Index  ›  finance  ›  Express
finance · Express ↗

Every UK bank offering £200 to customers - eligibility details

Express Published Aug 19, 2026 Reviewed Aug 20, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors
Every UK bank offering £200 to customers - eligibility details
HSBC offers a £220 cash bonus to new customers who meet its eligibility criteria.
220 GBP · HSBC bonus
HSBC requires new customers to deposit £2,000 and spend £500 within 60 days of opening the account to qualify for the bonus.
2000 GBP · HSBC deposit requirement500 GBP · HSBC spend requirement
HSBC requires that customers are not already HSBC or First Direct customers and have not held an HSBC or First Direct current account since January 2023 to qualify for the bonus.
Barclays offers a £200 bonus to customers who open a sole account via the Barclays app, pay in at least £2,000 within 30 days, and set up at least two Direct Debits by August 27.
2000 GBP · Barclays deposit requirement2 · Barclays direct debits requirement
Barclays offers a £5‑a‑month Reward programme that includes half‑price Apple TV access.
5 GBP · Barclays reward programme5 GBP · Barclays Apple TV discount
Barclays requires customers to have had no previous Barclays switch bonus or a current account with the brand on or before June 9 to qualify for the £200 bonus.
NatWest offers a £200 switch bonus to customers who pay in at least £1,250 a month, spend regularly with at least two direct debits, use the mobile app, and keep a £2 monthly fee, earning £5 cashback each month, totaling £36 a year.
2 GBP · NatWest monthly fee1250 GBP · NatWest monthly deposit2 · NatWest direct debits requirement5 GBP · NatWest monthly cashback36 GBP · NatWest yearly cashback
NatWest allows joint accounts to claim the £200 bonus if they have never claimed a bonus from NatWest, RBS or Ulster Bank previously, or held any NatWest account before May 6.
First Direct offers a £175 perk to customers who pay in at least £1,000 from opening, set up at least two direct debits, and make at least five debit card payments.
1000 GBP · First Direct deposit requirement2 · First Direct direct debits requirement5 · First Direct debit card payments requirement
First Direct offers a £25 Amazon voucher to new customers who check emails within 120 days of opening and keep the account open.
25 GBP · First Direct Amazon voucher
First Direct requires customers to have never had any First Direct product before or opened an HSBC current account since January 2018 to qualify for the bonus.
First Direct requires opening a fee‑free 1st Account with a pay‑in of at least £1,000 and setting up at least two direct debits to qualify for the bonus.
1000 GBP · First Direct account deposit requirement2 · First Direct account direct debits requirement

According to a recent round-up by Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert (MSE) team, there are currently four banks that are offering customers willing to switch from their current provider up to £200. All of these offers have strict criteria before anyone gets the payment, and one is going to close its offer very soon.

People could use their existing bank accounts to make the swap - or set up a 'burner account' just for earning switch bonuses. This tactic, recently highlighted by Martin Lewis on Question Time, takes a layer of worry away from people who do not want to mess about with their main account that could be used for paying bills or collecting wages.

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

Bank account holders should be aware that these switches may leave a search on their credit file. Those who have big financial commitments coming up - such as a mortgage application - may wish to hold off on making any big changes until that has cleared.

As of August 19, four banking brands are offering perks worth up to £200 - and we have linked to all the providers below. One of the highest current payouts comes from HSBC with £220 in cash.

The fee-free HSBC Bank Account simply asks that switchers deposit a total of £2,000 and spend at least £500 within 60 days of opening the account. Anyone who is not already an HSBC or First Direct customer and has not held a HSBC or First Direct current account since January 2023, is eligible to claim this bonus.

Two other banks are also offering new customers a £200 offer. The Barclays Bank Account offers a payment for switchers who open a sole account via the Barclays app and pay in at least £2,000 within 30 days, then set up at least two Direct Debits by August 27 (next Thursday).

The Barclays account also offers customers access to the bank's £5-a-month Reward programme. One extra perk of this is half-price Apple TV access (normally £10/month) included in the optional membership.

To earn the Barclays £200, customers must have held no previous Barclays switch bonus or had a current account with the brand "on or before June 9".

The NatWest Reward account is also offering a £200 switch bonus. As an ongoing perk, account holders who keep up with the £2 a month fee and pay in at least £1,250 a month, spend regularly with at least two direct debits and use the mobile app will earn £5 cashback every month (totalling £36 a year when subtracting the monthly fee).

Joint accounts are allowed to claim this bonus, as well as sole holders, provided they have never claimed a bonus from NatWest, RBS or Ulster Bank previously, or held any NatWest account before May 6. The next offer includes a combination of perks totalling £200.

First Direct is offering a £175 perk and a £25 Amazon voucher to account switchers, too. Opening a 1st Account (which is fee-free) requires the cheapest pay-in of at least £1,000 from opening the account, as well as setting up (or transferring over at least two direct debits).

Customers must make at least five debit card payments (no amount specified) to earn the £175 payout. The criteria to claim the cash are that customers have never had any First Direct product before or opened an HSBC current account since January 2018.

For the Amazon voucher, First Direct asks new customers to check their emails to claim their voucher within 120 days of opening the account (which must be kept open during this time).

This article was originally published by Express ↗. citations.press indexes the source-backed facts above and links to the original. Something wrong? Corrections policy · Report an error