Everyday money
Bank account fees comparator
Where a link is marked *, it is a partner link — we receive commission at no extra cost to you. Links without a * earn us nothing. How we make money.
Models annual cost across three typical UK current-account profiles — free basic, packaged and digital — including overdraft interest and foreign card fees.
Compare illustrative annual costs for three UK current-account types — monthly fees, overdraft interest and foreign card fees. Not a live product comparison; check each bank's tariff before switching.
- Lowest illustrative annual cost
- £0
- Cheapest profile
- App-based / fee-free overdraft
| App-based / fee-free overdraftSome digital banks charge no FX fee on card spend abroad; overdraft may be unavailable. | £0 |
|---|---|
| Packaged account (£18/month)Often includes travel insurance and breakdown cover — check you need the perks. | £375 |
| Free basic current accountTypical high-street no-fee account with arranged overdraft EAR ~39.9%. | £451 |
| Spread (highest − lowest) | £451 |
- Current Account Switch Service — 7-day switch with payment redirection.
- Bank switch offers* — may outweigh small fee differences.
How it works
- Enter your average overdraft balance and monthly foreign card spend.
- Add any unpaid direct debits per month if applicable.
- We total fees, overdraft interest and FX charges for each profile and rank by lowest cost.
Common questions
- Are packaged accounts worth it?
- Only if you would buy travel insurance, breakdown cover and mobile insurance separately anyway — and the policy terms suit you.
- Do digital banks charge overdraft fees?
- Some offer no overdraft; others charge competitive rates. Check before relying on an overdraft buffer.
- Will switching hurt my credit score?
- A soft search may appear but switching itself does not damage your score. Keep old accounts open briefly to catch delayed payments.