Metro Bank earns a 3.5 out of 5 rating from BankingGeek for 2026. It’s a genuinely fee-free, branch-based current account with full FSCS protection and a highly rated mobile app. But the bank itself has been through a real financial crisis, a 2023 rescue by a new controlling shareholder, and a since-scaled-back branch schedule. This … Read more
first direct is a phone and app-based current account provider and a division of HSBC UK Bank plc, and it has spent more than three decades building a reputation most UK banks would kill for. It has no branches, no flashy marketing gimmicks, and a website that still looks like it belongs to a bank … Read more
GoHenry is a prepaid debit card and money app for children aged 6 to 18, built to teach kids to earn, save, spend and invest under parental supervision. Three plans run from £3.99 to £9.99 a month, every plan includes a free Junior Stocks & Shares ISA, and the company is currently in the middle … Read more
Barclays is one of the UK’s oldest and biggest banks, with roots going back more than 330 years and millions of current account customers today. This review covers the costs, the account tiers, and how safe your money is. It also covers a 2026 strategy reversal on the high street that most other reviews miss. … Read more
NatWest is one of the UK’s biggest high-street banks, with around 900 branches and millions of current account customers. This review covers exactly what it costs, what its account tiers offer, how safe your money is (including a 2025 ownership change most reviews miss), and whether it still deserves a place on your shortlist in … Read more
Nationwide is the UK’s largest building society and one of the few major current account providers still owned by its members rather than by shareholders. This review covers what that ownership model actually means for your money, plus the exact rates, fees and safety details behind every major Nationwide product, so you can decide whether … Read more
Halifax earns a 3.0 out of 5 rating from BankingGeek for 2026. It remains a solid, fee-free everyday bank backed by full FSCS protection and a highly-rated mobile app, but two things have changed the calculation this year: Halifax stopped opening accounts for new customers on 1 July 2026, and Lloyds Banking Group has confirmed … Read more
Zopa Bank earns a 4.5 out of 5 rating from BankingGeek for 2026. The current account pays interest most rivals don’t, the savings range is genuinely competitive, and every deposit sits behind full FSCS protection. This review covers every product Zopa offers, from the Biscuit current account and Smart Saver through to personal loans and … Read more
Monzo’s core current account is free, and it stays free for as long as you use it. The paid tiers, Extra, Perks and Max, add extras like higher savings rates, travel insurance and cashback for a fixed monthly fee. This guide breaks down exactly what each plan costs in 2026, what Monzo charges for cash … Read more
Wise does not charge a monthly account fee, and it does not run subscription tiers the way some UK fintechs do. Instead, you pay a small fee each time you send, convert or spend money, and the fee changes depending on the currency and amount involved. This guide breaks down exactly what you pay for … Read more