Spring is historically one of the best times for bank switch bonuses — banks push hard for new customers in Q2. Here's what's available right now and what we're expecting to drop soon.
How to Use This Guide
Check the live offers page for real-time data — it's updated daily from bank websites. This blog post adds context: which deals are genuinely worth your time, what the eligibility quirks are, and how to sequence your switches for maximum earnings.
New to switching? Start with our Bank Switching Masterclass for the full strategy.
What's Available Right Now
We track every active UK bank switch bonus on our offers page. Rather than listing amounts here (which change frequently), let's focus on the strategy that maximises your earnings regardless of which specific offers are live.
The April 2026 Strategy
1. Check Your Eligibility First
Before switching, you need to know:
- Which banks you've switched from/to recently — cooling-off periods mean you can't switch back too soon
- Which banking groups count as the same bank — Lloyds, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland are all Lloyds Banking Group
- Whether you need a sole or joint account — some offers are sole-only
Use our eligibility checker to see which offers you qualify for right now.
2. Prioritise by Value, Not Name
The highest cash bonus isn't always the best deal. Consider:
- Cash bonus amount — the headline number
- Minimum requirements — some need higher minimum deposits or more direct debits
- Account fees — a £175 bonus on a £15/month fee account costs you £180/year if you don't switch away quickly
- Cooling-off period — shorter cooling-off means you can come back sooner
- Additional perks — some accounts offer cashback on bills, linked regular savers, or travel insurance
3. Stack Multiple Switches
The most profitable approach is to switch in sequence:
- Switch your "sacrificial" account to the bank offering the best bonus
- Open a new basic account elsewhere (this becomes your next sacrificial account)
- Wait for the bonus to pay (usually 30-60 days after meeting requirements)
- Meet the requirements (usually 2 direct debits + a deposit within 60 days)
- Repeat when the next good offer appears
With 8-12 offers typically available, you can do 3-4 switches per quarter.
4. Don't Forget the Extras
While you're switching, take advantage of:
- Linked regular savers — many banks offer high-rate regular savers to current account holders
- Cashback on bills — some accounts give 1-2% back on direct debits
- In-credit interest — a few accounts pay meaningful interest on balances
These secondary benefits can add £50-100 per switch on top of the bonus itself.
Trends We're Seeing
Bonus amounts are holding steady
Despite base rate changes, UK banks continue to compete aggressively for current account customers. The average switch bonus has held around £100-175 throughout 2025 and into 2026.
More banks are offering regular savers
Several banks have launched or refreshed regular saver products linked to their current accounts. If a switch bonus also unlocks a 6-7% regular saver, that's a significant additional benefit.
Cooling-off periods are getting shorter
Some banks have reduced cooling-off periods from 36 months to 24 or even 12 months. This is great news for serial switchers — you cycle through banks faster.
Digital-only banks are joining in
Challenger banks are increasingly offering switch bonuses through CASS, giving you more options in the rotation.
What to Watch For in April
- Easter promotions — banks sometimes run limited-time enhanced bonuses around bank holidays
- End-of-quarter pushes — banks need to hit customer acquisition targets, so late March/early April can see bumped offers
- New entrants — watch for new switch bonuses from banks that haven't offered them recently
We'll update the offers page immediately when new deals drop. Sign up for alerts to get notified.
Your April Action Plan
- This week: Check your eligibility and identify your top 2 offers
- Switch #1: Start your best available switch today
- Set up direct debits: 2-3 cheap ones to meet requirements (guide)
- Open a replacement "sacrificial" account: Ready for your next switch
- Log it in StoozeMax: Track everything, get reminders
Don't overthink it. The best switch is the one you actually do. Even one switch this month is £100-175 for 15 minutes of work.
Related reading: Bank Switching Masterclass | How Much Can You Earn Per Year? | Does Switching Hurt Your Credit Score?