The consumer champion Which? has awarded its coveted "recommended provider" status to six banking institutions for 2025, highlighting a significant divide in customer service and product quality across the current account market.
The Elite Six: Who Made the Cut?
In its annual assessment, Which? identified six standout current account providers that have earned the prestigious Which? Recommended Provider (WRP) badge. The honoured institutions are Chase, Danske Bank, First Direct, Monzo, Nationwide Building Society, and Starling Bank.
This year's list features two new entrants, with both Chase and Danske Bank securing WRP status for the first time. Meanwhile, First Direct continues its reign as the most consistent performer, having held the recommended provider award for over a decade.
Loyalty Often Goes Unrewarded
The recognition of these top-tier providers comes alongside a stark warning for long-standing customers. A comprehensive survey commissioned by Which? revealed that a surprising 37% of current account holders have stayed with the same bank for more than 20 years.
Which? cautioned that this customer loyalty is frequently going unrewarded, with many people missing out on valuable financial incentives offered by competitors. The consumer group's analysis confirmed that perks such as fee-free spending abroad and instant spending notifications are becoming standard expectations, while cashback, loyalty payments, and switching bonuses can collectively earn customers hundreds of pounds.
How the Winners Were Chosen
To determine the recommended providers, Which? conducted a rigorous two-part analysis. Researchers examined a range of product features including account fees, overdraft charges, and customer perks. This was complemented by a Deltapoll survey of more than 6,600 current account holders in August to gauge overall customer satisfaction.
Providers needed to excel in both areas to meet the stringent criteria for the WRP badge. Tom Riley, director of group retail products at Nationwide, highlighted the building society's commitment to its "branch promise," which was recently extended with a pledge to keep its 696 Nationwide and Virgin Money branches open until at least 2030.
Which? also noted that Allied Irish Bank and Revolut came close to achieving the recommended status this year, indicating strong competition in the market.
Sam Richardson, deputy editor of Which? Money, summarised the findings: "Banks are not all the same and our analysis proves this. Our research shows that shopping around for a current account that better suits your needs can be financially rewarding, while staying put with an uncompetitive provider could be costing you money."
