How switching your bank account could earn you up to £220

New research suggests staying put is costing British savers billions in missed interest every year. Whether it's loyalty, laziness, or fear it'll be a faff that keeps us from switching, banks are competing to change our mind. More than five banks are currently offering incentives to switch - with the largest bonus £220. Plus, if you've got savings, you could get a better interest rate - and therefore a greater return on your money. Almost two thirds of British savers have been with their bank for more than a decade, new research from Hargreaves Lansdown suggests. Its survey, of 3,000 British adults in August, found 34% have moved their money in the last 12 months. It estimates staying put costs British savers around £12bn in missed interest every year, based on analysis of Financial Conduct Authority data. Simon Belsham, Hargreaves Lansdown's chief client officer, says doing nothing might be easy but "often leads to poor returns".

"Millions leave their cash with the same bank by default and that inertia is worth a fortune to banks, while costing British savers billions of pounds a year. "Savers clearly care about rates: when they move their money, the overwhelming reason is to secure a better return. "What holds them back is the effort of repeatedly finding, opening and juggling different accounts." How to change bank, energy or broadband provider and save money People are "incredibly loyal" to their bank which is why competitors need to offer sweeteners, says Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at AJ Bell. "It's worth it for the banks, because they then have a captive audience, who are more likely to take other products from them." She says the bonus should be the "cherry on top" and people shouldn't overlook other aspects such as the bank's reputation for service, any overdraft charges and what savings rate it offers. Many deals are dependent on conditions such as a minimum amount of money into your account in the first few weeks, or minimum number of direct debits leaving it. This is what lenders will look at when deciding how much money you can borrow for a mortgage. Opening lots of accounts in quick succession could dent your record, but closing an old one may boost your score. "If you're planning to apply for a loan or mortgage in the next 12 months, you may want to wait until the deal is done," says Coles.

If you decide to switch you don't need to worry about individually transferring over every direct debit or bills payment, thanks to the free Current Account Switch Service (CASS). Over 50 UK banks and building societies are signed up. Tell your new bank your chosen switch date (allow seven working days) and your old account details - and behind the scenes it will transfer payments, move the balance, and redirect incoming payments, such as benefits or salaries. Your old bank will close your account. If anything goes wrong you'll be refunded any interest and charges made on either your old or new account. People will need to transfer any recurring card payments, such as subscriptions, manually. Information such as old bank statements won't be accessible after the move so people might want to download these before they switch.

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