Halifax had the fewest FCA complaints of major UK banks at 1.8 per 1,000 accounts (2025-01-01 to 2025-06-30) — as of 28 June 2026. Highest: Barclays (7.8 per 1,000).
Lower is better. FCA data — banking & credit products. Reporting period: 2025-01-01 to 2025-06-30.
| # | Bank | Per 1,000 accounts | Upheld % | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Halifax | 1.8 | 0% | Low |
| 2 | Lloyds | 2.1 | 0% | Low |
| 3 | Santander | 2.3 | 0% | Low |
| 4 | Co-op | 2.6 | 1% | Low |
| 5 | HSBC | 3.0 | 0% | Low |
| 6 | TSB | 3.1 | 0% | Average |
| 7 | Barclays | 7.8 | 0% | High |
Source: FCA firm-level complaints data — banking & credit products. View on FCA. Machine-readable JSON.
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The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) requires UK banks and financial firms to publish the number of complaints they receive each half-year. The data covers complaints opened, closed, and upheld, as well as a complaints-per-1,000-accounts rate which makes it possible to compare firms of different sizes fairly.
The FCA calculates complaints per 1,000 accounts by dividing the total number of complaints opened in the period by the firm's relevant account base, then multiplying by 1,000. A rate of 2.5 means 2.5 complaints for every 1,000 accounts held — roughly 1 in 400 customers. Rates below 3 are considered low; rates above 6 are high.
This varies each reporting period. Monzo, First Direct, and Starling Bank typically score among the lowest complaint rates in FCA data, reflecting their digital-first customer service models. Legacy banks with large branch networks tend to score higher. See the ranked table above for the latest figures.
Not necessarily. A higher volume of complaints can sometimes reflect a larger or more active customer base, or a bank that makes it easier to complain (which is actually a good thing). The upheld percentage matters too — a bank that upholds 80% of complaints is a worse sign than one that upholds 20%. Review both metrics when comparing.
The FCA publishes firm-level complaints data twice a year, covering H1 (January–June) and H2 (July–December). StoozeMax updates this page each time new FCA data is released, usually 3–4 months after the reporting period ends.
Also see: Rate-lag tracker · All banks