Current account applications
Everything you need to know about applying for one of our bank accounts with the original ethical bank.
What you'll need
To apply for our current accounts, you'll need:
- your annual income, including any benefits or pension
- your home addresses over the last 3 years
- your employment details
The accounts are subject to an eligibility criteria. Approval is based on a credit check and an assessment of your personal circumstances.
To help protect you from fraud, we may ask you to prove your identity and address after you apply for a product. Read more about Identification requirements.
How the credit check works
We use an external credit reference agency to help us decide whether to accept your application.
We will take a number of factors into consideration, including your credit history and personal circumstances. We'll use this information, alongside our lending policy, to reach a decision about your application.
Unsuccessful applications
What to do if your application isn't approved
If your application isn't approved, we'll email and write to you to confirm our decision.
Our Cashminder account is suitable for customers who may not qualify for other current accounts, and features our award-winning service.
What this means for your credit score
All applications for bank accounts, whether successful or not, show up on your credit file. If we decline your application for a current account, we'll keep a record of your application and our decision.
A credit search is completed when applying for a current account which can have a negative effect on your credit score. If your application is rejected, you should avoid applying for the same account again.
You can improve your credit score by joining the electoral register and making credit payments on time.
Please note if you are applying for a Cashminder account that we do not conduct this credit check. We do carry out credit reference agency searches to validate your information, however this doesn't leave a footprint visible to other lenders on your credit file.
Application help
We'll contact you within 5 working days, with a decision about your application. If you don't hear from us or need more information, contact us.
Call us on
03457 212 212 (call charges)
Calling us from outside the UK
+44 3457 212 212 (call charges)
Lines open 8am - 6pm, Monday to Friday and 9am - 5pm on Saturdays and Sundays. Call us from the UK and abroad.
The Co-operative Bank reserves the right to decline any application.
Whether we can offer you credit depends on your circumstances and our lending policy. We may decline your application based on your circumstances or our lending policy. We may be able to offer a product that's different to the one advertised.
The Co-operative Bank and smile are trading names of The Co-operative Bank plc, which is a member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
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