Can existing customers get a bank switch bonus?

    Switch bonuses are recruitment budgets, so they are aimed at people the bank does not already have. That is why the terms almost always exclude current customers and often recent ones too.

    The exact wording matters, though, and it is narrower than most people assume.

    What the exclusions usually say

    • "You must not currently hold a current account with us" — a savings account or credit card with the same bank often does not disqualify you.
    • "You must not have held a current account with us since [date]" — a hard cut-off, and the date varies by round.
    • "You must not have received a switch bonus from us before" — once per customer, regardless of how long ago.
    • "...or from any brand in our group" — this is the one that catches people out.

    Where existing customers sometimes still qualify

    There are real exceptions, but they are specific and change between rounds, so check the live terms rather than assuming.

    • Switching an account from a different bank into a brand-new account with a bank where you only hold savings or a card.
    • Some offers allow existing customers who open a different, qualifying account type — this is uncommon but does appear.
    • Moving between sole and joint accounts is occasionally excluded from the exclusion, as Nationwide has allowed in past rounds.

    The better plan for existing customers

    If your own bank is running an offer you cannot claim, look at who else is paying. The switch has to come from a different bank anyway, and there are usually several live offers at once.

    Practically: keep a second account you rarely use, keep a small direct debit active on it, and switch that account rather than your main one. It makes you eligible far more often and keeps your salary and bills untouched.

    Common questions

    I have a savings account with them — am I excluded?
    Usually not. Most exclusions are written about current accounts specifically, but read the wording of the offer you are applying for.
    I closed my account with them years ago. Can I claim?
    It depends on the cut-off date in the terms and on whether you ever received a switch bonus from that group. If you have never taken their bonus and you are outside the stated date, you may qualify.

    Live offers by bank

    Each bank page shows the current bonus, who qualifies, the switch timeline and how to switch. Amounts are refreshed automatically every Monday.

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