Current Account

A standard no-fee current account with the opportunity to opt in to earn rewards for you or a charity, and the option to apply for an overdraft. Manage your money in the usual ways including online banking and our mobile app.

Current account features

  • Opt into Everyday Rewards and meet the monthly criteria. We could then reward you, or a charity on your behalf, every month.
  • Available as a joint account.
  • You can switch your account to us in just seven working days - we'll cover you if anything goes wrong.
  • You can apply for an overdraft as part of your account application, or once your account is opened. Read our overdraft information whether you're intending to apply for one or not.
  • Manage your money online and on mobile.
  • Use Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Wallet.
  • Each account holder gets their own PVC-free contactless debit card.
  • Have access to exclusive savings accounts.

Before you apply...

To apply you must be:

  • Aged 16 or over, or 18 or over when requesting the optional overdraft
  • A UK resident.

When considering applying for an overdraft remember you need to:

Approval for the overdraft is based on a credit check and an assessment of your personal circumstances. You'll be charged debit interest on your overdraft balance.

Overdrafts

Overdrafts are intended for short term borrowing and not suitable for long term borrowing.

An arranged overdraft is a set amount you've agreed with us in advance. You will be charged debit interest when you use your arranged overdraft.

Make sure you've read our overdrafts information whether you're intending to apply for one or not, so you know about arranged and unarranged overdrafts.

An arranged overdraft is a set amount you've agreed with us in advance. You will be charged debit interest when you use your arranged overdraft.

Check your eligibility for an overdraft

You can check if you are likely to get accepted for an overdraft using our eligibility checker.

Calculate how much an overdraft will cost

Calculate the cost of an overdraft based on how you might use it with our overdraft calculator.

Overdrafts are intended for short term borrowing and not suitable for long term borrowing.

If you haven't arranged an overdraft

You'll go into an unarranged overdraft if you go over your arranged limit or your account balance falls below £0 without an arranged overdraft in place. You will be charged debit interest for going into an unarranged overdraft.

Your payments might be refused if you try to go overdrawn without having arranged an overdraft.

How overdrafts affect your credit reference file

Any type of borrowing shows on your credit file. However, an unarranged overdraft shows as arrears which can negatively impact your credit file and may make it harder for you to obtain credit in the future.

Charges

You will be charged debit interest when you enter into an arranged and/or unarranged overdraft at an annual interest rate of 35.9%.

How you can manage your overdraft

Change your overdraft limit

You can find out more about our overdrafts, including how to apply for a new limit, or change an overdraft limit you already have, by visiting our overdrafts page. You must make regular payments into your account to reduce the amount you owe.

If you already have an arranged overdraft limit with us, which you'd like to remove, you can do this by contacting us.

Text alerts when you go into your overdraft

To help manage your money and avoid/minimise debit interest you might pay, we send overdraft text alerts if you go into or you're about to go into an arranged or unarranged overdraft. We will also send alerts if you have payments due that may not be paid.

As long as we have your mobile number, you'll be automatically opted in for overdraft text alerts. You can opt out of arranged and/or unarranged overdraft alerts at any time by contacting us.

More information on overdraft text alerts

To apply for an overdraft you need to be:

  • 18 or over
  • A UK resident
  • Employed, self-employed, retired or medically retired.

Approval is based on a credit check, an assessment of your personal circumstances and is subject to status.

If you wish to switch an account to us and an overdraft forms part of your decision to do so, please wait for confirmation of your overdraft before making an application to switch.

Find out more about our overdrafts

Representative example

£1,200 credit limit

35.9% annual interest rate

35.9% representative APR variable

How does our overdraft compare?

The representative APR provided can enable you to compare the costs across different products and providers.

How much does my overdraft cost in pounds and pence?

As an example, the interest cost of borrowing £500 is

7 days: £2.98

30 days: £12.76

60 days: £25.66

This is based on borrowing £500 on the first day of our charging period and assumes this overdrawn balance remains until it is repaid at the end of 7, 30 or 60 days. This example does not include any interest-free amounts that are provided on some accounts.

We have a £60 cap on interest for any type of overdraft (arranged overdraft or unarranged overdraft) in one charging period. This is the maximum you will ever pay for using an overdraft per charging period.

The monthly cap refers to the charges applied in a charging period not a calendar month. Please refer to the Account Charges Leaflet (PDF) for details of the charging periods.

Below is a standard definition to allow you to compare unarranged overdraft charges across different providers. Fees are included in the comparison, but we choose not to charge you fees for payments where you have a lack of funds.

Each current account will set a monthly maximum charge for:

a) Going overdrawn when you have not arranged an overdraft.

b) Going over or past your arranged overdraft limit (if you have one).

This cap covers any:

a) Interest and fees for going over or past your arranged overdraft limit.

b) Fees for each payment your bank allows despite lack of funds.

c) Fees for each payment your bank refuses due to lack of funds.

Account fees

There's no monthly fee for this account.

Debit interest

You'll be charged debit interest at an annual interest rate of 35.9% on the amount you're overdrawn by.

Other charges

Other charges as part of this account may include:

  • Foreign transaction services, such as using your debit card abroad
  • Electronic payments, such as CHAPS
  • Other services, such as copies of your statement.

Switching

If you have an active current account with a different bank, you can apply to switch to us whenever you’re ready.

With our simple switching process, we’ll move all your Direct Debits, standing orders and bill payments to your new account with us. Once you've applied to switch, you don't need to do anything else as we take care of the rest.

You can choose what date you’d like to complete the switch and close your old account. Once the switch has started, it takes just 7 working days to complete. And you'll be covered by the Current Account Switch Guarantee, so you don't need to worry about missing payments.

Learn more about switching

Current Account Switch Guarantee Logo

Everyday Rewards

Opt-in at no extra cost and meet the criteria to get rewards of up to £2.20 a month for making everyday use of your current account.

Find out more about Everyday Rewards

Over 2 million customers and counting - here’s what they have to say

"I've been banking with the Co-op for over 10yrs now. The staff have always been very helpful, and the app is great. It's also the only bank where you don't have to worry where your money is being invested."

Want access to exclusive savings accounts?

If you sign up to a current account with us, you'll get access to some exclusive savings accounts too.

If these accounts aren't right for you, or you want to save without having a current account with us, we have plenty of other accounts available.

Criminals recruit people to help them hide their criminal profits

Never open a bank account in your name for someone else to use, or agree to move money through your account for someone else – even if they offer you money in return. If you do this, you could be committing a crime with serious consequences.

Learn more

Ready to apply?

It will take around 10 minutes to complete this application. You can save your progress and come back at any time.

You must read and save the Important documents below for future reference.

Apply in branch

If you’d rather not apply online, you also have the option to apply in one of our branches.

Find your nearest branch

If you've applied as part of the Refer a Friend Offer, please read the full terms & conditions.

Important documents

Please read these documents and save for future reference:

Financial Services Compensation Scheme

Your eligible deposits held by a UK establishment of The Co-operative Bank plc are protected up to a total of £85,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, the UK's deposit guarantee scheme. This limit is applied to the total of any deposits you have with the following: The Co-operative Bank, Britannia and smile. Any total deposits you hold above the limit between these brands are unlikely to be covered.

Please read further information on the FSCS scheme here or visit their website.

Not found what you're looking for?

Contact our support team