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Switching to Barclays

Options to switch

How to apply

The Current Account Switch Service lets you move your account from your bank or building society to us in a simple, reliable and hassle-free way.

  • Free digital banking for your first 12 months1

  • Free invoicing and account software from FreshBooks2, worth more than £260 per year

  • A UK-based team of business managers to help you manage and grow your business

  • Specialist advice from our international team of high-growth and entrepreneurial experts

  • Local and industry teams for larger, more complex businesses

The Current Account Switch Service

This is a free service that lets you switch a current account from one participating bank or building society to another in seven working days. It’s simple and stress-free, and the full switch option is backed by the Current Account Switch Guarantee [PDF, 40 KB].

As part of the full switch, we transfer all your payment orders in and out (like salary and Direct Debits) to your new account with us. We’ll also set up a payment redirection for any credits or debits from your old account for a minimum of three years.

We’ll contact you before your switch date if there are any issues during the process. We’ll refund any interest (paid or lost) and charges incurred on either your old or new current accounts, as soon as we’re told, if anything goes wrong.

Switching to Barclays [PDF, 2.1MB]

How does it work?

Open a current account with us, if you don’t already have one

Give us a few details and choose a full or partial switch

We set it all up and tell you when it’s done

Full or partial switch?

Full switch

We'll move all your regular incoming and outgoing payments, like Direct Debits, standing orders, bills and your salary, to your new account with us

We'll close your old account

Any payment made to your old account will be redirected for three years (or longer if required)

Covered by the Current Account Switch Agreement and Guarantee. Please refer to the Current Account Switch Agreement and Guarantee for further details

 

Partial switch

We’ll ask your old bank for a list of outgoing payments for the account you're switching from

You select those you want us to move to your new account with us

Your old account open stays open

We won't be able to switch any one-off, future-dated payments

You'll need to arrange the transfer of any credit payments (like your salary) to the new account

It takes longer than seven working days and isn't covered by the Current Account Switch Guarantee [PDF, 40 KB]

 

Full-switch timetable

Fully switching your account takes just seven working days through a Barclays Business Manager. During your appointment, we’ll agree a switch date with you before you sign the agreement.

Day 1 to 2

  • We’ll contact your old bank and ask for details of any regular payments
  • Your old bank will send us details of all your regular payments

Day 3 to 5

  • We’ll write to you confirming the switch has been accepted and which payments we’ll be setting up
  • We’ll set your payments up on your new account, ready for your switch date
  • We’ll arrange for card payments to be redirected, if applicable
  • We’ll give your new account details to all the companies you have Direct Debits with, ready for your switch date

Day 6

  • We’ll contact your old bank and ask to transfer any credit balance.

 

Day 7

  • Any credit balance will be transferred to your new account
  • All payments on your old account will be cancelled
  • Your old account will be closed
  • We’ll contact you to confirm that the switch has completed

Any payments made to your old account after your switch day will be redirected to your new account for a minimum of three years.

Any regular payments due to be paid from your old account after your switch day will be taken from your new account.

How to apply

Woman looking at phone

Apply in the Barclays app

You can start your application for a business bank account in the app3. If you don’t already have it, you’ll need to register first – you must be over 18 and a UK resident.

Established businesses turning over more than £400k

If you’ve been trading for more than a year, and you turned over more than £400k in the last 12 months, our Business Development Managers can help you switch.