Switch your current account to Santander

Move your current account using Santander's 5 star rated Switcher Service

When you switch your current account to Santander, we make sure you receive the best possible service, including knowing exactly what is happening during the process.

Our dedicated switcher team will manage the switch of all your Direct Debits, standing orders and bill payments from your old account to your new Santander current account.
We'll also keep you informed of progress along the way by letter, text and email*.
We'll give you a four month fee free Arranged Overdraft during the switching process, and for that added reassurance, we'll waive or refund any fee you may incur from us as a result of the switch.
We'll do all we can to switch your current account within 16 days**.
We may call you during the switching process if needed. You can also call the switcher team on 0845 609 0010, Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm and Saturday 9am to 2pm.
We'll let you choose the date you want the switch to start which can be up to 60 days in the future. If you wish, we will send you a text to acknowledge that your switch is starting in the future.

Representative Example

123 Current Account and Everyday Current Account

If you have switched your main current account to us, you get:

0% EAR (variable) Arranged Overdraft. No Daily Arranged Overdraft Fee for the first four months. Then £1 each day capped at 20 days in each monthly statement period.

In this example, we have assumed the Arranged Overdraft credit limit is £1,200. The actual amount you could get may be different.

If you have not switched your main current account to us, you get:

0% EAR (variable) Arranged Overdraft. We charge a Daily Arranged Overdraft Fee of £1 each day capped at 20 days in each monthly statement period.

* To benefit from text and email updates you will have to provide us with your most up to date email address and mobile phone number as part of your online application. Should you wish to update your details at any other time, please log on to Online Banking, visit your local branch, or call us on 0845 609 0010.

** 98% of switches through the account transfer team were completed within 16 days from August 2012 to January 2013.

Switching your current account to us

Our three-step commitment to you

It's important you feel confident when using our 5 Star rated Switcher Service to move your current account to us. Our three-step commitment will keep you closely informed throughout the process by sending you a letter and, if you wish, a text and/or email at each step. Our dedicated switcher team is also on hand to help you throughout the whole process and may contact you directly.

___________________________________________________________________________

Step 1. Welcome

Day 1

Step 2. Update

Day 5 to day 16

Step 3. Completion

Day 17 to day 20

What we'll do	What we'll do	What we'll do
Contact you by letter to let you know that your switch has started. If you wish, we can also keep you regularly updated by text message and/or email. Ask your old bank for a list of all your Direct Debits, standing orders and bill payments.	Send you a list of all the Direct Debits, standing orders and bill payments on your old account and update you by text and email. Set up all your standing orders and bill payments on your new account. Ask the relevant Direct Debit companies to collect future payments from your new account.	Contact you by letter, text and/ or email to let you know that we have completed all of our actions required to switch your account to Santander. Give you a list of the companies that have not confirmed that they have updated their records, and support you in making contact with them to complete your switch. Try to contact you if you have Direct Debits not appearing on your new account to help with the switching of these.
What you need to do	What you need to do	What you need to do
You can choose a switching date on your application form. Tips for choosing this date are below. Pay money into your account, as the first payments can start coming out from day 5. Redirect your income to your new Santander current account using the Credit Redirection letter.	Check the list of Direct Debits, standing orders and bill payments is correct and let us know if any are incorrect or need to be cancelled by calling our dedicated switcher team on 0845 609 0010.	Monitor your new account, as Direct Debits will continue to be set up over the next two to three weeks. If, despite our best efforts, there are still any Direct Debits not appearing on your new account, to ensure future payments are taken from this account, you will need to contact the companies directly as they may not have changed their records. Close your old account using the Interbank account switching request.

Choosing the date to switch

This is the date that we will start the process of transferring your account from your existing bank to us. It is important to get this right and below are some tips to help guide you.

We suggest that you choose a start date just after most of your payments have gone out for the month.
If your payments are spread evenly throughout the month, we recommend a start date just after the largest payments have been made.
You can choose a start date for the switch as part of your online application, up to 60 days in the future. If you wish, we will send you a text to acknowledge that your switch is starting in the future.

It could be as little as 5 days after your chosen switch date that payments could be collected from your new account.

Avoiding any fees

It's a good idea to have enough money in your existing and your new account to cover your usual payments while we complete your transfer to us. We will do everything we can to make sure that the switch goes as smoothly as possible. It is unlikely that you will have to pay any bank fees as a result of a mistake we make during the switch process. However, if this happens we will refund any fees in full.

Important information

We can not switch your current account if you have a joint account with your old bank and your new Santander account is a single named account.

Making switching easier

If you have any questions throughout the process you will find a number of helpful Q&A's on our current account FAQs page or you can call us on 0845 609 0010. Lines are open Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm, and Saturday 9am to 2pm.