Current Account

A standard no-fee current account with access to some exclusive savings accounts, 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

  • Available as a joint account

  • You can apply for an overdraft during your account application, or once the account is open.

  • Get access to exclusive savings accounts

  • Each account holder gets their own contactless debit card

  • Manage your money online and in our mobile app

  • You can switch your account to us in just seven business days – we'll cover you if anything goes wrong.

  • You can use Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Wallet.

Before you apply...

To apply you must:

  • be aged 16 or over, or 18 or over when requesting the optional overdraft
  • be a UK resident
  • not currently be 2 or more payments in arrears on any credit agreement
  • not have been declared bankrupt in the last 6 years
  • not have had any County Court Judgments (CCJs) or defaulted on any credit agreement in the last 2 years

When considering applying for an overdraft remember you need to:

Overdraft approval is based on a credit check and assessment of your personal circumstances. You'll be charged debit interest on your overdraft balance.

Get £175 when you switch to us

Get £100 for switching your account to us. Get an extra £25 for up to three months when you actively use your account. Eligibility, criteria and T&Cs apply.

For every four eligible switches, we’ll donate to Refuge. This could help women and their children escaping abuse take their first step to safety.

Switch to us and receive up to £175 | Current Account Switch Guarantee logo | Refuge logo

Overdrafts and charges

  • It is important that you read our overdraft information, whether you're intending to apply for one or not.

How arranged and unarranged overdrafts work

Overdrafts are intended for short-term borrowing and are not suitable for long-term borrowing. You’ll be charged debit interest when you use any overdraft.

An arranged overdraft is a set amount you've agreed with us in advance.

You’ll enter an unarranged overdraft if you go over your arranged overdraft limit, or if your account balance falls below £0 without an arranged overdraft in place. This may have a negative impact on your credit file.

Check your overdraft eligibility

Our eligibility checker tool will not leave a search on your credit history that others can see, so there will be no possible impact on your credit score until you decide you want to go ahead with your application.

Make sure you also:

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.

About unarranged overdrafts

If you go over your arranged overdraft limit (or if your account balance falls below £0 without an arranged overdraft in place), you'll go into an unarranged overdraft. When you’re in an unarranged overdraft:

  • you’ll be charged debit interest

  • further payments might be refused

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.

Overdraft 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% variable.

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.

Change your overdraft limit

You can find out how to apply for a higher or request a lower arranged overdraft limit. You must make regular payments into your account to reduce the amount you owe.

To remove an existing arranged overdraft, contact us.

Set up overdraft text alerts

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

Representative example

£1,200 credit limit

35.9% annual interest rate variable

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.

  1. Each current account will set a monthly maximum charge for:

    a) going overdrawn when you have not arranged an overdraft; or

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

  2. 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; and

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

Other charges that may be made as part of this account include for:

  • foreign transaction services, such as using your debit card abroad

  • electronic payments, such as CHAPS

  • other services, such as copies of your statement.

Please refer to the Account Charges Leaflet (PDF) for details.

Switching

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

With the Current Account Switch Service, 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 do not 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 seven business days to complete. And you'll be covered by the Current Account Switch Guarantee, so you do not need to worry about missing payments.

Some banks may reject a switch if you have linked products like savings pots, subscriptions, loans or business accounts. You can check with your current bank.

Current Account Switch Guarantee logo

Looking for a previous switch incentive?

To view the terms and conditions of previous switch incentives and other offers, visit our offers terms and conditions page.

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 about money muling

Ready to apply?

Existing customers can apply for this account using the mobile app or online banking. Log in to view bank accounts in online banking.

Approval

Approval is based on an assessment of your personal circumstances and is subject to status and additional eligibility criteria.

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

To continue, confirm that you:

Please tick to confirm you've read and saved copies all of the important documents below.

You'll now be taken to the application form.

Apply for a Current Account

Other ways to apply

If you prefer, you can get support with your application and book an appointment to speak with someone in branch, on a video call or over the phone.

Important documents

Please these documents and save for future reference.

Want access to exclusive savings accounts?

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

Regular Saver account
7% gross / AER variable (annually)
Deposit £0 - £250 per calendar month.
12 month term.
Base Rate Tracker
1.25% - 3.50% gross / AER variable (annually) depending on your account balance - rates will reduce if the current account closes
Interest rate tracks at a defined margin below the Bank of England base rate.
Online Cash ISA
2.06% tax-free / AER variable (annually)
Deposit up to £20,000 per tax year.
Available as sole accounts only.
Online Saver
2.06% gross / AER variable (annually).
Start saving with as little as £1.
Available as sole accounts only.

Opening deposit is £1. Maximum balance is £1,000,000 (excluding Regular Saver).

View savings terms explained here.

Other ways you can save with us

If these accounts are not right for you, we have more accounts available.

Get help with your current account

  • Access to cash

    We know many people and businesses still need cash. That’s why the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has made rules to help protect your access to it. Learn more about access to cash

Legal information

Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Wallet

Apple Pay is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the US and other countries. Google Pay is a trademark of Google LLC. Samsung Wallet is a trademark of Samsung Electronics. Use only in accordance with the law. Compatible device required.

Disclaimers

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 p.l.c., which is a member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

Financial Services Compensation Scheme

Your eligible deposits held by a UK establishment of The Co-operative Bank p.l.c. are protected up to a total of £120,000 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 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