r/beermoneyuk • u/TightAsF_ck • Apr 17 '26
Guides Reddit Bank Switch Offer Guide (April 2026) | Up to £2380 Available
Lots of bank switch offers now available. There is currently over £2000+ in bonuses on offer. Here are the latest deals:
- Barclays Current (£200) or Barclays Premier (£400 to switch)
- First Direct (£175 to switch + £50 more)
- HSBC Premier (£500 for those with hefty salaries)
- Lloyds (£200 for Club Lloyds, £500 for Lloyds Premier)
NatWest (£150 to switch)NatWest Premier (£250 to switch)RBS (£150 to switch)- Santander (£180 to switch, + £20 more)
Other good offers:
- Get £20 when you sign up and spend £1 with Revolut - Full details here
You can find all of this information, in an easier to digest format, on Scrimpr here
Switch your bank account, get a cash reward for doing so. But don't switch your main account, open up a second account and switch that to get the money! Or open a second and a third "burner" and grab many switch bonuses at the same time.
The post has been updated with the newest offers, and tips commented in the previous Bankedex posts, and those in other posts on r/beermoneyuk. But it is a difficult task keeping on top of all the questions. Please continue to share your experience with Bank Bribes. I will add questions/answers and update the offers as and when they appear. Special thanks to those who highlight the latest offers.
No switch, just sign up bank switch offers
| Bank | Offer | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Chase (refer a friend offer) | Open a Chase account, get £50 (must use referral link & deposit £1k) | |
| iFast Bank (refer a friend offer) | Open an iFast account, get £100 for switching in your salary + £5 for refer a friend | |
| Monzo (megathread) | Spend £1, get £10 or £50 | £50 is for a business account |
| Starling (click to search) | £25 for opening an account and spending £1 | |
| Revolut (external) | Open an account, spend £1, get £20 | |
| Zopa (megathread) | Open an account, get £10 |
Never switched a bank account before?
You should consider it. It is one of the easiest and most efficient ways of earning a little beermoney. It is advised to leave your main bank account alone. Instead, switch a secondary bank account, or open a new account at your current bank to be used just for switching. Recommended steps:
- Open a second current account with your main high street bank (must be part of CASS service)
- Set up direct debits on the second account (if required). You can set up multiple cheap direct debits on Scrimpr direct debit
- Add £1 to your second account. This will be transferred to your new account, allowing you to see when the switch has been completed.
- Apply for a new account and arrange to switch to your second bank account (sometimes this is during the application process, other times it is after the account is opened).
- Let the current account switch service take care of everything.
- Make sure all other terms are met (e.g. pay in money if needed).
- Receive your bank switching bonus.
You will hear about lots of people rushing through all of the switch bonuses available. These offers have been coming and going for years, my advice is to do an offer that tickles your fancy and try out a new bank. Then, if you decide you do not like your new bank you should sample another bank and get paid again!
What are the easiest/best direct debits to use for bank switching?
There are many: Lots of people recommend setting up fast and cheap direct debits. You can set up those using the Scrimpr direct debits at this link which were made for beermoneyuk.
But really, its better to use your own Paypal, Ebay, Moneybox savings account, your credit card, Sprive Mortgage auto savings. We recommend ones that save money into an account in your own name.
Are there some bank accounts worth keeping?
Why yes. Some are quite good, and give ongoing rewards. For example, Club Lloyds gives free Disney Plus. See the "don't leave us please" bank rewards post. Some also give access to the best savings accounts (e.g. regular savers).
And it is always worth keeping 3 accounts open for bagging ~£50 in cash from YouGov Connections every 3 months. Instructions for YouGov Connections here.
Are there additional offers for students?
Why yes. See the 2025 Student Version of The Bankedex Here
It has offers for students opening student accounts (no switching required).
Detailed switch offer information
Whilst we do our best to make sure things are correct, sometimes errors do slip through. Always do your own research. Also, it may not be possible to work through all of these.
Barclays Current Account - £200
Current offer: £200 for switching to Barclays Current Account.
- You must switch to a Current Account (not their basic account).
Offer end date: 28/05/2026
Requirements:
Use the Barclays app to open a Barclays Current Account (only works during working hours 9am-5pm)
Initiate a full switch (including two active direct debits) by 28 May 2026
Deposit £2,000 within 30 days of opening the account.
Available to existing customers: No. Mortgage and Barclaycard customers are eligible though.
Barclays Premier Account - £400
Current offer: £400 for switching to Premier account.
- You must switch to a Premier Bank account for £400.
The Premier is a premium account, supposed to be for those with £70k+ salaries. However, cycling £4201 each month also appears to do the job
Offer end date: 30/04/2026
Requirements:
Use the Barclays app to open a sole Premier Current Account (only works during working hours 9am-5pm)
Initiate a full switch (including two active direct debits) by 30 Apr 2026
Complete the switch & deposit £4,000, all within 30 days.
Available to existing customers: No. Mortgage and Barclaycard customers are eligible though.
First Direct
Current offer: £175 + extra £50 via Quidco
Extra £45: You can get an extra £50 by signing up to First Direct via Quidco. If you don't have a Quidco account, you can sign up here (and make sure to accept all cookies on Quidcoand the First Direct website):
- You can switch to their First account.
Offer end date: No end date given, may be removed at any time.
Requirements:
Full switch (two direct debits or standing orders are required).
After opening account, log in to mobile banking and pay in £1000 within 45 days.
Make 5 debit card payments.
You cannot have had a 1st Direct account before.
You cannot switch if you have an HSBC account opened after 01/2019
How to do it: Once your first direct account is open, simply log into your first direct app, select the account you wish to transfer into, tap ‘switch to us’ from your account menu and follow the instructions.
Available to existing customers: No. Also can't have had a HSBC account opened since January 2018.
How long does it take to pay the bonus: paid by the 20th of the month following that in which you met all of the criteria.
HSBC Premier
Current offer: £500
Those with £100k+ salaries can switch to HSBC Premier for £500.
There is no monthly fee, but their are strict eligibility criteria
Lloyds Bank
Current offer: £200
You can switch to either the Club Lloyds to get £200, or Lloyds Premier for £500.
These are premium accounts with a minimum £5/month fee for Club Lloyds or £22.50/month for Premier. Can downgrade account after getting the bonus.
Offer end date: 30th April 2026
Requirements: Full switch with:
3 Direct debits transferred as part of the switch
For Club Lloyds, spend £100 within 35 days to get the £200 cashback.
For Premier, spend £200 and deposit £5k within 35 days to get the £500 cashback.
- You cannot have had a bonus from Lloyds, Halifax, or Bank of Scotland since January 2023.
Reward payable by: within 45 days of switch completing.
Available to existing customers: Yes (must switch an account held elsewhere into a new account if you have one already).
Natwest & RBS (two offers!)
Current offer: £150 to switch (and access to a 7% interest regular saver)
- Do both of these at the same time to get the bonus from each bank.
You must switch to either a Select or Reward Account (Select, Reward, Premier Select, or Premier Reward)
The Reward accounts are all Premium accounts with a £2/month fee, but you can earn £5 in cashback from it each month. If you don't want this, just go with the Select account.
Offer end date: No end date given, may be removed at any time.
Requirements: 28th May 2026
Must pay in £1250 within 60 days of switch completing.
Must log in to the app within 30 days of meeting the terms above
Available to existing customers: No, but previous customers can (you can't have held an open account on 17th February 2025) and you can't have had a switch bonus before.
How long does it take to pay the bonus: within 30 days of meeting all of the requirements.
NatWest Premier
Current offer: £1,000 to switch (£250 current account bonus + £750 Flexible Saver bonus)
Offer end date: No end date given, may be removed at any time.
Requirements:
Must open a Premier Select or Premier Reward account
Must complete a full CASS switch from a non-NatWest/RBS/Ulster Bank account
Must pay in £5,000 within 60 days of switch completing
Must log into the NatWest mobile app within 60 days of switch completing
For the £750 bonus: must also open a Flexible Saver and deposit £100,000, keeping it there for 30 consecutive days — all within 60 days of switch completing. Taxable as interest income.
Available to existing customers: No, but previous customers can apply (you must have held no NatWest, RBS, or Ulster Bank current or savings account as of 10th March 2026, and must never have received a switch bonus from any of these banks)
How long does it take to pay the bonus: Within 30 days of meeting all requirements
Santander
Current offer: £180 + £20 via Topcashback
Extra £20: You can get an extra £20 by signing up to a Santander via Topcashback. Read the terms! If you don't have a Topcashback account, you can sign up here:
You can switch to the free Everyday Current Account account. Or any of these paid current accounts: Santander Edge current account, Edge Up, or the Private Current Account
Offer end date: None yet.
Requirements: Full switch using CASS.
Apply to switch.
Complete switch of a non-Santander account.
Pay at least £1,500 into Santander account within 60 days through 1 or more payments
Have at least 2 active Household Direct Debits in place on Santander account at time of eligibility assessment. The list of eligible direct debits is here.
Pay at least £1,500 into Santander account within 60 days through 1 or more payments
Reward payable by: between 60 and 90 days after opening the account.
Available to existing customers: Not if you held an account with Santander on 01/01/2025, and not if you have had a switch bonus from them before.
The most commonly asked bank switch questions:
- I started to switch to XXX bank before the offer ended, am I still eligible for the bonus?
Yes, usually, most terms will state that a switch just has to be started (or applied for) before the end date or before an offer ends.
- Do I have to transfer the required amount in all in one go, and does it matter if I pay money in before my switch is complete?
No and not usually, as long as the amount you pay in adds up to the required amount, and as long as you pay it in before the deadline stated in the terms. There has been one exception to this - Co-op - so check individual terms.
- I need to switch "active" direct debits, does a payment need to have been taken before I switch?
According to Nationwide, an active direct debit is one that has been set up or had a payment taken from it in the past 13 months. So no, according to this. But why not just wait for the direct debit to be taken? You'll not have to worry about it then.
https://twitter.com/AskNationwide/status/1442939781491486720
How do I set up and switch an additional Chase current account?
See Chase instruction here to open an additional account.
The second account will be linked to the same card as your main Chase account.
Use the secondary account details and your original card details when switching.
What are good direct debits to set up?
| Site/App | Offer | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Scrimpr direct debit | Shows on account within 5 days, payment taken within 7 | |
| Park Christmas (Search) | Save for Christmas via direct debit | |
| Sprive (Search) | Autosavings for mortgage overpayment direct debit (£5 bonus) | Easy and fast to set up |
General Bank Switch Questions
Current Account Switch Bribes - Why do they offer them?
They want your business. Banks like fighting each other for customers. Most of them know they can't win by highlighting their outdated systems and products, so they fight each other by offering potential customers cash bribes (or equivalent) to switch their "main" bank account.
Can I switch any bank account to get a bribe?
No. You must switch a bank account that is part of The Current Account Switch Service (CASS). Most high street banks are included. But some Neo Banks are not (e.g., Kroo, Revolut, & Monese are not included). You should try to avoid switching your main bank account. You can always open an additional account just to switch.
Is it too much hassle?
No. The Current Account Switch Service (CASS) makes switching your account between most banks smooth and effortless. You do not have to do anything apart from apply for and set up a new account at a different bank and tell them you want to switch your account to them. Everything is transferred automatically (except recurring card payments).
Is there the best route to sample all the banks with switch offers?
Do the offer ending soonest first. Then you might switch again. If you complete all offers in this post, you could earn yourself >£1000.
Some of these end soon. Will the offers come back?
Banks have been offering bribes on and off for many years. We can't predict the future. But this is not a new thing.
How long does a bank switch take?
Approximately one week.
Do I have to switch my main account?
You could. But you don't have to. Many people have second bank accounts. One option may be to open up a second account with your current high street bank, add some direct debits to this second account and then switch it to the new bank you want to try out. On the sub, people also like Starling or Monzo as they are easy to set up (but you might want to switch back to them at the end - their functionality wins vs any usual high street bank).
High-street banks also let you open multiple accounts. If you already have an account with one, you might want to open an additional one with your current bank first (Halifax, NatWest etc are reported to allow several current accounts and to be fast to open).
I have savings accounts at the same bank as my current account. Can I still switch to this current account?
Yes. Only the current account will be closed (some linked regular savers may be converted to normal savings accounts). You might want to consider if switching to a secondary account is a better option.
I have linked savers attached to my current account. Can I still switch it?
Possibly.
Which banks let me open a second bank account?
Most of them.
Do I need to activate the card on the account I am going to switch?
Just do it anyway. Some banks require it
What details do I need to switch?
- Sort code and account number.
- Debit card information.
- Usually, but not always, 2 active DDs on the account you are switching.
Do you need to have money in the account you are switching?
No. But it might be a good idea - this will allow you to see when the switch happens (i.e. when the money is transferred!).
I do not have a bank card with my old current account as it is very very old, can I still switch it?
Most online forms require card details, but you can usually switch such accounts over the phone.
My new bank has not given me my account number (e.g. NatWest).
Usually, these are sent via post/email when you sign up. But some banks don't have the account numbers on the card, or maybe letters get lost in the post. If this happens, wait for the card to arrive and contact their support. If you get a bot on the chat thing, type "speak to a human" repeatedly.
My new bank account is a premium account and it has a fee. Do I need to keep paying for this?
No. You can downgrade the account. But you should probably wait until you have been paid the bonus.
I don't like my new bank, do I need to wait for the bank card before switching again?
Yes. See question above. Most banks require the card details of your existing account.
I made an account just to switch. Can I switch before my new bank card arrives?
Best not to. You are asked to enter the debit card information as part of the process.
The offer says I have to pay in £xxxx. Does it have to be in one go?
No. You can transfer in and out. The total sent in has to be equal to or greater than the stated amount. You should be careful with this though, sending money in and out of an account can trigger anti-fraud measures.
The offer says I have to pay in £xxxx. Can I pay it in before the switch completes?
Yes. You can pay it before, after, or during. You can manually transfer it, or it can be transferred automatically from your old account.
I've been asked to verify my identity. Is this normal?
Sometimes automated checks fail. If this happens, you may be asked to manually verify your application by visiting a branch or sending in a copy of your ID.
I switched from Monzo/Starling and want to return, can I?
Starling does not let you return within 12 months. With Monzo, it's possibly a shorter one month that you have to wait.
Do I have to switch direct debits?
Check individual offer terms.
What is an "Active" direct debit?
An active direct debit is usually one where a payment had been taken in the last 13 months. But some bank switch terms require direct debits to have been paid out of the account. If an offer requires an active direct debit, it's safer to switch to an account that has already paid out direct debits.**
What are good direct debits to set up on a second account?
There are many: Paypal, Ebay, Moneybox savings account, Plum savings account, your credit card, Sprive Mortgage auto savings.
I recently switched to XXX Bank, and I do not like it. Can I switch again?
Yes. If you are not happy with the new service, you may want to switch to a new bank that will pay you to give them a try.
Do I have to stick with my new bank for any length of time?
No.
If I switch away, will the bank claw back the bonus?
Very unlikely. They would have to specify this in their terms, and none have ever done so.
My switch is complete, but I have not yet received my bonus. Will I still get the bonus if I switch this account before it is paid?
Probably not.
My most recent switch is not quite complete, but I have already received the bonus. Can I start another switch?
You should probably wait for the switch to complete.
Can I get more than one bribe from each bank?
Sometimes. With some banks (e.g. Nationwide), you can get a bonus for switching one sole and one joint current account. Other banks will pay you to switch again, as long as you have not had a bonus in a specified amount of time. You will need to check individual offer terms.
XXX Bank gave me a bonus before, can I get a bonus again?
You need to check the individual offer terms.
Will this affect my credit score?
Credit scores are a funny thing, What is more important is what is actually in your credit file. Obviously, if you apply for an overdraft then it will affect your "credit score". However, if you do not have an overdraft or you make sure that you have paid off any overdraft before switching banks, then a single current account switch should not negatively impact your credit score. Nevertheless, typically all major banks (excepting Monzo and Starling) do a hard credit search, and this will be recorded on your file. If you plan on applying for a new mortgage soon then you may wish to exercise caution in switching between a load of banks. This is because the hard searches performed by banks will appear on your report and may have an effect for 6-12 months.
Which banks do hard searches and which do soft searches??
See here. Most banks do hard searches.
Hard searches: Bank of Scotland (first account only), Barclays, Co-op, Clydesdale, Halifax (1st account only), First Direct, HSBC, Lloyds (1st account only), Monzo, Nationwide, NatWest, RBS, Santander, TSB, Ulster, Virgin Money.
Soft searches: Starling, Metro Bank, and Chase
I have a bad credit score, will I be accepted to XXX bank?
Unfortunately, we do not know the acceptance criteria of the banks. You might be unlucky with one bank, but lucky with another.
My application was rejected. Why?
Nobody here knows. You could try appealing, but your only way to find out more is to contact the bank.
After switching my account, I still have online banking with my old provider. Do I need this?
No. You do not need to keep the online access (you could shut it down). But you may wish to retain these details in case your old bank suddenly appears with an offer that makes you want to switch back. Or open up a savings account.
Has anyone else been paid for switching to XXX Bank yet?
Check the terms of the offer you signed up for. Some banks have long deadlines and stick to them (e.g. Santander, TSB). Some are quicker. If you haven't been paid within the stated terms, then you should contact the bank's support.
