The simple switch Martin Lewis says can get you a ‘free’ £240

• Consumer champion Martin Lewis has highlighted how people can secure a “free” £240 before Christmas by switching their bank account to Santander.
• To qualify for the payment by 15 December, customers must use the official seven-day switching service, pass a credit check, and satisfy specific deposit criteria.
• To get the extra £240, you have to pay in a total of £1,500 within 60 days and fund the linked eight per cent regular savings account with £200 plus. If all is done correctly, the cash will be paid by 15 December.
• The advice comes as research suggests the average UK family Christmas spend will reach £1,681.
• The research, carried out by MoneySuperMarket, suggests Google searches for “how to afford Christmas” have risen by more than three times (261 per cent) year on year.

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