Last chance for tasty bank bonuses
There's never been a better time to switch your current account as providers battle it out to attract new customers.
Switching bonuses, or bank bribes if you will, have gotten a lot juicer lately.
Here are the top switching bonuses around right now if you are thinking about making a move.
Halifax
Halifax is paying £100 for those that move to its Current Account, Reward Current Account or Ultimate Reward Account.
The Reward Current Account is a great one to go for as it also pays £5 a month (as long as you deposit at least £750 each month, have two direct debits set up and stay in credit). That means in your first year you could pocket a whopping £185 from the account.
You can also earn as you spend on your debit card with a scheme called Cashback Extras, which allows you to earn money when you shop at certain retailers online or in store.
The £100 bonus will be paid into your account with three days of completing a switch when you use the Current Account Switch Service to transfer and close your old account.
First Direct
First Direct offers a £100 incentive to those that open its 1st Account and pay in at least £1,000 within three months.
There's a £10 monthly fee for the account after six months unless you pay in at least £1,000 a month or hold another First Direct product.
The account comes with a £250 interest-free overdraft, exclusive access to leading rates on loans and savings, plus an award-winning level of customer service with real people on hand 24/7.
It also comes with a satisfaction guarantee. First Direct promises to pay £100 to those unhappy with the account and decide to leave within a year of joining.
M&S Bank
M&S Bank offers a £100 M&S gift card when you sign up to the M&S Current Account or M&S Premium Current Account that you can spend in store or online. On top of that you will also get a £10 monthly top-up on the voucher when you stay in credit and deposit £1,000 each month, so there's a potential to bag a £220 bonus in your first year with the account.
The fee-free M&S Current Account gives you access to a best buy monthly savings account paying 6%, preferential rates on other products like loans and travel money, £100 fee-free overdraft and the chance to earn M&S Loyalty points each time you spend.
The M&S Premium Current Account offers all that plus a range of other benefits for a £10 monthly fee. With the account you can get £212-worth of vouchers a year, a birthday gift worth £10, preferential rates on selected products, access to exclusive offers and triple points in M&S stores and online.
You'll need to be quick to take advantage of this switching offer though as it ends on 5th April 2016.
Finding the best deal
When switching current account it's important to consider what your long-term needs are as well as the short-term gains a cash or voucher bonus can provide.
Other accounts like the Santander 123 Current Account and TSB Classic Account for example offer decent levels of interest that could provide more value in the long term, and not just give your bank balance a quick boost.
