🏆 1. Nationwide FlexDirect Current Account — Best for High In‑Credit Interest & Intro Perks
Interest: Up to 5% AER on balances up to £1,500 for the first 12 months. �
Wise
Welcome Bonus: Around £175 when you switch using CASS. �
MoneySavingExpert.com
Cashback: Some cashback on debit card spending for the first year. �
MoneySavingExpert.com
Key Requirements: Typically a monthly pay‑in requirement (e.g., £1,000). �
Wise
Why it’s great: Excellent introductory interest rate makes this one of the best accounts if you want to earn on money sitting in your current account. �
Forbes
📌 Best for: People who want to grow their current account balance with one of the highest introductory rates.
💳 2. Santander Edge Current Account — Best for Cashback on Bills & Everyday Spending
Cashback: Up to £10 on household bills + £10 on supermarket/travel spending each month (subject to minimum pay‑in and direct debits). �
Moneyzine
Interest on Linked Savings: Up to 7% AER (with introductory rates) on linked savings balances. �
Moneyzine
Monthly Fee: Around £3. �
Moneyzine
Extra Perks: Often includes fee‑free foreign card spending. �
MoneySavingExpert.com
📌 Best for: Those who pay regular household bills and want monthly cashback rewards.
🌟 3. Starling Bank Current Account — Best All‑Around Modern Account
Interest: Competitive interest (historically up to ~3.25% AER on balances up to £5,000 in some offers, though terms change). �
CompareBanks™
No Monthly Fee: £0. �
finder.com
Perks: Great digital app, budgeting tools, fee‑free spending abroad, and strong customer satisfaction. �
finder.com
Protection: FSCS protects deposits up to £120,000. �
CompareBanks™
📌 Best for: Digital‑first users who want flexible banking with travel benefits and an easy app.
💼 4. Monzo Personal Current Account — Best for App Features & Budgeting Tools
Fees: £0 monthly fee. �
finder.com
Features: Automatic spending categories, savings pots, bill splitting, and transaction insights. �
finder.com
Perks: Newer cashback features introduced alongside strong budgeting tools. �
finder.com
📌 Best for: People who want excellent money management tools alongside everyday banking.
💰 5. Club Lloyds Current Account — Best for Cashback + Lifestyle Perks
Interest: Up to 3% AER on balances £4,000–£5,000 and 1.5% up to £4,000. �
Forbes
Cashback: Up to 15% cashback at selected retailers via offer portals. �
Wise
Benefits: Choose a lifestyle benefit each year, e.g., cinema tickets, digital subscriptions, or coffee deals. �
Forbes
Monthly Fee: Often a small fee (conditions may waive it). �
Forbes
📌 Best for: People who want rewards and perks beyond just interest and cashback.
💼 6. Barclays Blue Rewards / Reward Accounts — Cashback & Regular Bonuses
Cashback: Monthly bonuses (often up to £15 or more, depending on product mix). �
MoneySavingExpert.com
Fees: Around £3–£5/month. �
MoneySavingExpert.com
Perks: Some accounts offer tiered rewards with mortgages, savings, and insurance. �
MoneySavingExpert.com
📌 Best for: Customers who use multiple Barclays products and want consistent monthly rewards.
🏆 Other Worthy Mentions
🔹 TSB Spend & Save Current Account
Earn interest on savings pots linked to your current account, plus early cashback offers for meeting payment criteria. �
Wise
🔹 Kroo Current Account
Offers competitive interest on larger balances (up to £500,000) and no monthly fees, making it ideal for customers who keep higher balances. �
Wise
💡 Extra Tips for Choosing the Best Current Account
✔ Look at your pay‑in requirements – many accounts need a minimum monthly deposit to unlock interest or rewards. �
✔ Check fees vs benefits – sometimes paying a small monthly fee is worth the perks you get in return. �
✔ Consider switching bonuses – some accounts offer cash when you switch using the Current Account Switch Service (CASS). �
✔ FSCS protection: All UK current accounts are FSCS protected up to £120,000 per person per bank. �
MoneySavingExpert.com
Wise
MoneySavingExpert.com
CompareBanks™
📌 Quick Summary: Best UK Current Accounts 2026
Account
Best For
Key Feature
Nationwide FlexDirect
High interest & cashback
Up to 5% AER on balances
Santander Edge
Cashback on bills & groceries
1% cashback + savings interest
Starling Bank
Digital experience
Fee‑free abroad & app tools
Monzo
App & budgeting tools
Automatic categorisation
Club Lloyds
Lifestyle rewards
Cashback + perks
Barclays Blue Rewards
Monthly bonuses