BankingGeek Guides

Last updated: 7. September 2026 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 … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 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 … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 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 … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 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 … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 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 … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 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, … Read more

Last updated: 1. September 2026 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 … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 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 … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 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, … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 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 … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 Revolut’s Standard account is free to open and free to use for most everyday spending. The fees that catch people out sit in the details: ATM limits, weekend currency markups, and what happens once you go over your monthly allowance. This guide breaks down exactly what you pay on every … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 A joint account is a bank account shared by two people. Each holder gets equal access to the money and equal responsibility for what happens in it. Not every joint account works the same way, though. A traditional high-street joint account and an app-based one from a digital bank suit … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 The best UK current accounts in 2026 charge nothing for everyday banking. Monzo, Starling, Chase, Revolut, First Direct and Nationwide’s FlexAccount all come with no monthly fee. But the right one for you depends less on which single account is “best” and more on which type fits how you actually … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 The best business bank accounts in the UK charge nothing for everyday banking in 2026. Starling, Mettle and HSBC’s Small Business Account never charge a monthly fee at all. Limited companies must open one: the Companies Act obliges you to keep company money separate from your own. Sole traders face … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 If you are searching for a “Post Office bank account,” the short answer is that the Post Office no longer offers its own branded current account. It stopped taking new current account customers back in 2019, and the account was fully wound down by 2022. What the Post Office does … Read more

Last updated: 7. August 2026

Last updated: 3. August 2026

Last updated: 6. September 2026 The ISA allowance for the 2026/27 tax year is £20,000, and you can split it across a Cash ISA, Stocks & Shares ISA, Innovative Finance ISA and Lifetime ISA however you like. Below, we cover how the allowance actually works this year, the separate Lifetime and Junior ISA limits, a … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 What the Santander Edge Up Current Account is — and how it sits above Edge and Everyday Santander runs three current accounts side by side in the UK. There is the fee-free Everyday account, the £3-a-month Edge account, and the Edge Up account reviewed here at £5 a month. Edge … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 A current account is the bank account most people in the UK use for everyday money. It’s the account your salary lands in, the account your rent and bills come out of, and the account tied to the debit card in your wallet. Unlike a savings account, it isn’t built … Read more

Last updated: 11. July 2026 Compare the best UK children’s savings accounts of 2026, including Junior ISAs and regular savers, with current AER rates and age eligibility.

Last updated: 10. July 2026 We compared the best UK joint savings accounts so two named holders can save together, with FSCS protection doubled to £240,000.

Last updated: 6. September 2026 What is the Chase Saver Account? Chase is the UK digital banking arm of JPMorgan Chase, and the Saver Account is its easy access savings product. Unlike most standalone savings accounts, the Chase Saver is not something you can sign up for on its own. You first need a Chase … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 What the NatWest Fixed Term Savings Account is, and who it suits The Fixed Term Savings Account is NatWest’s lock-in savings product. You deposit a lump sum, choose a term of one or two years, and get a guaranteed rate that will not move for the life of the term, … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 Does Monzo actually have a savings account? Not in the traditional sense. Monzo does not offer a separate, standalone savings account the way a building society or a challenger bank like Chase might. Instead, savings live inside the free Monzo personal current account as “Pots” — ring-fenced sections of your … Read more

Last updated: 3. July 2026 We compared the best business savings accounts in the UK so your company’s surplus cash earns interest safely.

Last updated: 6. September 2026 Starling Bank is one of the most popular business bank accounts in the UK, with more than 500,000 businesses banking with them. Founded in 2014 as the UK’s first fully licensed digital bank, Starling offers a free GBP business current account with unlimited UK payments, FSCS protection and a strong … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 Opening a business bank account in the UK is one of the first practical steps you will take when setting up a company or going self-employed. The process is straightforward, but the right choice of account and provider depends on your business structure, how you handle money, and whether you … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 Running your business finances through a personal current account is not just bad practice when you operate as a limited company; it is actively dangerous. A limited company is a separate legal entity under UK law. Mix the company’s money with your own and you create VAT record-keeping problems, muddle … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 Opening a dedicated business bank account is one of the most practical steps a sole trader can take. It separates your personal and business finances, makes bookkeeping faster, and removes the annual headache of sifting through personal transactions to calculate your tax liability. In the UK, sole traders are not … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 Paying a monthly fee for a business bank account is optional. A growing number of UK banks and fintechs now offer business current accounts with no monthly charge, no minimum balance, and free UK transfers on the standard tier. But “free” covers a wide range of products. Starling and Monzo … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 Revolut has spent years operating in a regulatory grey area, giving millions of British customers a glimpse of what modern banking could look like without ever being a proper bank. That changed in March 2026, when Revolut received a full UK banking licence through Revolut Bank UK Ltd, bringing with … Read more

Starling Bank review 2026: zero-fee travel card, free business banking with Xero/QuickBooks, 15% EAR overdraft. Full fee breakdown, savings rates, and verdict for UK readers.

Last updated: 6. September 2026 Monzo earns our top 5/5 rating for 2026, making it one of the best free current accounts available in the UK. Whether you are looking for a smarter way to manage your day-to-day spending, a fee-free card for travel, or a flexible savings tool, Monzo delivers across the board. In … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 Switching your current account in the UK has never been simpler. Thanks to the Current Account Switch Service (CASS), your new bank handles virtually everything: it moves your direct debits, standing orders, balance, and incoming payments (including your salary) across within seven working days, then closes your old account. The … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 We compared the top student bank accounts available in the UK, including digital banks like Monzo, Starling, Chase, and Revolut alongside traditional names like Nationwide and first direct. The table above shows our full ratings. Below you will find our detailed picks and guidance on what to look for as … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 The best bank account in the UK right now is either Monzo, Starling or Chase – three app-based current accounts that charge no monthly fee, offer full FSCS protection up to £85,000, and come with genuinely useful everyday features. Monzo and Starling are the standout choices for most people, thanks … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 The best current account switching bonus available right now is £220 from HSBC, making it the most lucrative offer on the market in June 2026. Across the major high street banks, eight separate deals are live, offering between £175 and £220 in cash simply for moving your current account using … Read more

Last updated: 13. June 2026 PayPal is useful for online checkouts and splitting a bill by link, but it is not a current account. You get no sort code that works for salary payments, no physical card built for everyday spending, and the fee structure can catch you out on currency conversion. Many people start … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 Marcus by Goldman Sachs built its reputation on a straightforward easy-access savings account with a competitive rate and no fees. For many UK savers it was the obvious first step away from the high-street banks. Rates shift, though, and what made Marcus compelling in one year can look less impressive … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 Wise Business and Revolut Business are the two dominant multi-currency accounts for UK companies that trade or pay internationally. Wise is built around transparent, mid-market-rate currency conversion across 40-plus currencies, with local account details in several markets and a clear fee structure. Revolut Business is a broader financial platform with … Read more

Last updated: 13. June 2026 Tide and Starling are two of the UK’s most popular digital business accounts, but they serve quite different needs. Tide is an e-money platform built for speed and flexibility, with a free entry tier, per-transaction pricing, and a growing suite of tools for invoicing and expenses. Starling is a fully … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 Mettle and Tide are two of the most popular app-only business bank accounts for UK sole traders and small businesses. Mettle, backed by NatWest, offers a completely free account with built-in invoicing and FreeAgent integration. Tide started as a simple business account and has grown into a platform with multiple … Read more

Last updated: 13. June 2026 Chase and Revolut are two of the most talked-about digital current accounts in the UK, but they are built around very different ideas of what a bank account should do. Chase, backed by JPMorgan Chase, launched in the UK with a sharp focus on cashback rewards and a competitive linked … Read more

Last updated: 13. June 2026 Wise and Monzo are two of the most popular app-based financial accounts in the UK, but they serve quite different purposes. Wise is a multi-currency account built for people who regularly send, receive or spend money across borders, holding over 40 currencies at the mid-market rate. Monzo is a fully … Read more

Last updated: 13. June 2026 Chase UK and Monzo are two of the most popular app-only current accounts in Britain, and on paper they look almost identical: both are free, both are fully licensed banks with FSCS protection up to £85,000, and both work entirely through a smartphone. The difference is in what each does … Read more

Last updated: 14. June 2026 Revolut and Wise are two of the biggest names in UK fintech, but they serve subtly different needs. Revolut is a full-service current account with a UK banking licence, offering budgeting tools, savings pots, investments and multi-currency spending in 150+ currencies. Wise is a specialist money account built around holding … Read more

Last updated: 6. September 2026 Starling Bank and Chase UK are two of the most talked-about app-only current accounts in Britain right now. Starling is a fully licensed UK bank that launched in 2017, known for fee-free spending abroad, solid in-credit interest, and consistently strong customer satisfaction scores. Chase UK is the retail banking arm … Read more

Last updated: 13. June 2026 Monzo and Chase are two of the most popular app-only current accounts in the UK, but they are built around very different ideas. Monzo has spent years perfecting budgeting tools, savings pots and a paid-tier ecosystem, earning a loyal following among people who want to understand and control their money. … Read more

Last updated: 13. June 2026 Revolut and Starling are two of the biggest names in UK digital banking, but they are built for quite different people. Revolut started as a travel money card and has grown into a feature-heavy fintech platform covering budgeting, crypto, stock trading and multi-currency accounts. Starling, on the other hand, launched … Read more