Switch Bank Account

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Don't like your bank? Vote with your wallet... and tell them why you're leaving.

CASS (Current Account Switch Service) is a free to use service which helps people and small businesses to switch from one bank to another in 7 days. CASS guarantees a stress-free switching process where consumers can choose a specific switching date, and the balance and associated direct debit and bill payments instructions will be transferred within seven working days.
The Current Account Switch Guarantee (CASG) ensures that any financial loss incurred due to errors in the switching process will be reimbursed.

For people with an outstanding overdraft, it might be difficult for them to switch providers. First, they might not be aware that they are eligible to switch, and secondly they are not sure if they will be granted the same overdraft facility with the new provider.

CASS cannot facilitate the market analysis stage, which is recognised as one of the major barriers to consideration.

The Bank Account Switching Service

There are two account switching services available. A paper-based account switching process will continue to operate for:

  • Organisations that have chosen not to participate in the new Account Switching Services
  • Customers that are not eligible for the full current account switch service or the partial switch service.

If you want to check which banks and building societies are participating, you can search by name here on the CASS website.

Choosing a New Bank

Before you start looking for a new bank, be clear why you are moving, and what you are looking for.

Why do you want to switch?

  1. Lower charges / interest rates
  2. Better account services
  3. More Branches / Outlets
  4. Better Customer Service
  5. Recommendation
  6. Ethical / Sustainale Banking
  7. Other (?? comment box ??)

"Free" Current Accounts

No such animal. Banking is not free at all. The banks make their money from customers who keep money in non-interest bearing accounts, rack up high overdraft fees and buy lots of products from the same bank without shopping around.

How It Works

  1. Check your bank participates in the CASS scheme
  2. Decide on your new bank.

When you apply, it will undertake its normal account-opening procedures. You will be asked to provide proof of identity and proof of address. It will confirm that it will use CASS, back by the CASG.

  1. Once your new account has been opened, you will need to complete a Current Account Switch Agreement form, and a Current Account Switch Service Account Closure form.
  2. You will be able to choose and agree a convenient switch date with the new bank. It cannot be a Saturday, Sunday or bank holiday. It must be at least 7 working days after your account has been opened.
  3. Your new bank will provide confirmation that the switch has begun and will be complete on the agreed switch date.
  4. You will continue using your old current account up until the agreed switching date. Your new bank will contact you if there are any issues (there usually aren't any).
  5. On the switch date, your new bank will be responsible for moving your incoming and outgoing payments, and transferring any money to your new account, before closing the old account and sending confirmation that the process is complete.

Banks

Articles

  • Sept.16.2018: Bank switching branded ‘missed opportunity’. The Current Account Switch Service (Cass) was launched on this day five years ago, aiming to end the dominance of the five big retail banks. However, official figures show that 69,235 people used the service during July — down more than 17% on the same month last year. During the whole of last year the tool was used 931,956 times — the first time it dropped below 1m. James Daley, managing director of consumer group Fairer Finance, said: “Cass has been a failure and a missed opportunity." Robert Watts, The Times.
  • Apr.14.2011: 10 reasons why we don’t switch bank accounts. If we want banks to be more competitive and offer better products and services we need to start switching bank accounts more often, so the Banking Commission says. But what’s putting us off switching so much at the moment? Victoria Bischoff, CityWire.

References