MARTIN Lewis is warning people to urgently check if they could benefit from switching bank accounts.
Some banks are paying customers £200 in free cash to switch – so check if you can switch and earn.
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In the latest MoneySavingExpert newsletter Martin said: “One bit of relief is that six banks are currently willing to pay you legal bribes to switch to them, including the biggest upfront cash we’ve seen for years.
“To bag the free cash you usually need to pass a not-too-harsh credit check and then use the bank’s seven working-day switching service.
“This auto-moves your balance, standing orders and direct debits for you. Plus it’ll close your old account, and ensures any payments to it are auto-forwarded. Most say the process is easy & hassle-free to do.”
Nationwide is paying £200 to new customers who switch from another companies bank account to their FlexDirect account.
New customers will need to switch to the account and make sure they have two active direct debits set up to get the free cash.
The cash will then be paid into the new account within 10 days.
And TSB is offering new customers £180 to switch to their fee-free Spend and Save account – but with more of a catch.
Customers will also need to switch to the account through MoneySuperMarket or MoneySavingExpert to take advantage of the cash bonus.
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New TSBC Spend and Save customers will receive £125 upfront into their bank account after setting up two or more direct debits – the cash will then be paid by December 16.
And the remaining £55 will be paid to new account holders later on.
Martin said: “Even if you already have an existing account at the bank, if you’re switching in an account from another banking group, there are ways to qualify for the bonus.”
It’s always wise to check the bank’s T&Cs to confirm whether your switch will be eligible for free cash and other perks.
First Direct pays new customers £175 in free cash through the 1st Account. You have to deposit £1,000 when you open but there’s no minimum amount per month you need to pay in to get the cash.
Customers should expect to receive the free cash in 28 days.
First Direct also offers new customers an interest-free arranged overdraft on any balances up to £250.
But remember, an interest-free overdraft should only be used in an emergency or to tide yourself over during an expensive month.
NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland is giving customers £175 in free cash.
The NatWest Reward and RBS Reward current accounts give those who switch £175 in cash and £3 a month in cashback, but the account comes with a £2 a month fee.
If you don’t want to pay £2 a months for the Reward accounts you can open a new NatWest Select or RBS Select account and still get the free cash bonus.
Lloyds Bank offers new Club Lloyds account holders £150 in free cash within 10 days of account opening.
To qualify for the free cash and the account customers must pay in £1,500 into the account every month or pay a £3 a month fee.
Check if you gain from a higher savings rate
Savers looking to make the most of their cash can now get more back as savings rates hit a 13-year-high.
Banks are now fighting one another for new customers by offering more attractive interest rates – and one bank is offering savers 4.1%.
App-only challenger bank, Atom, is now offering savers 4.11% returns on savings of £50 or more in a one-year fix.
But it’s important to assess whether or not you can afford to keep your extra cash locked away.
If you need easy access to your savings, we’ve seen accounts offering as much as 2.5% in returns.
For more information on the best savers right now, see our latest round-up.
