How to open, switch or close your bank account

First, make sure you know what bank account you’d like to open.

For all the information you need to make a decision, read our guide How to choose the right bank account.

If you have a partner, you might want to read our guide Joint bank accounts.

When you know what bank account you want, it’s time to speak to the bank.

You can do this in branch, over the phone or online.

The bank will run a credit check to find out your credit history. This will tell them if you’ve had problems with paying back money in the past. If you have, you might not be able to open some types of account.

You’ll also be asked to provide proof of identity and address.

How do you prove your address or identity? Here are some of the documents banks and building societies will usually be looking for:

• driving licence
• Council Tax bill
• UK utility bill, such as gas or electricity
• bank or building society statement
• credit card statement
• HMRC letter or tax statement
• mortgage statement
• tenancy agreement
• benefits statement.

Different banks will ask for different forms of ID. You can check online what ID you’ll need, so you’re prepared when you open your new account.

If banks turn you down for a standard account, you can always apply for a fee-free basic bank account.

These accounts don’t charge fees or offer overdrafts. They also won’t charge you if a Direct Debit fails.

Almost all banks and building societies now offer a free seven-day Current Account Switch Service.

The service will:

• switch your current account
• move money from your old current account to your new one
• move all your payments going out (such as Direct Debits and standing orders) and those coming in (such as benefits or salaries) to your new account
• close your old account
• make sure any payments accidentally made to your old account will be automatically redirected to your new account.

It’s backed by a guarantee that means you’ll be refunded any interest and charges on your old and new accounts if anything goes wrong.

Comparison websites are a good starting point for finding a current account that gives you everything you need.

You can start by thinking about some basics:

• If you’ve often got money in your account, look for one with a high interest rate to increase your savings.
• If you’re often using your overdraft, look for one with lower overdraft rates. For tips on controlling your overdraft, see our guide Overdrafts explained

You can then look at other features of accounts. For example, do they offer linked higher interest savings accounts, cashback or switching bonuses?

Here are a few websites that compare current accounts:

• MoneySavingExpert
• Which? – You can use the their quality rating to find the banks with the best customer score.

In Northern Ireland, you can also try the Consumer Council Comparison Tool

Compare charges for basic bank accounts by using our Compare Bank Account Fees and Charges tool. This will help you find the right account for you. For example, compare fees for using a card abroad or costs for sending or receiving money outside the UK.

As part of the switch request, you’ll usually be shown if the new bank will offer you an overdraft.  If this covers what you owe, the funds will be sent to your old bank and you’ll owe the overdrawn balance on the new account instead. 

If it’s a lower amount, or you can’t get one, you’ll need to arrange to pay off the remainder separately before you can switch or close your old account.

For help clearing an overdraft, see MoneySavingExpert’s guide to cutting overdraft costsOpens in a new window

You can close most bank accounts whenever you like without being charged.

It’s usually just a case of getting in touch with your bank.

But if you’re overdrawn, you’ll have to pay off what you owe.

If you’re not using the Current Account Switch Service to shut your account, make sure you transfer any Direct Debits or payments to your new account.

If your bank decides to close your current or instant access savings account, you’ll usually be given two months’ notice.

For other accounts, they must give you ‘reasonable notice’. This is so you can make other arrangements. This should be at least 14 days.

The bank can delay the closure if you’ve made payments that haven’t left your account yet. For example, a cheque or card payment.

If you’re unhappy about something your bank has done, the first thing to do is to talk to someone at the bank about it.