In this guide
Why Timelines Matter
The Current Account Switch Service can move an eligible current account in 7 working days, but that is not the same as saying your switching bonus arrives in 7 working days.
Most bank-switch delays happen after the switch itself:
- the bank checks whether your old account fully switched
- funding has to clear and stay long enough to count
- app logins, card payments, or direct debits need to register
- the provider pays in a later reward window
This tracker separates the switch timeline from the reward timeline so you can plan cashflow and avoid assuming the bonus will arrive immediately.
Current Live Timeline Benchmarks
Checked on 17 May 2026.
| Offer | Switch deadline | Main qualifying window | Stated payout timing | Practical expectation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NatWest | Until withdrawn | Complete a full switch, then pay in £1,250 and log into the app within 60 days | Within 30 days of meeting conditions | Strong simple route while the £200 offer remains live |
| Santander | Until withdrawn | Complete switch, pay in £1,500, and keep 2 household direct debits within 60 days | Santander checks after 60 days and pays within the following 30 days | Allow up to roughly 90 days from request |
| first direct | Until withdrawn | Meet funding, payment-instruction, debit-card, and digital-banking steps within 45 days | Before the 20th of the following month after you qualify | Often a month or more after all steps are complete |
| Co-operative Bank | Until withdrawn | Initial switch plus 3 monthly stay-incentive periods for the full amount | Each payment after the relevant conditions are checked | Longer admin tail because the reward is split |
Timeline Stages to Record
Use one row per offer:
| Stage | Date to record | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Application submitted | Day you apply | Starts your evidence trail |
| Switch requested | Day you choose the switch date | Some offers define deadlines by switch request |
| Switch completed | CASS completion date | Confirms the old current account moved and closed |
| Funding completed | Date money was paid in | Funding windows are common failure points |
| App or online login completed | Date first successful login happened | Several offers require digital banking use |
| Card transactions completed | Date final required card payment was made | Useful for first direct and Co-op style rules |
| Direct debits active | Date they appear on the new account | Santander and Co-op depend on active direct debits |
| Reward paid | Bonus payment date | Lets you compare expected vs actual payout timing |
A Worked Example
Imagine you apply for a switch on 1 June and select a CASS completion date of 12 June.
Your switch may finish on time, but your reward clock can still have more steps:
- 12 June: switch completes.
- 13 June: you log into the app.
- 14 June: you pay in the required money.
- 15 June to 20 June: debit card transactions and direct debits settle.
- July or August: the provider checks conditions and pays.
The useful lesson is that the switch date is the middle of the journey, not the end.
Evidence to Keep
Keep enough evidence to answer a support query without relying on memory:
- account opening confirmation
- switch confirmation email or in-app message
- screenshot of the switch completion date
- screenshot or statement line showing required pay-in
- evidence of qualifying card transactions if relevant
- screenshot showing direct debits after they moved
- copy of the terms you relied on when applying
You do not need to publish personal banking data. For SideGuide tracking, anonymised dates and status notes are enough.
Common Timeline Mistakes
Treating "7 working days" as the bonus date
CASS is the switching process. The incentive is a separate promotional promise with separate checks.
Moving money too early
Some offers need the pay-in after the new account is open or inside a specific window. Paying money into the wrong account stage can create avoidable ambiguity.
Assuming direct debits are active immediately
A direct debit may be visible before it is considered active for an offer. If a provider says active direct debits are required, leave time for them to appear properly.
Forgetting final monthly tasks
Split offers, especially stay-incentive structures, can pay in stages. The first bonus does not always mean the whole job is done.
SideGuide Review Note
This page is maintained as a timeline tracker rather than a personal diary. SideGuide does not publish named author or editor details, but the page is reviewed by the SideGuide Editorial Team against primary sources and live offer terms before updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every switch complete in 7 working days?
The Current Account Switch Service is designed around a 7 working day switch once the switch is arranged, but you still need to pass the new bank's application checks and meet the separate reward terms.
Can a bank bonus arrive before the old account closes?
Usually no. Switch incentives normally depend on a completed full switch, and a full CASS switch closes the old account.
What is the safest way to track several switches?
Do one switch at a time, record every deadline, and wait until the reward is paid before using the new account as the donor account for another offer.
Editorial disclosure
SideGuide may earn a commission if you sign up through some links on this page, at no extra cost to you. That never changes what we publish, how we rank options, or when we mark an offer as expired.
We explain our research, updates, and corrections process in our Editorial Policy.
How we researched this page
Research & review notes
Review timeline
Published: 2026-05-17
Last reviewed: 2026-05-17
What we checked
We compared the official Current Account Switch Service process with live bank-switch offer terms, then built a timeline tracker that separates the guaranteed account switch from each bank's separate reward checks.
Primary sources
Found something outdated? Tell us here and we'll review it.