The latest news to help you get the most from your bank account.
Here’s my monthly update sharing changes for leading UK current accounts, as well as some of the relevant articles you might have missed on the site.
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April’s bank switch offers
New bank switching deals
Natwest has got in on the act for higher Premier Banking offers, though at £250, it’s less than what you can get elsewhere.
You’ll need to be a new NatWest current account or savings account customer as of 10th March 2026, and never had a switch incentive from NatWest group before.
If that’s all good, you then open a Premier current account. This costs £2 a month, but you can earn £10 back if you have two direct debits paid from the account and check app banking each month. This means there’s £8 profit a month, so £96 a year.
However, you need to earn £100k a year and have it paid into the account, or hold £100k in savings with NatWestor have a £500k+ mortgage with the bank, to qualify for it.
The switch itself can’t be from an existing NatWest, RBS or Ulster Bank account. No direct debits are required for the switch. You can’t switch in to a joint account for this offer.
Then within 60 days of opening the account you’ll have to deposit £5,000, which can be more than one deposit.
Ending bank switching deals
You’ve got until 30 April to claim Lloyds’s massive £500 switch deal for Premier current account, and a lower £200 for Club Lloyds accounts.
Barclay’s Premier account offer worth £400 ends on the same date.
Continuing bank switching deals
You’ve longer to get £200 from Barclays for standard Current Account switches. This ends 28 May 2026.
Elsewhere, Santander switch offer dropped from £200 to £180. The extra £25 offer ended on 13 April, but a different top up could be around the corner. We’ll update the full analysis if this happens. The account also offers 1% cashback on bills and 6% interest on savings as extras.
First Direct’s switching offer is also still available for £175. Don’t forget you can access a 7% regular saver with this bank. There’s also £55 available if you go via TopCashback.
Natwest continues to offer £150 for switching, and also access to a bonus rate on the digital regular saver letting you earn 7% for a year. This also ends 28 May 2026.
Finally a Premier account deal from HSBC worth £250 is also still available.
FYI, I’d expect Nationwide to return in late May, alongside their Fairer Share bonus.
April’s current account offers
New bank referral offers
Starling Bank has launched a £25 refer-a-friend offer. You can get up to 10 people to join via your code, and you’ll each get £25.
The new account holder will need to spend from the account within 30 days of opening it. There’s no minimum amount needed to qualify.
You’ll find the referral codes in the Settings section of the app ,and your friend will need to enter this during their application.
I’ve seen a few people sharing Lloyds bank £50 referral links, but nothing is showing right now in my app.
Existing bank referral offers
Don’t forget, Chase is still running a £50 referral scheme, while there’s £10 available via Zopa’s Biscuit account
Don’t forget First Direct Perks
Over Easter I was able to get a £5 Sainsbury’s voucher, £10 Uber Eats voucher and £5 Greggs voucher from First Direct Perks. These deals do come and go, with little fanfare, but this is just another reminder to keep checking to see what’s on offer.
Featured switching deal
Our top pick
Customer rating
3.8/5
- Switch bonus£180
- Offer endsUnknown
- FSCS Protected? Yes
- Switch bonus requirements Switch using the Current Account Switch Service and close your old account within 60 days of starting the switch
- Deposit requirements Deposit £1,500 in the first 60 days from opening the account
- Direct debits transferred over Set up two Direct Debits before or after the switch from a selected list of household bills
- Existing customers? Can't have held any Santander current account on 1 January 2025
- Restrictions Can't have received a switching bonus from Santander already, offer limited to once per person
- Eligible accounts Open a new or hold an existing Everyday, Edge, Edge Up or Edge Explorer current account
April’s current account news
Contactless limit scrapped… but you won’t see any changes yet
Last month, the rule setting a £100 cap on contactless payments was removed. However, as yet I don’t think any banks have increased the limit. So you’ll still need to use your PIN for large payments.
Of course if you’re using your phone, which has extra security via your face or finger ID, then you can already spend above this limit.
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Plus, new Quidco customers get a high paying £18 welcome offer
Our top current accounts for April 2026
I always think it’s worth having more than one current account (find out why here) and here’s my run-down of the top accounts to have this month.
