The best bank accounts for cashback
We regularly write about the benefits of using cashback credit cards wisely. But not everyone likes using a credit card to pay for their spending, and they have very valid reasons. If you prefer to manage your money with a debit card, you can still earn some extra cash from moving to the right current account.
Here are some of the top current account offers available right now. Of course, pair them with a cashback credit card and you can earn even more!
Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks
Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks are offering to pay £150 cashback to those who complete a full switch to one of their current accounts.
The offer applies to the Readycash, Current Account Plus, Current Account Direct, Current Account Control and Signature Current Account. To qualify, switchers need to use the Current Account Switch Service, move two Direct Debits and credit £1,000 to their new account within 31 days of completing the transfer.
The Current Account Direct is a good one to go for as it also pays 2% interest on in-credit balances up to £3,000. Interest is paid as long as you credit £1,000 a month to the account. It also offers a competitive overdraft which charges 9.9% EAR.
First Direct
First Direct offers new customers a £100 joining bonus if they open a 1st Account.
To avoid the £10 fee monthly fee for the account you'll need to pay in at least £1,000 a month. Alternatively, you'll need to have another First Direct product – such as a savings account or insurance.
The account comes with a £250 fee-free overdraft, exclusive access to First Direct products like its market leading 6% regular savings account and is consistently recognised for its high level of customer service.
Plus in the unlikely event that you don't like the bank and decide to leave after a year it will pay you another £100.
Co-operative Bank
The Co-operative Bank is offering £100 cashback to those who complete a full switch to one of its current accounts. On top of that it will donate £25 to a charity of your choice.
To qualify, customers need to complete a switch to either the Standard Current Account, Current Account Plus or smile Current Account and credit £800 within 31 days.
The Current Account Plus is a good one to go for as you get a £200 overdraft and preferential offers on loans and Cash ISAs as well as access to an exclusive low-rate credit card.
Halifax
Halifax is offering £100 to those who switch to its current accounts.
The offer applies to the Current Account, Reward Current Account and Ultimate Reward Current Account.
The Reward Current Account is a particularly good deal to go for. It pays £5 a month, providing you credit the account with £750 each month, pay out at least two direct debits per month and manage to stay out of the red.
You'll also be able to benefit from a scheme called Cashback Extras, which allows you to earn money when you shop online at certain retailers.
HSBC
HSBC is offering £120 when you switch to its Advance Bank Account. You'll need to pay in a whopping £1,750 per month for two months to qualify for the cashback.
As an Advance customer, you'll get access to HSBC's Save Together scheme, which could see you pocket an extra £120 on top when you save into an HSBC Loyalty ISA.
M&S Bank
M&S Bank doesn't hand over cold, hard cash to switchers like the other banks, but instead offers a £100 M&S gift card when you switch to one of its current accounts.
Those going for the fee-free M&S Bank Current Account will get a £500 overdraft where the first £100 is interest free, preferential rates on selected M&S Bank products like the market leading 6% regular savings account and the ability to earn M&S Loyalty points when you spend.
Those after more perks can try the M&S Premium Current Account, which costs £10 a month and offers £200+ of extra treats and vouchers throughout the year, the ability to earn loyalty points, exclusive access to preferential rates on M&S Bank products including the market leading 6% regular savings account and a £500 overdraft where the first £100 is interest free.
Santander
The Santander 123 Current Account offers cashback on your household bills. You'll get 1% on water, Council Tax and Santander mortgage repayments (up to a maximum of £1,000 a month); 2% on gas and electricity bills; and 3% on mobile, home phone, broadband and paid TV contracts.
You can also earn up to 3% on your in-credit balance. The account pays 1% on balances from £1,000 to £1,999, 2% on balances from £2,000 to £2,999, and 3% on balances from £3,000 to £20,000.
You'll also be able to earn up to 15% cashback when you shop in-store and online at participating retailers through a new scheme called Retailer Offers.
To qualify, you must fund the account with at least £500 a month and set up at least two direct debits (although you'll want to set up all your eligible bills if you want to earn cashback on them).
The account charges a monthly fee of £2, but you'll probably earn enough cashback once you get going to more than cover this.
NatWest and RBS
NatWest and the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) offer Cashback Plus, a scheme that lets you earn cashback when you shop with your debit card at certain retailers.
You earn a minimum of 1% back, which can be turned into cash or converted into vouchers worth even more.
Cashback Plus is available across almost the full suite of accounts from both banks, bar under-18, corporate and business accounts.
If you're after a free account, then the Select Account is your best bet, while if you're happy to pay £10 or more a month for extras like Taste Card membership and European multi-trip travel insurance, then you might like to take a look at the Select Silver or Select Platinum accounts.
Barclays
Barclays offers the Blue Rewards scheme. Providing you are a current account customer aged 18 or over, deposit £800 a month, have two direct debits set up, and sign up to online banking or the Barclays mobile banking app, you'll be paid £7 a month, although there's a £3 a month fee, so you'll actually only pocket £4 a month.
If you have a Barclays mortgage you'll get an extra £5 a month, with £3 a month for home insurance customers, so you could earn a maximum of £12 a month. However, getting other financial products from your main bank can often be a false economy, so you need to be sure that your deal is a good one away from any cashback benefit.
If you want to earn interest
If you do have a bit of money left aside each month, you might want to take a look at two accounts which are paying market-leading levels of in-credit interest.
The Nationwide FlexDirect account pays 5% interest before tax on credit balances of up to £2,500 for the first year you have the account. You need to pay in £1,000 a month to qualify.
The TSB Classic Plus Account also pays a gross rate of 5%, but on balances up to £2,000. The good thing about this account is that the rate is ongoing and you only need to deposit £500 a month to qualify for the interest.
These rates are miles better than the top easy access savings accounts right now.
Elsewhere Tesco Bank offers to pay 3% on balances up to £3,000, the Bank of Scotland Classic Current Account with Vantage pays 3% on balances between £3,000 and £5,000 and Lloyds Bank will pay 4% on balances between £4,000 and £5,000.
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