Best bank account to open to complete switch for 25,000 Avios

[ringingup]

My partner does not want to switch his main bank account to Barclays – they’ve been an absolute nightmare since the beginning and he still can’t see the credit card on the app, despite complaints and assurances that it was all fixed.

So he’d like to open a bank account so that he can then use it for the switch to Barclays Premier. He already has Monzo and wants to keep it.

Any recommendation for an easy to open bank account to use for the switch?

[can]

I just did a switch from a Starling account. Easy to open, too.

[Philondon]

When I wanted a “dummy” account to switch from, recently, I opened a Santander Basic bank account as there was no overdraft and so no credit check so it won’t affect credit ratings (if those things bother you as I know credit ratings don’t bother some people)

[SamG]

I read somewhere the fintechs get a bit upset if you “burn” them repeatedly so I’d also vote Santander or Halifax

[Cranzle]

Slightly off topic, apologies for hijacking the OP’s thread:

Looking to switch a joint account. Is the process of obtaining a switching bonus at the new bank the same, or do these switching bonuses only apply to sole accounts? (I assume you don’t get a double bonus for joint accounts anywhere)?

[ringingup]

Does Santander Basic get open immediately via some kind of digital identity check? We definitely want to avoid having to send paper documentation or go to a branch to confirm identity and proof of residence.

[Annetteewan]

Generally speaking, the switching bonus is just for sole accounts, but that’s not always the case. Last year my wife and I managed to pick up 3 x £200 switching bonuses at Nationwide (2 x sole + 1 x joint). That specific offer ended in December though.

[baVid]

I spent a silly amount of time thinking about this as I was keen to avoid creating a blocker for me to join another bank in the future in case they ran a sign up bonus. It seemed impossible to do that without going for one of the challenger banks that I also didn’t want to close any doors to for the future.

In the end the path was so obvious for me that I was annoyed that I hadn’t seen it sooner – just open a second current account with the bank you’re currently with. In my case it was NatWest and the application went through the app in seconds. (They did so a credit search though, despite me refusing an overdraft).

[Carlos]

baVid wrote:

I spent a silly amount of time thinking about this as I was keen to avoid creating a blocker for me to join another bank in the future in case they ran a sign up bonus. It seemed impossible to do that without going for one of the challenger banks that I also didn’t want to close any doors to for the future.

In the end the path was so obvious for me that I was annoyed that I hadn’t seen it sooner – just open a second current account with the bank you’re currently with. In my case it was NatWest and the application went through the app in seconds. (They did so a credit search though, despite me refusing an overdraft).

Wouldnt you expect for them to close your main account (i.e. major bank) down or make things difficult if you open and switch within days

[Philondon]

ringingup wrote:

Does Santander Basic get open immediately via some kind of digital identity check? We definitely want to avoid having to send paper documentation or go to a branch to confirm identity and proof of residence.

It was all online for me.

[WillPS]

Philondon wrote:

When I wanted a “dummy” account to switch from, recently, I opened a Santander Basic bank account as there was no overdraft and so no credit check so it won’t affect credit ratings (if those things bother you as I know credit ratings don’t bother some people)

No arranged overdraft does not necessarily mean there will be no credit check.

[Philondon]

WillPS wrote:

No arranged overdraft does not necessarily mean there will be no credit check.

Ok maybe I got that slightly wrong but this is worth reading…. https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/basic-bank-accounts/

[WillPS]

I became eligible on 7th November (that was the statement date at which my Cashback Visa became an Avios Plus). The date in the email I received is 10th March, received 11th November.

I wonder if the ‘up to 2 months’ is an indication that they’ll do all these payments in one big batch at the end of March.

[sachbarnes]

Or just open a new sub account in a few clicks in your existing one, and then switch that dead account over. Most let you do that pretty easily in their app or online banking.

[waz1234]

Do you need to have any activity or direct debits on the account youre switching?

[oldak]

I opened a Metro Bank account for this purpose and successfully switched. All online, no branch visits to either open a Metro account or carry out a full switch.

[qc]

When does the 25,000 bank transfer offer end?

[JDB]

qc wrote:

When does the 25,000 bank transfer offer end?

That offer is still current and has been for a long time with no specified end date. You not only have to do the switch within the specified time of opening but also switch on Avios Rewards and pay the fee to get the 25k in the fourth month after switching on AR.

[CH]

Philondon wrote:

When I wanted a “dummy” account to switch from, recently, I opened a Santander Basic bank account as there was no overdraft and so no credit check so it won’t affect credit ratings (if those things bother you as I know credit ratings don’t bother some people)

Did you ever figure out (/see on your report) whether Santander did a credit check or added it as a credit account to your reports?

Thinking of doing a switch but need a new donor account, and if they’re going to do a credit check/add a new credit account, I may as well open a full current account.

[ClubSmed]

CH wrote:

Philondon wrote:

When I wanted a “dummy” account to switch from, recently, I opened a Santander Basic bank account as there was no overdraft and so no credit check so it won’t affect credit ratings (if those things bother you as I know credit ratings don’t bother some people)

Did you ever figure out (/see on your report) whether Santander did a credit check or added it as a credit account to your reports?

Thinking of doing a switch but need a new donor account, and if they’re going to do a credit check/add a new credit account, I may as well open a full current account.

I opened a ThinkMoney current account for this purpose as they are part of the CASS (Current Account Switching Scheme) but do not perform credit checks when opening a basic bank account.