How the Current Account Switch Service works
The Current Account Switch Service (CASS) is a free service most UK banks participate in, designed to move your current account — including your balance, direct debits, standing orders, and incoming payments — to a new bank automatically within seven working days, without you needing to individually notify every payee.
What actually happens during a switch
- You apply for the new account and request a switch through your new bank.
- Your new bank coordinates with your old bank to transfer everything automatically.
- Payments accidentally sent to your old account for up to three years afterward are automatically redirected to the new one, under the CASS guarantee.
- Your old account is closed once the switch completes, unless you ask to keep it open.
Switching bonuses
Banks periodically offer cash bonuses (or other incentives) to attract new customers via CASS, often requiring you to switch at least two active direct debits and pay in a minimum amount within a set period to qualify. Terms vary and change frequently, so check the specific conditions of any current offer carefully before committing, as missing a small requirement can mean forfeiting the bonus entirely.
What to check before switching
- Any overdraft you currently use — check the new account's overdraft terms and interest rate, and whether an existing overdraft debt needs clearing first.
- Any linked savings products or preferential rates tied to your existing current account that you might lose.
- Interest paid on the account balance, if that matters to you.
- Whether you need to keep the old account open briefly for any pending payments not yet switched.
Why switching is generally low-risk
Because CASS is a guaranteed, regulated process with a redirection safety net for missed payments, switching current accounts carries relatively little of the friction or risk people sometimes assume — worth reviewing periodically rather than assuming your first-ever bank remains the best option indefinitely.
Key takeaways
- CASS automatically switches your account, payments and direct debits within seven working days.
- Payments to your old account are still redirected automatically for up to three years afterward.
- Switching bonuses often require meeting specific conditions — check the fine print.
- Check overdraft terms and any account-linked perks before switching away from them.