How many current accounts?

https://community.monzo.com/t/how-many-bank-accounts-do-you-have/103810/10?u=sam87

I think it depends how many you need. For example, if I received a lot of cheques I’d probably open an account with somewhere that offers digital cheque imaging, or if I travelled abroad more often I’d look into somewhere that makes finances abroad cheaper/easier.

That being said, I think it’s very important to have at least two, with different banks. Preferably one with a visa debit card and one with a MasterCard.

I’d say the average person has more than one account.

I have two myself. Never saw the need to close my old account after opening Monzo (didn’t need to use CASS to switch anything), partially because at the time it made for a useful back-up (had a pre-paid account initially), partially because it still makes for a useful back-up now (a VISA card to go alongside the Monzo Mastercard), and partially because having a long-standing bank account helps a little with the credit record.

That said, the next card I’ll get issued from my other bank account will apparently be a Mastercard, so I will end up switching it at some point to an account with a VISA card again. But that won’t be happening until my card needs replacing or there’s a really attractive switching offer, whatever comes first.

If you mean current accounts I’d suggest having two, just in case you ever experience issues with one. Also if one of them is Monzo the second can be chosen to fill the gaps in Monzo’s feature set as a bank.

I have current accounts at five banks. This is to access perks at particular banks such as cashback on direct debits, access to savings accounts with high interest rates, and access to a flexible ISA.

But if you want to keep things simple I would suggest not going above two.

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I think it depends on a few things. I’ll often change banks (new app features, offers etc) but will normally keep just two active, one for spending, one for saving. After the TSB fiasco when I had just the one account and no access, I’ve always kept a spare account active for emergencies.

Right now I have one for spending and the other for saving, as they have a preferential rate. I guess people could have more but I prefer simplicity

@Peter_G the poll you’ve just added doesn’t have many major banks and has several non-banks

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16 days ago…

From the big locked thread 2 days ago…

At first I thought it effected everyone even plus. But looks like the blog got edited and when I saw a few say plus I thought I’ll join it to save the hassle and worry

However Monzo is the only bank I got

Are you just lying in different threads to cause arguments?

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POLLING DISASTER! (I’m fixing, bear with).

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Fixed, I hope. Now, for some strong coffee :coffee:

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Your poll is missing Metro Bank, Peter.

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Oh for goodness sake. :man_facepalming:

Whack them under ‘Someone else’ and I’ll do penance. :metro: :bank:

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Missing Child & Co. :wink:

(I ticked RBS ha)

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@anon57793078, standards are slipping. I vote we take away polling privelidges…

In any case! I had a quick count up of my personal current accounts, excluded Joint, and I think I’ve got 8 open today :confused:

Many of these are from the days of trying to get current account bonuses… And many are from trying out various Fintechs that popped up all around 2018.

Most I’ve never closed :confused:

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I’m down to 2 currnet accounts. Up until a few months ago I had 4 for the bonuses, however the value of the bonuses just weren’t worth it anymore combined with jugling the funds between the accounts was becoming too much, especially with some of the restrictions that Halifax were introducing, so I switched them to Monzo. I rather like the visibility of direct debits a few days before they come out of my account.

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This is why I have two. A legacy that I’ve had since I was a kit and Monzo.

I am tempted to give Starling a go but I’m not sure what benefit it would have (aside from cheque imaging) when I put £50 in there or something.

It’s pretty much a bridge between Monzo and high street banks in my eyes.

You can pay cash in for free, cheques typically clear in one working day, there’s a smidgen of interest, and there’s an IBAN.

For day to day banking services, it’s a better bank than Monzo. But Monzo has better budgeting tools (and a better app imo).

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I did :joy:

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I think I probably would give it a go but most of those things I have covered with my Lloyds account.

If Starling did a auto-sheets export, then I’d probably give them a serious go.

Sure. It’s kind of what I meant by a bridge. Starling offers more (better) basic banking services than Monzo, but not as many as high street banks.

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