The Switch Bonus Playbook
Work through every live offer in order using a secondary account per bank — your main current account never moves. Up to £1,290 across 5 banks, most time-sensitive first.
Ends 7 Oct 2026 — do this one first
Running total
£240
Santander UK
Standard account
2 DD · £1,500 in · within 60 days
“Santander requires 2 'Household Direct Debits' — defined as council tax, mobile/broadband, energy, water, or paid-for TV. Generic 25p Direct Debits (e.g. savings transfers) do NOT qualify.”
£240
Ends 7 Oct
No end date — flexible timing
Running total
£740
HSBC UK
Premium account
2 DD · £2,000 in · within 60 days
“2 active Direct Debits moved via CASS. 25p Direct Debits qualify as long as they are active and collecting.”
No end date — flexible timing
Also owns NatWest — one claim per group, this is the group's best offer.
Running total
£940
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS)
Standard account
£1,250 in · within 60 days
“Core requirements are a £1,250 pay-in and mobile app login — not a specific DD count.”
£200
No end date — flexible timing
Running total
£1,115
first direct
Standard account
2 DD · £1,000 in · 5 card payments · within 45 days
“2 active Direct Debits or standing orders moved via CASS. 25p Direct Debits qualify as long as they are active and collecting.”
£175
No end date — flexible timing
Running total
£1,290
Nationwide Building Society
Standard account
2 DD · £1,000 in · 1 card payment · within 31 days
“2 active Direct Debits moved via CASS. 25p Direct Debits qualify.”
£175
Once you've worked through the list, move your everyday banking to whichever account you actually want to keep — there's no need to stay with the last bank you switched to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to switch my main bank account to do this?
No. Each step works on a secondary account you open just for that bank's switch bonus — your main current account never needs to move. Once you've claimed a bonus, you're free to close the secondary account or leave it dormant.
Is this against a bank's terms and conditions?
No. Every step here is a normal Current Account Switch Service (CASS) switch, which banks design and advertise these bonuses to attract. Banking-group exclusions (e.g. NatWest, RBS and Ulster Bank sharing one owner) are built into the ordering so you're never shown a claim you're not eligible for.
Why this order?
Offers with a deadline are sequenced soonest-first, so a time-limited bonus never gets missed while working through a bigger one. Offers with no end date follow, largest first.
What's a 25p Direct Debit?
Most switch bonuses require 2 active Direct Debits. A 25p Direct Debit is a genuine, low-cost Bacs-registered mandate that satisfies this without moving a real household bill.