Compare Current Accounts

Compare the best current accounts available from the major high street banks and internet providers. Know Your Money also provide a comprehensive guide to choosing and switching your current account which can be found under 'guides' on the righthand side of the page.

What type of current account do you want to compare?

Compare current accounts

AccountInterest (AER)

The account's Annual Equivalent Rate: the interest rate that is paid on in-credit balances over a year. Hover over the red asterisks for more details.

Overdraft Rate

The interest or fee that is charged for using the account's overdraft facility.Hover over the red asterisks for more details.

Max Overdraft

The maximum authorised overdraft amount permitted on the account.

Min Monthly Payment

Some accounts require customers to pay in a certain amount each month. Failure to pay in the agreed amount can result in penalties or loss of account benefits.

Monthly Fee

The amount that the bank charges customers each month to use the account – usually deducted from the account balance every month.

Nationwide Flex Account
Free European travel insurance, discounted personal loans and special mortgage deals - all with no monthly account fee.
0%
18.90%
Not statedNoneFreeMORE INFO
Read this before you proceed.
To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria.
Minimum Age16
Permanent UK ResidentYes
Representative Example: If you use an overdraft limit of £1,200 a 18.9% EAR (variable) charge will apply
Nationwide FlexDirect
Earn 5% interest on balances up to £2,500. Conditions apply.
5%
  • 5.00% AER (4.89% gross p.a.) for in-credit balances up to £2,500 (fixed for the first 12 months) if you pay in at least £1,000 per month.
  • After the first 12 months the rate reverts to 1.00% variable.
  • No interest on balances over £2,500.
0%
  • 12 month fee-free overdraft. Any charges on arranged overdrafts after 12 months cost 50p per day.
  • Unarranged overdrafts, cost 50p per day on balances up to £10, £5 per day on balances over £10 and are capped at £60 per month.
Not stated£1,000FreeMORE INFO
Read this before you proceed.
To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria.
Minimum Age16
Permanent UK ResidentYes
Minimum Monthly credit£1,000
Monthly FeeNone
Representative Example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200 the amount Nationwide will charge you is 50p per day (variable).
NatWest Select Account
Includes free app for your iPhone and overdraft (subject to eligibility)
0%
19.89%
Not statedNoneFreeMORE INFO
Read this before you proceed.
To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria.
Minimum Age18
Permanent UK ResidentYes
Representative Example: If you use an overdraft limit of £100 a 19.89% EAR (variable) charge will apply
NatWest Select Silver Account
Includes free hmvdigital music downloads and LOVEFiLM DVD rentals, insurance for European travel and mobile phones, Withdraw up to £300 if you lose your card.
0%
19.49%
Not statedNone£10.00MORE INFO
Read this before you proceed.
To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria.
Minimum Age18
Permanent UK ResidentYes
Monthly Fee£8.00
Representative Example: If you use an overdraft limit of £100 a 19.49% EAR (variable) charge will apply
Santander 123 Current Account
Includes cashback on monthly bills.
3%
  • AER dependent on balance:
  • £1k+ = 1%
  • £2k+ = 2%
  • £3k+ = 3%
£1 per day
  • A Daily Arranged Overdraft Fee of £1 per day capped at 20 days each monthly statement period applies.
Not stated£500£2MORE INFO
Read this before you proceed.
To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria.
Minimum Age18
Permanent UK Residentyes
Minimum Monthly credit£500
Monthly Fee£2
Representative Example: 0% EAR (variable) Arranged Overdraft. A Daily Arranged Overdraft Fee of £1 per day capped at 20 days each monthly statement period applies. Assumed Arranged Overdraft credit limit: £1,200. Actual amount may differ.
Barclays Bank Account with Tech Pack
Straightforward Bank Account from Barclays with the Tech Pack for a £7.50 monthly fee
0%
19.3%
  • Representative Example: Up to £200 - 0% interest per annum (variable) Over £200 and up to £5,000 - 19.3% interest per annum (variable)
£5,000None£7.50 per monthMORE INFO
Read this before you proceed.
To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria.
Minimum Age18
Permanent UK ResidentYes
Representative Example: Up to £200 - 0% interest per annum (variable) Over £200 and up to £5,000 - 19.3% interest per annum (variable)
Barclays Bank Account with Travel Pack
Straightforward Current Account from Barclays with the Travel Pack for an £8.50 monthly fee
0%
19.3%
  • Representative Example: Up to £200 - 0% interest per annum (variable) Over £200 and up to £5,000 - 19.3% interest per annum (variable)
£5,000None£8.50 per monthMORE INFO
Read this before you proceed.
To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria.
Minimum Age18
Permanent UK ResidentYes
Representative Example: Up to £200 - 0% interest per annum (variable) Over £200 and up to £5,000 - 19.3% interest per annum (variable)
Barclays Bank Account with Home Pack
A straightforward Bank Account from Barclays with the Home Pack for a £6 monthly fee
0%
19.3%
  • Representative Example: Up to £200 - 0% interest per annum (variable) Over £200 and up to £5,000 - 19.3% interest per annum (variable)
£5,000None£6.00 per monthMORE INFO
Read this before you proceed.
To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria.
Minimum Age18
Permanent UK ResidentYes
Representative Example: Up to £200 - 0% interest per annum (variable) Over £200 and up to £5,000 - 19.3% interest per annum (variable)
Barclays Bank Account
Straightforward account with access to telephone and online banking
0%
19.3%
  • Representative Example: Up to £5,000 19.3% interest p.a (variable) Subject to status and application.
£5,000NoneFreeMORE INFO
Read this before you proceed.
To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria.
Minimum Age18
Permanent UK ResidentYes
Representative Example: Up to £5,000 - 19.3% interest p.a. (variable). Subject to status and application.
RBS Select Account
Includes free app for your iPhone and overdraft (subject to eligibility)
0%
19.89%
Not statedNoneFreeMORE INFO
Read this before you proceed.
To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria.
Minimum Age18
Permanent UK ResidentYes
Representative Example: If you use an overdraft limit of £100 a 19.89% EAR (variable) charge will apply
NatWest Select Platinum Account
Includes insurance for world wide travel and Mobile phones (including iPhones) and Green Flag car breakdown cover and more.
0%
19.49%
  • 0% EAR up to £100; 19.49% EAR over £100
£1,200None£16MORE INFO
Read this before you proceed.
To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria.
Minimum Age18
Permanent UK ResidentYes
Monthly Fee£16
Representative Example: If you use an overdraft limit of £100 a 19.49% EAR (variable) charge will apply.
RBS Select Silver Account
Includes free hmvdigital music downloads and LOVEFiLM DVD rentals, insurance for European travel and mobile phones, Withdraw up to £300 if you lose your card.
0%
19.49%
Not statedNone£10.00MORE INFO
Read this before you proceed.
To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria.
Minimum Age18
Permanent UK ResidentYes
Monthly Fee£8.00
Representative Example: If you use an overdraft limit of £100 a 19.49% EAR (variable) charge will apply
RBS Select Platinum Current Account
Includes insurance for world wide travel and mobile phone (including iPhone), Green Flag car breakdown cover and tastecard Membership.
0%
19.24
  • 0% up to £250; 19.24% over £250
Not statedNone£16MORE INFO
Read this before you proceed.
To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria.
Minimum Age18
Monthly Fee£16
Representative Example: If you use an overdraft limit of £1,200 a 19.24% EAR (variable) charge will apply.
Norwich & Peterborough Gold Classic Current Account
Free overseas spending on your debit card, free Sentinel Gold Cover and discounted savings rates.
0%
17.9%
  • 0% EAR up to £250 for 6 months; 17.9% EAR over £250
Not stated£500FreeMORE INFO
Read this before you proceed.
To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria.
Minimum Age18
Permanent UK ResidentYes
Monthly FeeFree (£5 if you do not pay in £500 per month)
Representative Example: If you use an overdraft limit of £1,200 the interest rate charged will be 17.9% EAR (variable).
Cashplus Prepaid Current Account
No Credit check required. The ideal alternative to a traditional High Street Account. Comes with FREE Creditbuilder facility.
0%
n/a
n/aNone£9.95MORE INFO
Read this before you proceed.
To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria.
Minimum Age18
Permanent UK ResidentYes
Monthly Fee£9.95
Clear Cash Prepaid Account
The ClearCash Prepaid MasterCard comes with a raft of features designed to help cardholders save money and manage their finances more efficiently
0%
n/a
n/aNone£9.95MORE INFO
Read this before you proceed.
To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria.
Minimum Age18
Permanent UK ResidentYes
Monthly Fee£9.95
thinkmoney Account
An innovative way to manage your finances with a two-account system - never miss a payment again.
0%
n/a
n/aNone£14.50 single / £19.50 jointMORE INFO

asteriskAccounts with an asterisk next to the AER interest have a bonus applied to the interest rate, place your mouse cursor over the asterisk to view the bonus.

More about current accounts

A current account is what you might call an everyday bank account. It's best used to hold the money that you spend on a regular basis - either on day-to-day living costs or usual household bills.

Your common-or-garden current account will provide you with a debit card which you can use with cash machines and in the shops, the ability to automatically pay out direct debits and standing orders and the option to administer your account in branch, over the Internet or via telephone. To credit the account you either pay in cash, transfer from another account or receive regular income like wages and pensions.

Some current accounts offer cheque books, others overdraft facilities which you can use to borrow a small amount in the short term. How much depends on your credit rating, as will the interest rate that you'll pay while in the red.

You do get interest paid to you when you've got a positive balance but this is usually very low; much lower, in fact, than the rate of inflation so it's not advisable to keep any more money than you need in it.

Some current accounts are free and won't cost you a penny as long as you don't go overdrawn. Other, more advanced accounts - those offering things like travel insurance thrown in - include a small monthly fee. There's a wide range of different benefits available so you should shop around.

Click here to find out more with Know Your Money's current account guide.