Tell me moreCurrent account options
- Standard current account
- Extra benefit current accounts
- Student current account
- Graduate current account
- Bank accounts for young people
- Other accounts
Help and guides
Rates and charges
- Interest rates
- Current account charges
- Overdraft charges update
- Important Changes to Unarranged Overdraft Pricing
Useful information
Switch to Royal Bank of Scotland
You deserve a better bank
Remember when you could call your local branch - and not a call centre? Banking with us is all about personal service backed up with products which make life easier.
Switching to The Royal Bank of Scotland is easy and hassle-free. In fact, the process generally takes just two to four weeks to complete.
The right current account for you
Do you prefer a simple, everyday account or something with all the extras built-in? Choose from:
- Extra benefit current accounts want mobile phone cover or annual worldwide travel insurance? Choose a Royalties account
- Private Banking current accounts a named relationship manager and expert services. Choose Private Banking
- Standard current account looking for a straightforward way to manage your finances? Choose a Standard account
- Student current accounts interest-free overdraft and savings on travel. Choose a Student account
- Graduate current accounts interest-free overdraft, graduate loan and more. Choose a Graduate account
What we will do
- Set up your Standing Orders and Direct Debits
- Instruct your old bank to cancel all payments
- Give you letters so that you can advise your employer to send regular credits to your new account
- Ask your old bank to close your old account and transfer the balance to us
Interest-free overdraft
If you use our switching service to switch to us from another bank or building society and are accepted for an overdraft facility, you will pay no debtor interest for the first six months from the date you open the account.
Bank charges - our promise
In the unlikely event that you incur any bank charges as a result of an error or unnecessary delay on our part, we will refund these charges in full.
Match your deal
We're happy to look at matching the type of card and overdraft you have with your old bank, as long as you pay your main source of income into your new account with us.
Plus, any agreed overdraft is interest-free for six months.
All we need is to see your old bank card, your last month's statement from your old account and something that shows your overdraft limit (such as letter, online banking print-out or cash machine receipt).
- Applying online or over the phone? Simply accept the limits we offer - then contact your branch to request a deal which matches the arrangement with your previous bank.
| What we do | What we ask you to do |
|---|---|
| At the start of the process | Account Switching Authorisation |
| We'll send you a letter confirming that we have received your request, what to expect next and who to contact with any questions. | Before we can start the account switching process, we need your permission to contact your old bank. To obtain this, we need to complete a short authorisation form and get you to sign it. If you open your new account at a branch, a Customer Adviser will fill the form in for you If you apply for your account over the phone or online, an authorisation form will be sent out to you if you indicate 'yes' to the question 'Are you transferring an existing account from another financial institution?' |
| Direct Debits and standing orders | Direct Debits and standing orders |
| We'll ask your old bank or building society to send us details of your standing orders and Direct Debits, then set them up exactly as they are on your old account. We'll then instruct your old bank to cancel all these payments | We do rely on your old bank and the Direct Debit originators to comply with our instructions regarding where to take your payments from. We recommend that you ensure your old account has been closed and that you check your statements carefully to make sure everything is proceeding as planned |
| Redirection of regular credits | Redirection of regular credits |
| We'll give you letters with your new account details, so that you can advise your employer, pension or other payment providers to send any regular credits to your new account with us | We need you to pass the letters we give you with your new account details to your employer, pension or other payment providers, so they know to send regular credits to your new account with us |
| Account closure and balance transfer | Balance transfer |
| We'll ask your old bank to close your old account and transfer the balance to your new Royal Bank account. We'll give them five working days' notice to do this We can even transfer overdrawn balances, as long as you have sufficient funds or an agreed overdraft on your new account. If you need to arrange an overdraft, you can do this by speaking to your branch, or by using our telephone or internet banking services Please note that if you do not ask us to close your old account, you'll need to make your own arrangements to transfer the balance. You can do this by paying in a cheque or by using your old bank's internet or telephone banking service | If you wish us to repay your overdraft with your old bank, you need to make sure that there are enough cleared funds in your Royal Bank account for us to make the transfer If you need to arrange an overdraft, you can do this by speaking to your branch, or by using our telephone or internet banking services |
| Savings accounts | Account closure |
| We can transfer the balance on any savings accounts you hold elsewhere to a Royal Bank savings account of your choice Please note that we are unable to transfer Fixed Rate Bonds. Please ask your branch about our simple ISA transfer service | If you ask us to close your old account, you will need to return to your old bank any cheque books or cards, or confirm to them that they have been destroyed. We will provide you with a letter to use to do this. Your old bank may not comply with our instructions unless you do so When disposing of old books and cards, please ensure that all items are cut into small pieces and, for cards, that the chip and magnetic strip are cut in half |
| When the switch is complete | Dividend payments |
| We'll send you a letter to tell you when we have completed all our actions | If you receive dividend payments, you will need to ask your branch to advise the registrars of your new account details, so these can be paid into your Royal Bank account |
What if I want to check my Direct Debits and standing orders before you set them up on my new account?
You can choose to review your Direct Debits and standing orders before we set them up on your new account, but this could lengthen the transfer process by up to three weeks.
We'll send you a list of the payments being made by your old bank for you to check and ask you to confirm to us within 10 working days which payments you wish us to make, and the date from which they should be paid.
If you have asked us to do so, we will then ask your old bank to cancel the standing orders and Direct Debits paid by them.
If we don't hear from you within the 10 working day period, we'll set up all your payments exactly as they are on your old account and advise your old bank to cancel them.
What if I only want to redirect a credit?
If you only want to redirect a credit (e.g. you don't have any Direct Debits or standing orders and wish to keep your old account open), then there's no need to complete an Account Switching Authorisation Form.
Instead you just need to use the template letter we give you to write to your employer, pension or other credit providers with your new Royal Bank account details.
Once your account has been opened, we will send you a Welcome Pack. This includes:
- Our brochure 'How to make the most of your account'- providing full details on the features and benefits of your new account
- A copy of the terms and conditions for your new account
- Our leaflets 'Charges for additional services' and 'Charges and rates of interest'
- A copy of the FSA's leaflet "You and your bank account"
If you open a Royalties, Royalties Gold, Student Royalties or Graduate Royalties you will receive an additional pack explaining how to use the various benefits included with your new account.
We will also send you the following items - separately - within ten days:
- Highline or Cashline Card
- Your Personal Identification Number (PIN)
- Cheque book and / or paying-in book
To open a new current account, you will need to provide us with original documentary proof of your identity and your address. We need to see one identification document and one address verification document.
Please note that you can't use the same item to confirm both your name and address.
How you can help
If you have an existing current account with another bank or building society, it may help to provide your most recent statement.
If you are applying for a Student Royalties account, please supply three months' full bank statements.
For a current account with a debit card or overdraft facility, you may also need to provide evidence of your income, for example, your most recent bank statement or three months' salary slips.
Don't have the right documents?
If you can't provide one item from each list, give us a call on 0800 408 6009 (Minicom 0800 404 6160) to find out if there are any other documents we may be able to accept to open your new account.
| Address Verification Table |
|---|
| Council Tax bill or payment book (within last 12 months) |
| Utility bill - within last 6 months (mobile phone bills and internet access bills are not acceptable) |
| Current full UK photo card driving licence |
| Current full UK driving licence (old style paper version) |
| Bank/building society/credit card statement (within last 6 months) |
| Original mortgage statement (no more than 12 months old) |
| Benefits book or original notification letter from the Benefits Agency (including Dept. of Work and Pensions) and/or Job Centre Plus confirming the right to benefits at present. |
| Current home or motor insurance certificate (issued within the last 12 months, can only be used by policy holder) |
| Current local Council rent card or tenancy agreement (private tenancy agreements are not acceptable) |
| Original HM Revenue & Customs issued tax notification and correspondence |
| Solicitor's letter confirming recent house purchase or land registry confirmation |
| For Students Any item from the address verification list can be taken to confirm address. Alternatively, you can show us a: |
| University/college Letter of Acceptance/Enrolment offer |
| Student Loan Company/LEA/SASS Award letter |
| UCAS letter |
| Introduction from a recognised UK college or university |
| For 20 years and under |
| UK provisional photocard driving licence |
Why we need to see your ID
When you open a new account with us, we are required by law to ask you to prove who you are and where you live. This is to comply with money laundering regulations and to help stop criminals using financial products or services to move money around.
These security checks apply to both new and existing customers. As well as fulfilling our legal responsibility, we aim to help combat financial crime and protect you from criminals who might otherwise falsely use your name, without your knowledge.
