)Online and mobile app only. N/A Best bank switch offers

1. NatWest: £200 switch bonus plus 5.25 per cent regular saver

With Lloyds closing its £200 switching deal on 30 April, NatWest has upped the bonus it’ll pay to new customers. The downside is it’s removed the boosted 7 per cent regular savings rate for switchers, however most will probably prefer to bank the extra £50.

You can get the bonus by: 

Applying for a Select or Reward current account and requesting to switch using the Current Account Switch Service. Paying in £1,250 within 60 days of switching, which can be made of multiple payments.  Logging in to NatWest’s mobile banking app.

You won’t be eligible if: You held a NatWest current account on 6 May 2026 or you’ve previously had a cash switch incentive from the NatWest group, which includes NatWest, the Royal Bank of Scotland and Ulster Bank.

We like: There’s a relatively small list of requirements to take up the deal. The bank pays quickly, within 30 days of you meeting the conditions. 

There’s a good linked regular saver that pays 5.25 per cent on balances up to £5,000, although you can only pay in £150 a month, and the Reward bank account can pay you £3 a month after factoring in the £2 a month fee.

Watch out for: NatWest is one of the major banks that’s set to close more branches, so check the status of your local one. 

2. Barclays: £200 switch bonus, plus cashback on fuel until 31 July

Barclays has a £200 switch bribe and is paying 5 per cent cashback when you buy fuel at Tesco petrol stations until 31 July, up to £10 a month.

You can get the bonus by:

Using the Barclays app to open a Barclays Bank AccountSwitching using the Current Account Switch Service by 28 May, this must include two active direct debitsDepositing £2,000 within 30 days

You won’t be eligible if: You’ve previously had a switching bonus from Barclays or you already had a Barclays current account before the offer started.

We like: A new cashback deal on fuel that pays 5 per cent back when you fill up at Tesco petrol stations. 

Watch out for: Esso fuel stations linked to Tesco aren’t eligible for the cashback deal and you must use your Barclays debit card. It’s fine if this is linked to a digital wallet like Apple or Google Pay, but it won’t qualify if it’s linked to Curve or Paypal.

4. First Direct: £200 boosted switch offer

First Direct has boosted its long-standing switch offer from £175 to £200 until 15 July.

You can get the bonus by:

Opening an account and switching within 45 days using the Current Account Switch Service, including at least two direct debits or standing orders.Depositing £1,000, making five debit card payments, and logging on to digital banking within those 45 days.

You won’t be eligible if: You’ve had a First Direct product or opened an HSBC current account since 1 January 2018.

We like: First Direct is well regarded for its customer service, even though it has no physical branches. There’s no fee for using your card abroad, and you have a £250 interest–free overdraft (it’s 39.9 per cent variable above that, making a representative rate of 30.5 per cent APR variable).

Watch out for: The lack of physical branches could be a problem for some, although you can pay in cash and cheques at HSBC and Post Office branches.

> Read more: First Direct tops customer satisfaction index

NatWest: The bank offers competitive switching bonus when you open a regular savings account too.

Best current accounts with interest 

Current account in–credit interest has dwindled in recent years, with many banking providers offering customers little to no interest – but deals are still available.

1. Nationwide: 5% on balances up to £1,500 (plus £175 switch offer)

Nationwide has an introductory 5 per cent fixed interest rate on FlexDirect current account balances. The rate is available for new accounts on balances up to £1,500 for the first 12 months, so you’d earn £75 if you had at least £1,500 in your account for the whole year.

The bank is also paying £175 to switch. 

You can get the introductory interest by: 

Opening a new FlexDirect account (you won’t get the boosted rate if you’ve received it or had a FlexDirect account before).Paying in at least £1,000 a month.

We like: Nationwide also pays 1 per cent cashback for 12 months on qualifying spends using your FlexDirect debit card, up to £5 a month. In recent years, qualifying current account customers have benefited from the £100 Fairer Share payouts, which aren’t guaranteed but have been a much–loved bonus. Britain’s biggest building society has also promised to keep branches open – and in many places where rival banks have shut it has the last branch in town.

Watch out for: Interest drops to zero if your monthly deposit into your account is less than £1,000. The interest rate also plummets after the first year to 1 per cent variable, so you should consider moving your money elsewhere after the introductory period is up. 

Support: Nationwide is worth considering for in–person banking – it’s promising to keep all its branches open until 2028.

2. Kroo: 2.65% on your balance 

Kroo is a new challenger bank that’s offering 2.65 per cent interest variable on balances up to £500,000.

You can get the interest by: 

Opening a current account by downloading the Kroo app on your mobile phone.Kroo tracks its interest rate at 1.1 per cent below the base rate. 

We like: There are no particular hoops you need to jump through to get the interest. You can use your debit card for free abroad.

Watch out for: Kroo is a new bank and some may prefer to go with established names. That being said, your money’s protected up to £120,000 through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). You should also keep in mind it’s app–based, similar to Monzo and Starling.

Other banks to consider for in–credit interest

Santander Edge Up: Santander pays monthly interest of 2.1 per cent variable on balances up to £25,000, but this is a rewards account that charges £5 a month.

Zopa Bank: Zopa’s current account – called Biscuit – offers 2 per cent on your balance. We like that it’s uncapped and fixed for 12 months, but after that it’s variable. 

Best bank accounts for cashback

Unfortunately, many banks have been making their cashback deals far less attractive, with both Chase and Santander restricting eligible transactions. However the below options are still available.

1. Chase: 2 per cent cashback a month up to £15

Chase is part of US financial giant JP Morgan and launched in Britain in 2021. It’s offering 2 per cent cashback up to £20 a month on groceries, restaurants, cafes, public transport and fuel and EV charging for the first year, when you pay using your Chase debit or credit card.

You can get the cashback by: 

Opening an account as a new customer and using your debit card to spend on eligible categories.Making 15+ payments a month on your debit or credit card and keeping at least £1,000 in Chase savings accounts.

We like: There are no fees for using your debit card abroad and no monthly fee. You can also open a boosted savings account that pays a 2.25 fixed interest rate boost for your first year, on top of the standard variable rate, currently 2.25 per cent – making the boosted rate 4.5 per cent.

Watch out for: Chase is a digital-only bank that requires an app to join, so it’s worth looking elsewhere if you prefer to bank in-branch. The requirement to hold £1,000 in savings accounts for cashback means you may have to shift money around. Its cashback also used to offer cashback on most debit card spending, however this was at a lower 1 per cent.

Chasing customers: Chase has attracted customers by offering cashback, but has made its offer less appealing recently.

2. Santander Edge Up: Up to £15 cashback available a month

Santander’s Edge Up account offers 1 per cent cashback on select household bills paid by direct debit, with up to £15 per month available – although there’s a £5 monthly fee.

You can get the cashback by:

Paying by direct debit for household bills including council tax, gas and electricity, mobile, landline, broadband and paid-for TV packages, with cashback capped at £15 a month.Paying £1,500 a month into the account and having two active direct debits.

We like: There’s no charge for using your debit card abroad and you can get 2.1 per cent interest variable on balances up to £25,000.

Watch out for: The £5 monthly fee, plus keep in mind that most customers won’t get close to the potential £15 a month. They would need to spend at least £1,500 a month on eligible monthly bills paid by direct debit.

Money spinner: Santander is offering cashback on household bills.

A good option for completely digital banking 

The rise of digital-first challenger banks has given customers far more choice over where to keep their money.

1. Starling Bank: voted great for customer service

Starling Bank is an online–only challenger bank that was recently voted the second–best British organisation for customer satisfaction, behind First Direct. It launched in 2014 and has grown substantially since then.

We like: You can get a linked easy access savings account that offers 2.5 per cent interest variable on your money. There are no fees for using your debit card abroad and Starling says it offers 24/7 support from a human UK–based customer service team. The app offers useful tools such as automatically saving spare change and bill split features.

Watch out for: There are no physical branches, so if you prefer in–person banking then you should look elsewhere.

The best cash Isas

Products featured are independently selected by This is Money’s specialist journalists. If you open an account using links which have an asterisk, This is Money will earn an affiliate commission. We do not allow this to affect our editorial independence.

A cash Isa is an essential account for savers that protects you from tax on your interest.

This means that your pot can grow without tax dragging it back – something that is especially important for the growing number of 40 per cent taxpayers.

This is Money’s savings experts scour the market for the real best cash Isa deals – looking for top rates and accounts that come without catches to trip you up. 

Below you can find a run down of our top deals and you can check all the best cash Isa rates in our savings tables.

Trading 212* – easy access – 4.76% 

– Facts: £1 to open, no limit on withdrawals, 1.16% bonus for 12 months 

– Transfers in: Yes (bonus rate applies only on contributions made this tax year)

– Flexible: Yes

Plum* – easy access – 4.60%

– Facts: £1 to open, no limit on withdrawals, 1.96% bonus for 12 months

– Transfers in: Yes (transfers receive lower 4% rate)

– Flexible: Yes

Close Brothers , one-year fix, 4.66%

– Facts: £10,000 to open

– Transfers in: Yes 

– Flexible: No

RCI Bank, two-year fix, 4.72%

– Facts: £1,000 to open

– Transfers in: Yes

– Flexible: No

Moneybox – cash Lifetime Isa – 4.35% 

– Facts: £1 to open, 1.55% bonus for 12 months

– Transfers in: Yes (not partial transfers)

– Flexible: No 

> Read more in our full best cash Isas guide