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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Business
Sam Barker

Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert explains how to get £170 free from your bank

Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert is telling Brits that switching their bank account can bag them up to £170.

This is thanks to banks offering generous pots of cash to people who sign up to them.

The latest MoneySavingExpert newsletter says more than two-thirds (70%) of Brits have never swapped bank account - or at least not in the last five years.

"Yet switching bank is one of the easiest ways to gain a little bit of extra cash," the newsletter said.

"So, with incomes squeezed on all sides by higher prices and soaring bills, we make no excuses for rounding up the top offers to boost your coffers."

To get the cash, or other perks, you must usually be a new customer, pass a credit check, and use the bank's official switching service.

The bank offering the most cash is HSBC - with £170.

To get it, apply for HSBC's Advance current account.

Banks are giving generous bungs to switchers, Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert said (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

You then have to set up two direct debits or standing orders within 30 days of switching and pay in £1,500 within 60 days.

You can't have ever had an account with HSBC or sister bank First Direct since January 2019.

First Direct is giving £150 to switchers, in two chunks.

You can get £20 for opening it and the remaining £130 later.

To get the £130, you have to pay in £1,000 within three months.

Lloyds Bank is offering £125 to switchers.

There are no fees provided you pay in at least £1,500 a month - a salary of £21,000 a year.

If you pay in less than that, the bank charges £3 a month.

You also get one of four perks for switching:

  • Six free cinema tickets (worth £35-£65, depending on location)
  • 12 digital movie rentals (worth around £55)
  • A magazine subscription (worth £30-£50)
  • A Gourmet Society membership (worth around £40)

To qualify for the cash and perks, you have to apply to switch before June 27 and have at least two direct debits set up every month.

You also cannot have been paid a switching bonus from Lloyds since April 2020.

Nationwide is offering £100 to new customers.

As with some of the other banks, to get the money you have to switch within 30 days of applying and set up two direct debits.

However, there is no set amount you will need to pay in.

Finally, Virgin Money is offering points to switchers that can be spent on treats and rewards.

Swapping to the Virgin Money M Plus current account gets you 20,000 points, which will get you treats like 12 bottles of wine or a day out.

To qualify you have to go online then pay in £1,000 to its linked 1% savings account within 45 days.

You also have to use the Virgin Money mobile app inside 45 days and set up at least two direct debits.

Once all this is done Virgin will email you with the points.

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