Choosing the best bank for your money isn’t always straightforward. From switching incentives and customer service to branch access, spending benefits and the interest rates on offer, there’s a lot to weigh up before deciding where your cash goes.
We look at the most and least popular banks in a separate guide, where Nationwide stood out thanks to its lucrative cash bonus, Fairer Share payments and top savings rates.
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The best UK banks – how they rank
Which? asked thousands of customers how they would rate their banking providers. The data is based on several parameters, including ease of application and service in a bank branch, over the phone, online and app-based, and customer helplines.
In top place is Starling Bank, which is one of Which?’s recommended providers for the seventh consecutive year. The bank ranks highly in customer service and current account users are happy with its online banking service. Starling also launched a new AI banking tool that helps customers learn more about their spending habits.
Monzo is another one of Which?’s recommended providers. The challenger bank impresses customers with fee-free spending abroad, cashback on eligible spending and competitive savings rates, but falls short in customer helpline services.
First Direct is also in the top rankings – it’s one of only two banks which received full five stars for customer service and telephone banking. It also offers fee-free transactions abroad, and has an attractive bank switching deal.
Among more traditional high street staples, Nationwide ranks highly thanks to its extensive branch network. The building society has pledged to protect its branches from closures until at least 2030.
We look at the full results in the table below.
Provider | Customer score | Customer service | Application process | Service in branch | Telephone banking | Online banking | Banking app | Customer helpline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Starling Bank | 86% | ★★★★☆ | N/A | N/A | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Allied Irish Bank (GB) | 85% | ★★★★★ | N/A | N/A | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | N/A | ★★★★☆ |
Monzo Bank | 85% | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | N/A | N/A | N/A | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
First Direct | 84% | ★★★★★ | N/A | N/A | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Nationwide Building Society | 84% | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Revolut | 83% | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | N/A | N/A | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
Chase | 82% | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | N/A | ★★★★☆ | N/A | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Danske Bank | 80% | ★★★★☆ | N/A | ★★★★☆ | N/A | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
Bank of Scotland | 77% | ★★★★☆ | N/A | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
Metro Bank | 77% | ★★★★☆ | N/A | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
Barclays Bank | 76% | ★★★☆☆ | N/A | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
Ulster Bank | 76% | ★★★★☆ | N/A | ★★★★☆ | N/A | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | N/A |
Lloyds Bank | 75% | ★★★☆☆ | N/A | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
The Co-operative Bank | 75% | ★★★★☆ | N/A | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
NatWest | 74% | ★★★☆☆ | N/A | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
Bank of Ireland UK | 73% | ★★★☆☆ | N/A | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
Royal Bank of Scotland | 73% | ★★★☆☆ | N/A | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
HSBC | 72% | ★★★☆☆ | N/A | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
Halifax | 71% | ★★☆☆☆ | N/A | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
Santander | 71% | ★★★☆☆ | N/A | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
Virgin Money | 71% | ★★★☆☆ | N/A | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
TSB | 67% | ★★☆☆☆ | N/A | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
Source: Which? data based on a survey from September 2025. N/A means not enough responses for a star rating.
The best UK bank accounts – how they rank
Which? has analysed different bank accounts offered by bank and building societies. The parameters it has tested include interest paid, fee-free spending, interest-free overdraft and monthly fee.
Bank account | Product score | Interest paid on first £1,000 | Fee-free spending and cash withdrawal abroad | Interest-free overdraft | Monthly fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Virgin Money M Plus | 81% | 1% | Yes | £0 | £0 |
First Direct 1st Account | 77% | 0% | Yes | £250 | £0 |
Starling Current Account | 75% | 0% | Yes | £0 | £0 |
Danske Freedom | 75% | 0% | Yes | £0 | £0 |
HSBC Advance | 71% | 0% | Yes | £25 | £0 |
Allied International Bank (NI) Classic | 70% | 0% | Yes | £200 | £0 |
TSB Spend & Save Plus | 69% | 0% | Yes | £100 | £3 |
Halifax Reward | 69% | 0% | Yes | £100 | £3 |
Barclays Bank Account | 68% | 0% | Yes | £15 | £0 |
Monzo Current Account | 68% | 0% | Yes | £0 | £0 |
Nationwide FlexAccount | 68% | 0% | Yes | £50 | £0 |
HSBC Bank Account | 68% | 0% | Yes | £15 | £0 |
Ulster Bank Select Account | 68% | 0% | No | £0 | £0 |
Club Lloyds | 68% | 1.50% | Yes | £100 | £5 |
NatWest Select | 68% | 0% | No | £0 | £0 |
Royal Bank of Scotland Select | 68% | 0% | No | £0 | £0 |
Nationwide FlexDirect - Non-funded | 67% | 0% | Yes | £50 | £0 |
Cumberland Building Society Plus | 67% | 0% | Yes | £0 | £0 |
Danske Reward - Non-funded | 67% | 0% | Yes | £0 | £2 |
Chase Current Account | 65% | 0% | Yes | £0 | £0 |
Danske Choice | 65% | 0% | No | £0 | £0 |
Santander Everyday | 64% | 0% | Yes | £0 | £0 |
Nationwide FlexDirect - Funded | 63% | 5% | Yes | £50 | £0 |
Lloyds Classic | 63% | 0% | No | £0 | £0 |
Cumberland Building Society Day 2 Day - Age 18-23 | 63% | 0% | Yes | £0 | £0 |
Monzo Extra | 62% | 0% | Yes | £0 | £3 |
Santander Edge | 62% | 0% | Yes | £0 | £3 |
The Co-operative Bank Current Account | 62% | 0% | Yes | £0 | £0 |
Bank of Scotland Classic | 61% | 0% | No | £0 | £0 |
Halifax Current Account | 61% | 0% | No | £0 | £0 |
Cumberland Building Society Day 2 Day - Age 24 and over | 61% | 0% | Yes | £0 | £0 |
Danske Reward - Funded | 61% | 0% | Yes | £0 | £2 |
Danske Standard | 60% | 0% | Yes | £0 | £0 |
Kroo Bank Current Account | 59% | 0% | No | £0 | £0 |
Zopa Biscuit | 59% | 2% | Yes | £0 | £0 |
Allied Irish Bank (GB) Current Account | 59% | 0% | No | £0 | £0 |
Bank of Ireland UK Clear Account | 59% | 0% | Yes | £0 | £0 |
Smile Current | 59% | 0% | Yes | £0 | £0 |
UBL UK ACE | 57% | 0% | Yes | £0 | £0 |
TSB Spend & Save | 56% | 0% | No | £0 | £0 |
Bank of Scotland Classic - with Vantage | 56% | 1% | No | £0 | £0 |
NatWest Reward | 56% | 0% | Yes | £0 | £2 |
Royal Bank of Scotland Reward | 56% | 0% | Yes | £0 | £2 |
Triodos Bank Current Account | 56% | 0% | No | £0 | £0 |
Santander Edge Up | 55% | 2% | Yes | £0 | £5 |
Metro Bank Current Account | 55% | 0% | No | £0 | £0 |
Source: Which?. N/A means not enough responses for a product rating.
How to choose the best bank account for you
Despite the above findings, banking expert at Which?, Chiara Cavaglieri, says: “For too long, the biggest banks haven’t had to work very hard to keep customers, but challengers such as Monzo and Starling have quickly made their mark. They’ve forced bigger providers to innovate, and the result is a market where different providers shine in different areas. Even if you can’t bear to ditch your longstanding bank, think about what's important to you.”
With so many accounts to choose from, there are several factors to consider before you make a decision.
While a bank switching deal means customers have extra cash to cover the Christmas festivities, Rachel Springall, finance expert at Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, warns against making hasty decisions.
“An upfront free cash injection is a great sweetener, but consumers should only ever switch accounts if the new deal offers them better value,” she said, pointing out that while free cash offers don’t last forever, customers shouldn’t feel pressured to switch.
If you’re after spending perks and travel benefits, it might be worth checking out the best packaged bank accounts.
Springall said: “If customers opt into a packaged account, one that bundles in benefits, then they could find it to be more cost-effective than taking out separate insurance policies elsewhere, like travel insurance or mobile phone insurance.”
We look at whether travel insurance is worth it in a separate guide.
“There is a plethora of different benefits to choose from, such as high interest current accounts, those with a competitive overdraft tariff, as well as packaged accounts with integrated insurance plans or even accounts that reward savers or spenders,” Springall added.
“Those consumers who plan to make frequent trips abroad can also find accounts that don’t charge them for using their debit card in an ATM or in-store, so they can avoid paying out on transaction fees compared to a more traditional bank account.”
FSCS scheme: Are your savings safe?
The Financial Service Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protects your savings and investments if a financial services firm goes bust.
This includes current accounts, savings accounts, Shariah-compliant accounts, ISAs, and more.
On 1 December 2025, the FSCS limit rose from £85,000 to £120,000. It means that you will be covered for up to £120,000 if your money is with an FSCS-protected institution.
You can check which institutions are covered on the FSCS website.
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