Best bank accounts for FREE money: How to switch and earn £250

Instant access saving and ISA account continue to languish and dismal lows. In comparison providers desperate for new current account customers are offering lump sums of cash and top interest rates.

For example, new TSB customers can make £250 by switching to the bank.

The provider gives £130 to anyone who switches via MoneySupermarket or MoneysavingExpert.

Customers who joined after March 2017 will also receive £5 a month if they set up two direct debits, and another £5 if the debit card is used 20 times in a month, to earn another £120.

Furthermore, the bank account pays three per cent interest rate on balances up to £1,500.

Another option for savers is a First Direct account, which pays £100 for new openings.

Customers can then open the five per cent regular saver, which allows up to £300 to be paid in every month for a year – although no withdrawals can be made during this time.

It’s also worth considering the Halifax Reward Current Account, which pays £75 to new customers and then £3 a month, as long as £750 a month is paid in, the balance stays in credit and two direct debts are set-up.

Savers with relatively large savings pots and the main bill-payer of a household may do well out of Santander’s 123 account which pays 1.5 per cent interest on a balance of up to £20,000.

Mobile, TV and broadband bills direct debts on the account also fetch cashback of three per cent, energy bills receive two per cent and, water and council tax get cashback of one per cent.

However, the 123 account has a fee of £5, so it’s important to make sure the benefits will outweigh this charge.