- Birmingham topped the rankings with 8,179 switches in the first three months of 2026
- Londoners switched more than 23,500 times during the quarter, making up 7.4% of all switches
- People aged 25-40 were the most active switchers, making over 130,000 switches – almost half of the 319,529 total switches and more than 80,000 ahead of the next highest age group
23 June 2026 – The Current Account Switch Service has today released the UK’s Regional Rankings for the first quarter of 2026. Between January and March, Birmingham remained top of the list with 8,179 switches, followed by Newcastle upon Tyne (7,741) and Sheffield (6,928).
The announcement follows the Service reporting a 43% increase in total switching for Q1 2026 compared to the same period last year, rising to 319,529 from 222,805 in Q1 2025.
Current Account Switch Service Q1 2026 Regional Rankings
1. Birmingham – 8,179
2. Newcastle upon Tyne – 7,741
3. Sheffield – 6,928
4. Manchester – 6,611
5. Nottingham – 5,907
6. Bristol – 5,727
7. Glasgow – 5,549
8. East London – 5,523
9. Leicester – 5,291
10. South East London – 5,211
When London postcodes were combined, the capital topped the rankings with 23,559 switches
Switching remains most popular among 25-40
As has been the case for successive quarters, those aged 25-40 were the most likely to switch their bank account with 132,540 switches during Q1 2026, making up 42% of total volume. This is despite the age group representing approximately one fifth (22%) of the entire UK population, meaning this group is twice as likely to switch than the average person.
Those aged 51-64 were the next most likely to switch, with 51,184 switches and 16% of the quarter’s total, closely followed by the 41-50 age group (50,365) and those 64+ (47,085). Young adults between 18-24 accounted for 11% of switches, totalling 34,723 switches.
John Dentry, Product Manager at Pay.UK, owner and operator of the Current Account Switch Service, said: “The sharp uptick in switching, driven largely by the younger generations, reaffirms the Service’s place at the heart of the UK’s banking system. As financial pressures weigh down on families, being able to quickly switch bank accounts to somewhere better suited can be a real difference-maker.
“High switching figures paint a picture of a healthy banking ecosystem with the Service at its very core. This level of competition is the reason the UK enjoys so many different bank perks, offers and deals, all of which play a major role in supporting household finances.”
