Best and worst bank account providers revealed in extensive CMA research

Challenger banks continue to outperform traditional financial powerhouses for current accounts and business accounts.

The large-scale survey of 23,000 people asks customers in Great Britain and Northern Ireland to rate their personal current account provider for the quality of their experience.

Separate research into business current accounts was also undertaken, asking a further 23,000 customers.

The questionnaire asked respondents how likely they are to recommend their current account provider for:

Survey companies Ipsos and BVA-BDRC asked 1,000 customers of each of the 17 largest personal current account providers in Great Britain and 500 customers of each of the 12 biggest in Northern Ireland.

It also asked more than 23,000 business current account holders across 17 banks in Great Britain and five in Northern Ireland. For business customers, the quality of their relationship with their account manager and quality of those services was also covered.

Best banks in UK

The results are for July 2024-June 2025.

Overall the top rated personal current account providers in Great Britain are:

1. Monzo
2. (Joint) Chase and Starling Bank

The best business current account providers in Great Britain were named as:

1. Monzo
2. Mettle
3. Starling Bank

In Northern Ireland, the best personal current account providers were:

1. Monzo
2. Nationwide
3. Starling Bank

Best business current account bank in Northern Ireland:

1. Santander
2. Danske Bank
3. Ulster Bank

Mettle was a new entry into the best business bank accounts. The online business current account from Natwest is for sole traders and companies of up to two owners.

On the current account side, not much has changed in a year, although Chase has moved from third place to joint second with Starling Bank.

Worst banks in Great Britain

The lowest-ranked personal current account banks in Great Britain came out as: 1. Royal Bank of Scotland (17th out of 17) 2. Virgin Money (16th out of 17) 3. The Co-operative Bank (15th out of 17)

The worst business current account providers were:

1. The Co-operative Bank (17th out of 17)
2. Royal Bank of Scotland (16th out of 17)
3. The Co-operative Bank (15th out of 17)

In Northern Ireland the worst personal current account providers were:

1. Allied Irish Banks

2. Bank of Ireland UK

3. Ulster Bank

The worst business current account in Northern Ireland:

1. Allied Irish Banks
2. Bank of Ireland UK

Read more: NimbleFins Best Savings Accounts Guide

Which banks were included in the survey?

Banks participating in the survey in Great Britain were: Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Chase, first direct, Halifax, HSBC UK, Lloyds Bank, Metro Bank, Monzo, Nationwide, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander, Starling Bank, The Cooperative Bank, TSB, Virgin Money.

Providers participating in the survey in Northern Ireland were: AIB, Bank of Ireland UK, Barclays, Chase, Danske Bank, Halifax, HSBC UK, Monzo, Nationwide, Santander, Starling Bank, Ulster Bank.

Business account providers in the Great Britain survey were: Bank of Scotland, Barclays, Handelsbanken, HSBC UK, Lloyds Bank, Mettle, Metro Bank, Monzo, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander, Starling Bank, The Co-operative Bank, Tide, TSB, Virgin Money and Zempler Bank.

In Northern Ireland the participating business account providers were: AIB, Bank of Ireland, Danske Bank, Santander, Ulster Bank.

The CMA requires banks and building societies to display the survey results prominently both in-branch and online so customers can see how their bank is doing and consider if they would be better off switching.

Dan Turnbull, senior director of markets at the CMA, said: “This data puts power into customers’ hands. Whether it’s for a personal or business account, people can see how their bank fares against others – and stay or switch, according to their needs. It also puts pressure on banks to listen to feedback and think about whether the services they provide are really working for customers.”

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