Current account switching levels jumped by 43% annually in the first quarter of 2026, according to a service set up to take the hassle out of moving banks.

Some 319,529 current account switches were recorded over the three-month period, marking a 43% increase compared with 222,805 switches recorded in the first quarter of 2025.

The flurry of switches was driven by a busy February and March, with January being quieter, in line with long-term trends, according to the figures from the Current Account Switch Service (Cass).

John Dentry, product manager at Pay.UK, owner and operator of Cass, said: “It has been an economically turbulent year so far and we anticipate high levels of activity to continue as interest rates creep back up.

“Higher savings rates are a key driver of consumer movement and if previous offers are brought back to the market, we would expect a flurry of activity to follow.

“As families navigate fluctuating inflation and a higher cost of living, a strong and well-suited bank account can be…