Your current account, your way
Current Account
Our straightforward Current Account covers all your banking needs with no monthly fee to pay.
Can’t make it into a store? Open your new Current Account online
In store or online, the choice is yours
Either pop in store and get your card then or open your account online and have it arrive via post within days. No appointments needed.
Free transactions in Europe
Going abroad? We won't charge you for debit card payments and cash withdrawals in a foreign currency in European countries.*
It’s simple to switch
We’d love you to make the move, you just need to open a Current Account and then fill out our quick switching form.
Already have a Current Account with us? You can go straight to the form.
Open an account
Open an account online
Resume opening your account
Open a Current Account online today
You can join the revolution from anywhere in the UK. All you need is a photo ID, three years of address history and a selfie
Start banking online straightaway. Your card will arrive in days or you can pick it up at any store 7 days a week.
Come and see us today
We're open early 'til late, 362 days a year, 7 days a week.
The Nuts and Bolts
We’re up front with our customers about everything. We’ve created this handy summary of our Current Account key features so you can see the important information from the get-go.
| Minimum balance | Monthly fees | Overdraft interest |
|---|---|---|
| None | Zero | 34% APR |
Eligibility
You can apply for our Current Account if:
- You’re aged 18 or over
- You’re a UK resident
- You’ll have proof of your identity and address. If you’re a non-UK, EU, EEA or Swiss national, you’ll need a valid visa/residence permit. Here’s a list of what you need
If you’re wanting to open an account online, you’ll need photo ID and be able to upload a selfie. For those who aren’t a UK, EU, EEA or Swiss national, we're working on extending our system to cover biometric residence permits, but for the time being, you’ll need to come in store to open an account. We can only accept the original documents. Photocopies and handwritten passports or ID cards are not valid.
Overdrafts
We offer arranged overdrafts on request and we'll make a decision depending on your personal circumstances.
We’ll send you a free text message when you’ve gone past your arranged overdraft limit and let you know when you need to top up your account, to minimise any interest charges.
You can always opt out of these messages if you want. Simply ask us in store or give us a ring on 0345 08 08 500.
Arranged and unarranged overdrafts have a typical interest rate of 34% APR (variable).
For more information on our terms and services, please see this page.
APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate. It shows what the interest rate would be if interest was charged and added to the amount owed once each year including any additional fees. However, we don’t charge any additional fees.
Keep a close eye on your money
You can now choose to receive alerts from your Metro Bank mobile banking app every time your credit or debit cards are used to make a transaction. This includes payments in shops, online purchases and cash machine withdrawals. Find out more
Using your debit card abroad
We don’t charge you for debit card payments and cash withdrawal in a foreign currency in most European countries. And we offer outstanding value rates in the rest of the world.
| Location | Card Purchase | Cash Withdrawal |
|---|---|---|
| In Europe* | FREE | FREE |
| Outside Europe* | 2.99% | 2.99% + £1.50 |
*Where can I use my card for free in Europe?
Show which countries you can use your card in for free Hide which countries you can use your card in for free
When we refer to Europe, we mean the countries which are part of the Single European Payments Area (SEPA).
- 19 EU Euro countries that use the Euro: Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain
- 8 EU non-Euro countries that do not use the Euro: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Sweden
- 2 non-EU countries that use the Euro: Monaco, San Marino
- 4 non-EU countries that do not use the Euro: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland
If you make a debit card payment or a cash withdrawal in a foreign currency outside the UK, any foreign currency transaction will be converted into sterling on the day it’s paid out of your account. The exchange rate is set by MasterCard®.
MasterCard® is a registered trademark of MasterCard International Incorporated.
When you don’t have enough money in your account
If we receive a request for a payment but you don’t have the funds in your account to cover it, we will either:
- Give or extend an unarranged overdraft and make the payment
- Refuse the payment due to lack of funds
From 18 December 2019 we stopped charging the £10 fee for each payment made and each payment refused due to lack of funds.
In any given month we’ll never charge you more than the monthly cap of £60 for charges relating to an unarranged overdraft.
If deducting interest causes you to go overdrawn or increases your overdraft, you’ll only be charged interest on the new balance.
The monthly cap on unarranged overdraft charges
- Each current account will set a monthly maximum charge for:
(a) going overdrawn when you have not arranged an overdraft; or
(b) going over/past your arranged overdraft limit (if you have one). - This cap covers any:
(a) interest and fees for going over/past your arranged overdraft limit;
(b) fees for any payment made despite lack of funds (Metro Bank does not charge for these)
(c) fees for any payment refused due to lack of funds (Metro Bank does not charge for these).
Helpful failed payment alerts
We process standing orders, Direct Debits and future dated payments in the morning. If you don't have enough funds in your account to cover a payment, we'll send you a text message to let you know so you can pay in the money. Top up your account and we’ll try to make the payment again at 2pm on the same day.
Cheques
Cheques normally take 4 working days to process. If you’d like to know how quickly you can withdraw your funds after a cheque has been paid into your account you can take a look at our cheque clearance guide.
Get all the details to read at your leisure
Download our PDF to read when you like - it contains all the ins and outs of our Current Account.
Current Account details (PDF)(288KB)
Cash Account details (PDF)(164KB)
Our Service Relationship with Personal Customers (PDF)(1.9MB)
Don't need all the features of a Current Account?
The Cash Account
The straightforward, easy way to manage your day-to-day spending if you don't need all the features of a Current Account, if you are not eligible for one, or if you are under 18.
There are no Direct Debits or arranged overdrafts. And you can stay on budget with online spending and foreign transaction limits. Pop in store with proof of ID to open your account on the same day – no need for an appointment.
FAQs
How do I open an account?
We’ve made it really easy to open an account with Metro Bank. Just come in to one of our stores or apply online - all you’ll need is proof of your identity. Your current account will be up and running straight away. If you’re in store, we’ll print your bank card and cheque book there and then. If you open your account online, your card will arrive within a few days.
How do I switch my account from another bank?
Switching your Current Account to Metro Bank couldn’t be simpler. Just pop into one of our stores. They’re open 7 days a week. We’ll take care of everything for you. And we’ll have your whole switch done in 7 working days. Guaranteed.
Can I switch my Current Account if I’m overdrawn?
Yes. And we’ll match your existing overdraft where we can, depending on your financial status.
Can I open a joint Current Account?
Yes, just pop into one of our Stores. You can open a joint account to manage your money together. You can even switch your existing joint account to us.
Will my Metro Bank card be contactless?
Yes. All Metro Bank cards support contactless payments. Just tap on the reader at the till and you're done.
Can I still access my transaction history for closed accounts?
Yes. If you choose to close your account, we will offer you the option to receive up to 5 years’ worth of prior transaction history at the point of account closure. We retain your transaction history for at least 5 years after you closed your account, so you can also request up to 5 years’ worth of prior transaction history from the date of the request. To make a request, you can visit us in store or call us on 0345 08 08 500.
We will provide a printed version of your transaction history via post, normally within 7 working days. You can also download your transaction history using online banking before you close your account.
Accounts which have been closed due to fraud or other unlawful activity, impairment or which have had no activity in the past 5 years will not be eligible to receive transaction history.
Your ways to bank
Online
Metro Bank 24/7. Check balances, make payments, see transactions and open new accounts any time - all with internet banking.
Mobile
Control your money on the move with our mobile banking app. Check balances, move money, make payments and more wherever you are.
By phone
Talk to a real person in our our UK contact centre. We’ve temporarily changed our opening hours – click the button below to check when we're available.
In-store
A friendly face and a quick answer - and all the usual payment services too. We're open 362 days a year.
You can bank with us online, on the phone, in store or using our app. Find out more about how to service your account using these different channels.
Some things you may like...
Banking with us
What I need to open an account
With our same-day account opening, you can apply in store and we'll print your card there and then. Having the right documents will help make the process go smoothly.
Switching to us
7-day Switch Guarantee
Switching your current account to Metro Bank is simple and hassle-free. And we guarantee to have it all done and dusted for you in 7 days.