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It's a brilliant week to switch bank. There's a wealth of free cash bonuses, so almost everyone will count as a 'new customer' somewhere. Better still, there's the first bank switch deal with over £200 upfront cash since the start of the year - and surprisingly, it's from HSBC, which rarely does this (except for higher earners). Below we'll cover...

- Top free cash switching deals, plus high earners' premier deals.
- FAQs - including can I multi-switch to make £1,000s?
- Overdrafts are high-cost debt - slash it to 0%.

Switching is usually easy & hassle-free: To get the bonuses, you need to use the bank's seven-working-day switch service (so it takes roughly 10 days in reality). It will close your old account for you, move your money over, and shift all Direct Debits & standing orders. All payments to the old account are auto-forwarded too. The vast majority of people find it a piece of cake, though you will need to pass a not-too-harsh credit check.

A crucial measure of bank profitability is the 'cross-sell' ratio, ie, how many different products they can sell you. Banks believe if they have your current account, it's easier to sell you other things, which is why so many are willing to (legally) bribe you to switch to them right now.

We say grab the cash if it works for you, but don't let it buy your loyalty. You needn't stick with the bank for other products, so bag yourself the best credit card, loan, savings, mortgage and more from across the market. However, don't let that stop you getting paid for your custom.

Free cash for new switchers You usually need to switch 2+ Direct Debits. Full info: Top bank accounts
HSBC Bank Account* Min pay-in: A total of £2,000 within 60 days (can be in dribs & drabs). None needed after. Fee-free? Yes. Can joint accounts switch & get bonus? No.	Rare new top cash offer FREE £220 on fuss-free account. This is the biggest free upfront cash we've seen for a while, and HSBC rarely does this under its own brand. You need to spend £500 on the debit card in the first 60 days to get the free cash - not a hassle for most, just do some of your normal spending on it. There's also a (beatable) 5% regular saver on up to £250/mth for a year. Eligibility improved: Normally its sister bank, First Direct - which does switch deals more often - says you can't get the bonus if you've banked with it before. This time, even if you've had switch cash from HSBC or First Direct, as long as it was before 2023 and you're no longer a customer - you can get this deal. See full HSBC eligibility & review.
First Direct 1st Account* Min pay-in: A total of £1,000 going in (can be in dribs & drabs) within 45 days. None needed after. Fee-free? Yes. Can joint accounts switch & get bonus? Yes.	Top SERVICE & more FREE £200, 7% regular saver, 0% overdraft, top debit card overseas. The ongoing £175 free cash is still boosted by an extra £25, bringing the total to £200. Other perks include: - 92% 'great' service (top in most polls we've done). - Linked 1yr 7% fixed saver for up to £300/mth. - Most get an ongoing £250 interest-free overdraft. - Top debit card for spending overseas with near-perfect exchange rates. Eligibility: Unlike sister bank HSBC above, here you must be a totally new customer and can't have ever had ANY First Direct product or opened an HSBC current account since Jan 2018. See full First Direct eligibility & review.
Barclays Bank Account* Min pay-in: A total of £2,000 going in (can be in dribs & drabs) within 30 days. None needed after. Fee-free? Yes. Can joint accounts switch & get bonus? No.	FREE £200 Optional half-price Apple TV+. Simply switch and, as long as you meet the initial monthly pay-in, you get £200. You can also opt for Barclays Blue Rewards for £5/mth (must then pay in £800+/mth into the account & register for digital banking) to get free Apple TV subscription (normally £10/mth). *Eligibility:* You can't have received a previous Barclays switch bonus and can't have held a Barclays current account on or before 9 June 26. See full Barclays eligibility & review.