Current Account
For people who want a no-fee bank account that offers optional rewards with the original ethical bank.
Manage your money online, on mobile and in branch, pay bills, use contactless and more. You also have the option to apply for an overdraft.
Features
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Opt into Everyday Rewards and meet the monthly criteria. We could then reward you, or a charity on your behalf, every month.
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Available as a joint account.
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You can switch your account to us in just seven working days - we'll cover you if anything goes wrong.
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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.
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Manage your money online and on mobile.
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Use Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay.
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Each account holder gets their own PVC-free contactless debit card.
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.
How our overdrafts work
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.
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%.
More information on account charges
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
£1200 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.
You can use our calculator to work out how much your anticipated arranged overdraft borrowing would cost over different periods of time.
Switching
When using the Current Account Switch Service to switch your current account from another bank, all your direct debits, standing orders, bills and payments will move to your new account with us. Once you've applied to switch, you don't need to do anything else.
Switching takes 7 working days. You're covered by the Switch Guarantee, so you don't need to worry about missing payments.
Charges
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.
How we limit these overdraft charges
We have a £60 cap on interest for any type of overdraft (arranged overdraft or unarranged overdraft) in one charging period. This means the maximum you will ever pay for using an overdraft per charging period is £60.
The monthly cap refers to the charges applied in a charging period, not a calendar month. Please refer to the Account Charges leaflet 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:
- Going overdrawn when you have not arranged an overdraft.
- Going over your or past your arranged overdraft limit (if you have one).
- This cap covers any:
- Interest and fees for going over or past your arranged overdraft limit.
- Fees for each payment your bank allows despite lack of funds.
- Fees for each payment your bank refuses due to lack of funds.
Other charges
There are other charges that relate to this account.
- Foreign transaction services, such as using your debit card abroad.
- Electronic payments, such as CHAPS.
- Other services, such as copies of your statement.
Applying as part of the Refer a Friend Offer? Click here to read the full Terms & Conditions before applying.
Important documents
Download Account charges (PDF)
Download Terms and conditions (PDF)
Download Our lending commitments and what we ask of you (PDF)
Download How we use your personal information (PDF)
Download Overdraft pre-contract information (PDF)
Download Fee Information Document (PDF)
Download Financial Services Compensation Scheme Information Sheet and Exclusion List (PDF)
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 click here for further information or visit www.fscs.org.uk
Not found what you're looking for?
Contact our support team