Banking guides
Current accounts, switching, overdrafts and fees — practical guides to getting more from your bank.
Making the most of UK banking
Your current account is the hub of your money, yet most people stick with the same bank for years without checking whether it still suits them. Switching is easier than it used to be: the Current Account Switch Service moves your balance, direct debits and standing orders to a new bank in seven working days, and redirects any payments sent to your old account, so you rarely need to tell anyone you've moved. Many banks pay a cash bonus to switch, but the right account is the one whose overdraft costs, app, branch access and savings links actually fit how you live.
Money held with a UK-authorised bank or building society is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £85,000 per person, per banking licence — worth knowing if you keep large balances, because some brands share a single licence. Watch your arranged and unarranged overdraft rates, which are usually quoted as a single annual interest figure, and remember that money sitting in a current account rarely earns interest. Our guides below explain how to compare accounts, switch without the stress, and move spare cash into something that actually grows.
