# Brits Switch Banks: Nationwide, Barclays, NatWest Lead

> Over a million Brits switched banks in 2026, with Nationwide, Barclays and NatWest as top choices.
- Title: Brits Switch Banks: Nationwide, Barclays, NatWest Lead
- Summary: Over a million Brits switched banks in 2026, with Nationwide, Barclays and NatWest as top choices.
- Keywords: current account switch, nationwide, barclays, natwest, halifax, tsb, net switching gains, bank switching, cass data, 2026, MoneyWeek
- Source: MoneyWeek — https://moneyweek.com/personal-finance/bank-accounts/most-and-least-popular-bank-accounts-switching
- Published: 2026-11-10T14:52:26+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: current account switch, nationwide, barclays, natwest, halifax, tsb, net switching gains, bank switching, cass data, 2026
## Bank Switches Surge in 2026
Over a million Brits switched banks in 2026, with more than 13 million switches since CASS launched in 2013.
## Top Banks by Net Gains
Nationwide led with 23,636 net switching gains, followed by Barclays at 21,169 and NatWest at 20,287 in Q2 2026.
## Cash Bonuses Drive Switches
Three top banks offered cash bonuses, including Nationwide's £100 Fairer Share bonus for three consecutive years.
## Least Popular Banks
Halifax saw the biggest losses with -20,728 net switches, followed by TSB at -17,008 and Santander at -14,124.
## Bank Switching Reasons
Access to online banking was the top reason for switching, cited by 43% of respondents, followed by better customer service.
## Switching Process
CASS ensures switches take seven days, automatically transferring direct debits and standing orders to the new account.
## Long-Term Considerations
Customers should weigh long-term value, including customer service, fees, and access to physical branches before switching.
## Key takeaway

Nationwide, Barclays and NatWest saw the highest net switching gains in Q2 2026, while Halifax and TSB faced significant losses.