Compare our best current accounts

2.02% AER (on up to £1,000)

Switch to the M Plus Account and receive 20,000 Virgin Points to redeem via Virgin Red to spend on a wide range of exciting rewards, ranging from everyday treats to flights to New York. Terms apply.

Cashback on everyday spending. Terms apply. Earn interest of 2.02% AER/2.00% Gross (variable) on your current account balance up to £1,000. Also earn 1% AER/Gross (variable) on your easy access linked savings account balance up to £25,000.

Representative Example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200 you will be charged 19.9% APR Representative/EAR variable. Subject to financial status.

Rate Tiers

	Gross rate	Gross rate	AER rate	AER rate
	Excluding bonus	Including bonus	Excluding bonus	Including bonus
£1	2%	2%	2.02%	2.02%
£1,001	0%	0%	0%	0%

Eligibility

Maximum Age	Unlimited
Maximum Investment	Unlimited
Minimum Age	18 years

British Bank Awards 2022 Winner: Best Current Account Provider

Starling Bank Current Account

£8.54 buffer, then 15% EAR variable

No monthly fee

Arranged overdraft

Interest rate

0.05% AER (on up to £85,000)

Representative Example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200 you will be charged 15% APR Representative/EAR variable. Subject to financial status.

Rate Tiers

	Gross rate	Gross rate	AER rate	AER rate
	Excluding bonus	Including bonus	Excluding bonus	Including bonus
£1	0.05%	0.05%	0.05%	0.05%
£85,001	0%	0%	0%	0%

Eligibility

Maximum Age	Unlimited
Maximum Investment	Unlimited
Minimum Age	18 years
Permanent UK Resident

Receive £150 for switching. T&Cs apply.

First Direct 1st Account

£250 interest free, then 39.9% EAR variable

No monthly fee

Arranged overdraft

Interest rate

0% AER

To qualify, switch using the Current Account Switch Service, deposit £1000 within 3 months of account opening. New customers only that have not opened a HSBC account on or after 1 Jan 2019.

Representative Example: £250 interest and fee free overdraft, subject to status. If you then use an arranged overdraft of £1,200 you will be charged 39.9% EAR variable. Representative APR: 30.5%.

Rate Tiers

	Gross rate	Gross rate	AER rate	AER rate
	Excluding bonus	Including bonus	Excluding bonus	Including bonus
£1	0%	0%	0%	0%

Eligibility

Maximum Age	Unlimited
Maximum Investment	Unlimited
Minimum Age	18 years
Permanent UK Resident

NatWest Select Account

To apply you need to be 18+ and a UK resident. No monthly fee. Over 18s only and account eligibility criteria applies.

Representative Example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200 you will be charged 39.49% APR Representative/EAR variable. Subject to financial status.

Rate Tiers

	Gross rate	Gross rate	AER rate	AER rate
	Excluding bonus	Including bonus	Excluding bonus	Including bonus
£1	0%	0%	0%	0%

Eligibility

Maximum Age	Unlimited
Maximum Investment	Unlimited
Minimum Age	18 years
Permanent UK Resident

Santander Everyday Current Account

A simple and straightforward current account, with no monthly fee.

You’re over 18 and live in the UK permanently.

Representative Example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200 you will be charged 39.94% APR Representative/EAR variable. Subject to financial status.

Rate Tiers

	Gross rate	Gross rate	AER rate	AER rate
	Excluding bonus	Including bonus	Excluding bonus	Including bonus
£1	0%	0%	0%	0%

Eligibility

Maximum Age	Unlimited
Maximum Investment	£2,000,000
Minimum Age	18 years
Permanent UK Resident

Royal Bank Select Account

To apply you need to be 18+ and a UK resident. No monthly fee. Over 18s only and account eligibility criteria applies.

Representative Example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200 you will be charged 39.49% APR Representative/EAR variable. Subject to financial status.

Rate Tiers

	Gross rate	Gross rate	AER rate	AER rate
	Excluding bonus	Including bonus	Excluding bonus	Including bonus
£1	0%	0%	0%	0%

Eligibility

Maximum Age	Unlimited
Maximum Investment	Unlimited
Minimum Age	18 years
Permanent UK Resident

TSB Spend & Save

Earn up to £30 cashback - £5 per month for 6 months, making 30 debit card payments per calendar month (direct debits/withdrawals excluded)*. Saving Pots, Save the Pennies and Auto Balancer features.

UK residents only, 18+.

Representative Example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200 you will be charged 39.9% APR Representative/EAR variable. Subject to financial status.

Rate Tiers

	Gross rate	Gross rate	AER rate	AER rate
	Excluding bonus	Including bonus	Excluding bonus	Including bonus
£1	0%	0%	0%	0%

Eligibility

Maximum Age	Unlimited
Maximum Investment	Unlimited
Minimum Age	18 years
Permanent UK Resident

Santander 123 Lite Current Account

£2 per month, pay in £500+ per month

Earn interest and up to 3% cashback every month on selected Household bills paid by Direct Debit.

You’re over 18 and live in the UK permanently.

Representative Example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200 you will be charged 39.94% APR Representative/EAR variable. Subject to financial status.

Rate Tiers

	Gross rate	Gross rate	AER rate	AER rate
	Excluding bonus	Including bonus	Excluding bonus	Including bonus
£1	0%	0%	0%	0%

Eligibility

Maximum Age	Unlimited
Maximum Investment	Unlimited
Minimum Age	18 years
Minimum Monthly Credit	£500
Permanent UK Resident

TSB Spend & Save Plus

£100 interest free, then 39.9% EAR variable

£3 per month

Arranged overdraft

Interest rate

0% AER

Earn up to £60 cashback annually: £5 per month, ongoing with 30 debit card payments per calendar month on opening a new Spend & Save Plus account or changing an existing TSB account. Interest-free overdraft up to £100.

UK residents only, 18+.

Representative Example: £100 interest and fee free overdraft, subject to financial status. If you then use an arranged overdraft of £1,200 you will be charged 39.9% EAR variable. Representative APR: 40.1%.

Rate Tiers

	Gross rate	Gross rate	AER rate	AER rate
	Excluding bonus	Including bonus	Excluding bonus	Including bonus
£1	0%	0%	0%	0%

Eligibility

Maximum Age	Unlimited
Maximum Investment	Unlimited
Minimum Age	18 years
Permanent UK Resident

Compare another type of current account

What is a current account?

A current account lets you carry out your everyday banking transactions. Whether it's having your salary deposited and withdrawing cash, or making payments, setting up direct debits and standing orders, your current account is what makes all of that possible.

Different types of current accounts

Online current account

An online bank account allows you to manage your money online. Online banking is now offered by most high street banks, but there are now app-based bank accounts or digital-only bank accounts where the bank has no physical branches. The bank exists as an app on your smartphone, which you can use to conduct most of your usual banking transactions.

Packaged current account

A packages current account includes extra benefits such as travel insurance, breakdown cover, mobile phone insurance, as well as discounts on certain retailers or restaurant along with the usual features of a current account. In most cases you'll be charged a fee for these accounts.

High interest current account

Interest will be paid on your balance based on AER. Often these accounts require you to deposit a set amount of money every month and usually limit the amount up to which they will pay interest on your balance.

Joint accounts

This is a current account that you open jointly with partner, family member or friend, so that all holders of the account can withdraw money or pay into the account. This is useful if you share bills and want to have a single account from which you manage those shared bills.