UK Bank Account Switching Process Explained

The Current Account Switch Service (CASS) launched in September 2013 to make switching current accounts easier. Before CASS, customers needed to manually notify every direct debit originator, every employer, every regular payee, of the new account details, with errors common in the transition period. CASS automated the transfer with a seven-day guarantee.

This guide covers how CASS works, the guarantee scope, what is and is not transferred, and the practical experience of switching for a typical UK customer.

How CASS works

The customer applies to switch through the new bank, choosing a switch date typically 7 to 30 days ahead. The new bank validates the application, opens the new account, and instructs the CASS central infrastructure (operated by Pay.UK) to transfer the old account.

In the period before the switch date, the central system compiles a list of all incoming and outgoing payments on the old account by analysing the last 13 months of transactions. Direct debits and standing orders move to the new account on the switch date. Originators (employers, subscription services, suppliers) are notified of the new account number and sort code through the central database.

On the switch date the old account is closed. Any incoming payments addressed to the old account number redirect automatically to the new account for at least 3 years, with the originator alerted to update their records. The customer receives a confirmation letter and the new debit card.

Worked example: a customer switches from Barclays to Monzo, choosing a switch date 14 days ahead. In the run-up period both accounts operate normally. On the switch date Monzo's app shows the migrated direct debits live; the Barclays account is closed. Employer pay for the next month arrives in the Monzo account automatically because the employer's payroll system was notified of the new details.

The Current Account Switch Guarantee

The Switch Guarantee is the customer-facing promise. It covers four points: the new bank takes care of moving payments arrangements, the switch happens on the date the customer chooses, any errors are remedied promptly, and any interest or charges incurred due to errors with the switch are refunded.

A typical 'error' under the Guarantee is a direct debit missing the new account on time and the originator charging a missed-payment fee. The new bank refunds the fee on request. Where a missed payment causes wider harm (a missed mortgage payment recording adverse on a credit file), the bank corrects the record under the Guarantee.

The Guarantee does not cover commercial decisions by third parties (a credit-card issuer cancelling for unrelated reasons) or customer-initiated changes (cancelling a direct debit before the switch). It is specifically a switching-process protection.

Edge case: where a switch fails or is reversed (the customer changes their mind, eligibility is later found to be wrong, or the new bank exits the customer mid-switch), the original account can be restored within a limited window through the same CASS infrastructure. The customer should raise the request immediately with both banks.

What CASS does and does not transfer

CASS transfers: standing orders (regular outgoing payments to specified accounts), direct debits (originator-initiated payments under the BACS Direct Debit scheme), incoming credits (employer pay, pension, benefits, tax credits, regular transfers from other accounts). The full 13-month transaction history is reviewed to identify everything that should move.

CASS does not transfer: existing overdraft balances (must be cleared or arranged with the new bank separately), credit-card balances (these belong to a separate credit agreement), loans and mortgages, ISAs (separate transfer rules apply), savings accounts not linked to the current account, regular saver linked accounts, joint accounts where only one holder is switching, business accounts in some cases.

Where the customer has an overdraft on the old account, the new bank decides whether to offer an overdraft on the new account based on their own affordability assessment. If declined, the old overdraft must be cleared before the switch, or repaid through other means after the switch.

Practical action: making a list of all outgoing payments (direct debits, standing orders, plus any card-on-file subscriptions paid by debit card) in advance of the switch lets the customer verify everything migrated correctly in the first month after the switch. Card-on-file subscriptions (Netflix, Spotify, mobile phone) are NOT transferred and need updating manually with each provider.

Switching incentives and the catch

Banks pay switching incentives to attract new current account customers. Typical incentives in 2024-2025 ran GBP 100 to GBP 200 per switch, subject to conditions: minimum credits to the new account (often GBP 1,500 a month), specific number of direct debits transferred (often 2 or more), use of the new bank's app, retaining the account for a minimum period (typically 6 months).

The incentive is paid 28 to 60 days after the switch completes and conditions are met. The bank may claw back the payment if the customer switches away within a defined minimum period or fails to maintain the conditions.

Worked example: a customer switches from a free current account to a bank offering GBP 150 incentive. Conditions: minimum monthly credit GBP 1,500, two direct debits transferred, no closure within 6 months. The customer migrates their salary and existing direct debits through CASS, meets the conditions automatically, and the GBP 150 lands 30 days after the switch.

Edge case: serial switchers (those who switch every few months to collect incentives) face increasingly tight eligibility rules. Most banks now limit incentives to customers who have not held a current account with the bank in the past 2 to 3 years, removing repeat-switching as a viable strategy.

Switching to a packaged account or away from one

Packaged accounts charge a monthly fee (typically GBP 10 to GBP 25) for added benefits: travel insurance, mobile phone insurance, breakdown cover, identity theft monitoring, preferential rates on related products. Switching into a packaged account uses CASS the same way; the fee starts at the switch date.

Switching out of a packaged account is the same CASS process. The customer should check the value of the package benefits actually used: many customers pay for travel and phone insurance they could buy more cheaply on the open market, or that duplicates cover from credit cards or employer benefits.

Worked example: a customer paying GBP 17 a month for a packaged account (GBP 204 a year) uses only the travel insurance. Annual travel insurance from a comparison purchase is GBP 80 to GBP 120 a year. Switching to a free current account and buying travel insurance separately saves GBP 80 to GBP 120 a year.

Edge case: where the packaged account was mis-sold (insurance benefits the customer could not use, pre-existing conditions excluded, age limits not disclosed), a complaint to the bank and then the Financial Ombudsman can produce a refund of fees paid plus interest. The Financial Ombudsman Service has handled high volumes of packaged account mis-selling complaints over the past decade.

Frequently asked questions

How long does a UK bank switch take?

Seven working days from the chosen switch date under the Current Account Switch Service. The customer typically applies through the new bank 7 to 30 days before the switch date, giving CASS time to compile the list of payments to transfer. On the switch date the old account closes, the new account becomes the destination for all incoming and outgoing payments, and the customer receives confirmation. The 7-day timing is guaranteed under the Switch Guarantee.

Will all my direct debits transfer automatically?

Yes for direct debits within the BACS Direct Debit scheme. The new bank uses the CASS central infrastructure to notify each originator (utility, subscription, mortgage, council tax) of the new account details. The originator updates their system and the next collection lands on the new account. Card-on-file subscriptions paid by debit card (Netflix, Spotify, gym memberships taking card payments) are NOT transferred automatically and need updating with each provider.

What if something goes wrong during the switch?

The Current Account Switch Guarantee refunds any interest or charges incurred due to errors with the switch. Common scenarios: a direct debit missing the new account causing a missed-payment fee, a credit going to the wrong account, the switch not completing on the scheduled date. The new bank handles the refund on request, normally within 5 working days. Where harm extends beyond a fee (credit-file marker, missed mortgage), the bank corrects the record.

Are switching incentives worth it?

Often yes for customers who would naturally meet the conditions (monthly salary credit, regular direct debits). Typical incentives of GBP 100 to GBP 200 require minimum credits, direct debit count, and retention period. The catch is repeat-eligibility: most banks now limit incentives to customers who have not held an account with them in the past 2-3 years, so serial switching is no longer practical. Where switching also moves to a better product (no fees, better app, useful features), the incentive is a bonus on top.

Can I switch a joint account?

Yes if both joint holders agree and the new bank offers a joint account on equivalent terms. Both holders sign the switch instruction. The CASS process works the same way for joint accounts. Where only one joint holder wants to switch and the other wants to keep the existing account, the situation requires a different approach: either splitting the account (with the bank's agreement) or one holder opening a separate individual account and arranging payments accordingly. CASS does not split a joint account into two.