Get ready for your first switch
15mins to complete
Offer overviewChris · Your personal guide
A spare account is a basic current account you’ll use as the starting point for your first bank switch.
This guide covers the full setup. For background on why you need a spare account and how bank switching works, read our bank switching explainer.
Step by Step Guide
Start here
Pick your spare account
5 mins
Your spare account must be part of CASS, the Current Account Switch Service. Almost every major UK bank is in it, though Zopa is not. Check which banks are eligible on the CASS website.
Already have a spare account?
You might already have a spare unused current account. If so, use it and move on to step 2 below.
Need to open a new account?
We recommend the below banks because they do not run switching offers, and so you won't miss out on any switching offers in the future by signing up now. They also have a Quick Win sign up offer available.
- 1
Download the Chase app and set up an account if you don't already have one. There's a sign-up offer in Quick Wins too.
The Chase sign-up offer needs a £1,000 deposit. If you would rather not, do the Starling offer instead, see below.
2Set up a second current account by pressing the Add button to the right of 'Current accounts' on the Chase app home screen.
This is the one you switch away from. Your main Chase current account stays untouched.
- 1
Sign up to Starling if you don't already have a Starling account. Download the app and set up an account. There's a sign-up offer in Quick Wins too.
Up next · 3 steps
Set up Direct Debits
5 mins
You need two active Direct Debits on your spare account before you switch, in order to qualify for the switch offer. The exceptions are Bank of Scotland, which needs three Direct Debits, and NatWest, which does not need any.
Active means the Direct Debit has actually taken its first payment. A new Direct Debit that has not taken its first payment does not count, so set these up as early as you can.
You have four options for ways to set up a Direct Debit. The Quidsy Direct Debit is the fastest and easiest.
Option 1: Set up a Quidsy Direct Debit (fastest)
- Set up:1 min eachActive:6 working days
Set up 2 x £1/month Direct Debits with Quidsy. The Quidsy Direct Debit takes only 6 working days for payment to be taken. This is the fastest possible method.
Quidsy is free to use and relies on your support. In turn we help you build up your profit.
Simply repeat setting up a £1 Direct Debit based on how many you need.
If you set it up today, the payment will be taken on Friday 18th September.
Option 2: Move existing Direct Debits
- Set up:15 minsActive:up to 30 days
Transfer two Direct Debits from your main current account. Log into each Direct Debit provider (e.g. mobile phone, energy) and update the bank details to your spare account’s sort code and account number.
Please note the Santander offer does require household Direct Debits, so when you get to this offer in the future you’ll want to use this option (reminder - you’ll be switching from the previous offer you’ve just completed to Santander, not this spare account).
Option 3: Set up new charity Direct Debits
- Set up:10 minsActive:up to 30 days
Set up 2 x £2/month Direct Debits with your favourite charities. For example, Crisis, British Red Cross, British Heart Foundation. They usually only collect on the 1st or 15th, so pick the earliest date they offer.
Option 4: Savings apps
- Set up:10 minsActive:varies
Savings apps Plum and Moneybox allow you to set up a direct debit with them. So you could set up a direct debit for £5/month (or similar). Note Plum have a sign up offer in the Quick Wins plan.
Add money
4 mins
You need to add enough money for:
1) The first Direct Debit that is taken from your spare account.
2) The Direct Debit(s) taken every 30 days after you switch but before you get the switch bonus. This may be up to 3 more Direct Debit payments depending on the period of time to receive the bonus (e.g. Nationwide only needs 1 more Direct Debit at most, whereas First Direct needs 2).
How much money to add?
For ease, where the Direct Debit is small (e.g. £1 for Quidsy or £2 for charities) you could add this total amount upfront to save you having to remember to do it after you switch. Based on this, below are my suggested amounts to add.
Option 1: Quidsy Direct Debits - Add £8. That is your first payment plus three months at 2 x £1.
Option 2: Existing Direct Debits - Given these could be large amounts, add enough to cover the first Direct Debit then do this manually each month before your next Direct Debit.
Option 3: Charity Direct Debits - Add £16. That is your first payment plus three months at 2 x £2.
Option 4: Savings apps - Add £40 if you set them up at £5 each, your first payment plus three months. This one is not really a cost, the money lands in your Plum or Moneybox pot.
Wait for at least one payment to process
1 mins
Once your first Direct Debit payment has been taken, you’re all set up - awesome! Head to the bank switch offer and start your switch. Enjoy the profit.
Finish line