The best and worst banks for customer service in 2022 revealed

Online challenger banks Starling and Monzo are beating off high street banks when it comes to topping the list for the best banks with cracking customer service – so how does your bank measure up? 

Bank branches are closing their doors across UK high streets and according to UK Finance (opens in new tab), the number of bank and building society branches across the UK has fallen by 34% over the past ten years.  

But it’s the new breed of challenger banks, typically those without branches, that get our vote in a survey commissioned by the Competition and Markets Authority (opens in new tab) (CMA).  

The  twice yearly survey asks current account customers, as well as business account customers, to rate their bank based on everything from online, mobile and branch services to overdraft facilities and crucially - whether they would recommend their bank to friends and family.  

Senior Director at the CMA, Adam Land, said: “As the rising cost of living bites, it’s important that people and businesses have the information they need to manage their money and make savings.

These results show how banks are treating their customers at a time when many are feeling the pinch.

When times are tough you find out who’s fighting your corner and if your bank doesn’t match up to the competition – you can vote with your feet and make a switch”.

Which are the best banks for customer service? 

Here’s how the banks stack up when it comes to the overall service they provide.  

Source – CMA 

Starling (opens in new tab) and Monzo (opens in new tab) jointly topped the list with First Direct (opens in new tab) in third place and Metro Bank (opens in new tab) and Nationwide (opens in new tab) in fourth and fifth places.

Compared with the same survey last August – these banks were all still in the top five but have since switched positions.   

Monzo previously topped the list last August, while First Direct has slipped back from second to third position and Starling moved up from third to first place.  Metro Bank and Nationwide both retained their positions.

When it comes to the banks we’d be least likely to recommend to friends or family - TSB, Virgin Money and Royal Bank of Scotland are all still in the bottom five a year on from the last survey.

While Santander was in the bottom five last year – it’s now moved up the rankings and Tesco Bank, which was bottom last year, pulled out of the current account market completely, closing customers’ accounts at the end of November last year.

Under CMA rules, banks can’t hide poor ratings from customers and must display their ranking in their branches as well as on their websites and apps.

Even if you’re getting great service from your bank – it’s worth checking if you’re getting the most competitive products like savings deals. 

How to switch banks if you’re not happy 

When it comes to picking the best bank account – the account you’ve had since starting your first job may no longer work for you.  

And if you’re not happy with your bank, feel it’s not supporting you through the cost of living crisis, or think you’ll get better service with another one, then it’s time to fight with your feet and switch.

Once you’ve looked around and opened a new current account, you can switch banks using the free current account switch service and in some cases can even bag up to £160 in free cash at the same time. 

Since the current account switch service was introduced in 2013 – over 8 million people have switched banks.  

The service is available to both personal and business customers across the UK and means your new bank does all the legwork for you transferring over incoming payments like your salary along with any direct debits and standing orders within seven days.