Current account World Cup 2025: who won? 

From 12 groups down to at least one, which financial institution did you vote as the very best of 2025?

During the last month in our Fb and YouTube communities, we’ve been holding a knock out competitors to seek out out your favorite present account. The outcomes are lastly in, and it’s not what I anticipated!

Some articles on the positioning comprise affiliate hyperlinks, which give a small fee to assist fund our work. Nevertheless, they gained’t have an effect on the worth you pay or our editorial independence. Read more here.

Spherical one: group stage

When selecting which present accounts to incorporate I made a name to whittle it down to only 12 for the primary rounds, grouped into 4 teams of three.

This meant ignoring accounts which supplied nothing further when it comes to rewards or had simply lavatory normal apps. So two of the largest banks, HSBC and Barclays didn’t make the lower. Likewise, common accounts from Virgin Cash (regardless of it’s linked 10% common saver final summer season), Financial institution of Scotland and Co-op didn’t make it both.

I additionally made the decision to disregard packaged accounts which include added perks however for a payment. Premium present accounts additionally missed out as they’re restricted in who can get them.

So, the ultimate 12 have been all accounts which I feel do a good job in your banking – no duds allowed. There was a strict one present account per financial institution, therefore simply the usual Monzo somewhat than the Monzo Perks.

They have been randomly allotted into their teams, with a path to the ultimate set out from there. The teams have been:

Group A: Lloyds vs Nationwide vs Santander

Straight off the bat was, in my view, a really robust group. All three get you one thing for nothing.

The Club Lloyds presents cinema tickets or free Disney+ in addition to a 6.25% paying monthly saver. Mixed they’re value a mixed £230 to £240. The app is first rate sufficient too.

Nationwide’s FlexDirect presents 1% cashback on spending and 5% curiosity on as much as £1,000 for the primary yr solely, although after that there aren’t any account particular perks, however after all prospects have obtained the £100 “Fairer Share” payment every year for the final three years. As a constructing society, it’s additionally a powerful moral selection.

The Santander Edge has just lately dropped debit card cashback, however you may nonetheless get 1% again on payments to offset the payment, after which open up an unique 6% Edge Saver, value £233 a yr for those who maintain the complete £4,000.

However the voting wasn’t as shut as I anticipated. Whereas Santander Edge obtained simply 15% of the vote, and Membership Lloyds 31%, it was the Nationwide FlexDirect that picked up an enormous 54%, and progressed to the semi-final stage.

Group B: Kroo vs NatWest vs Starling

A unique group this time as just one account presents an everyday reward and excessive curiosity on financial savings. The opposite two made the checklist due to their apps and common banking expertise.

Kroo is the most recent financial institution on the checklist, and it’s nonetheless acquired some catching as much as do, however we just like the app.

The NatWest Reward account will solely make you as much as £36 a yr, however I actually just like the linked 5.5% paying Digital Regular Saver because it’ll preserve incomes you curiosity yr after yr.

Lastly, the financial institution I exploit, Starling. It’s acquired top-of-the-line apps on the market, and it’s additionally one other first rate possibility if you wish to keep away from the much less moral banks.

When all of the votes have been added up, Starling edged by way of to the semi-finals with 47% of the votes, only a fraction above the 45% Natwest obtained. Kroo, not unexpectedly, picked up a low 8%.

Get the very best of our cash saving content material each Monday & Thursday, straight to your inbox

Plus an unique £20 welcome bonus for brand new Quidco members (Phrases apply)

Group C: Halifax vs Monzo vs Triodos

The Halifax Reward account has been my high reward account for years, providing £5 a month per account. And since you may have three that’s meant the potential to get £180 a yr.

Monzo is all the time a well-liked account, and I price the app among the many finest. Once more, this was nearly the usual Monzo somewhat than the opposite choices.

Triodos was an outlier in all of the accounts within the group stage as not solely do you pay £3 a month, you don’t get any perks in return. However it’s head and shoulders above the remainder in the case of moral banking – therefore the month-to-month payment.

If the vote had taken place only a few weeks earlier, I feel Halifax Rewards would have carried out significantly better. However the information in late Might that the £5 a month perk is ending in September actually and deservedly hit it’s polling. It nonetheless did effectively although, choosing up 39% of the vote.

Triodos obtained simply 7% of the vote, however that was all the time going to be the case for a smaller financial institution.

Which left Monzo to high the group with 55%, and take it’s place within the second semi-final.

Group D: Chase vs First Direct vs Revolut

The final group was all digital, with none of those present accounts providing any branches entry.

Chase’s current account has been certainly one of our high picks because it launched, however I questioned if latest cuts to the cashback offering and financial savings charges would damage its possibilities.

First Direct’s 1st account is commonly picked as top-of-the-line for customer support, and you can even profit from a 7% linked regular saver, value £135 a yr – plus the speed is fastened.

Then there’s Revolut, which I’ve by no means been an enormous fan of, however the app replace final yr was fairly spectacular.

Properly, in the long run, Chase stormed to victory with 61% of the vote – the clearest winner of all 4 teams. First Direct picked up 26% and Revolut final with 14%.

Semi-finals

Semi-final 1: Nationwide vs Starling

The primary semi-final was between the Nationwide FlexDirect and Starling. Because it occurs the FlexDirect was my primary account for a lot of years till frustrations with the app promoted me to maneuver my on a regular basis banking to Starling a lot of years in the past.

I actually price Starling, so I used to be (pleasantly) shocked to see Nationwide blow them out of the water with 69% versus 31% of the vote. So Nationwide was by way of to the ultimate.

Semi-final 2: Monzo vs Chase

The battle within the second semi-final was of two ‘challenger’ banks. They’re actually among the many hottest once I write or make movies about them, so I anticipated a decent match.

However Chase romped previous Monzo, with 64% of the vote. Monzo obtained simply 36%.

The ultimate

Nationwide FlexDirect vs Chase

Right down to the final two present accounts and I feel the free money by way of rewards, curiosity or cashback are massive components in what allowed them to oust Starling and Monzo. It appears having a improbable app isn’t sufficient to win your hearts. So which one gained?

Properly, in what first would possibly really feel like a shock outcome, Nationwide’s FlexDirect obtained a profitable 57% of the votes, kicking Chase into the runner up spot.

However is it actually a shock? Chase has diminished the perks that made it stand out. Cashback is simply on groceries and journey, and solely within the UK. Rates of interest should be boosted by brief time period presents, and may often be crushed elsewhere. Nevertheless, the robust app has clearly saved sufficient prospects joyful to convey it this far.

Nationwide in the meantime has actually upped its sport. The constructing society has given away £150 to prospects this yr only for being loyal customers (so long as circumstances have been met), whereas it’s made guarantees to maintain branches open when others are closing at tempo. The app has lastly caught up loads (you now not often want that dreaded card reader), and for people who care, it doesn’t make investments your cash in unethical practices like new oil pipelines and weapons.

So deserved congratulations to your Present Account World Cup 2025: the Nationwide Flex Direct account.