Opening second Starling account for switching

macy08

I have used Metro, popped in branch as a new customer and they opened 2 accounts with cards printed there and then.  Have since used one to switch to Halifax, keeping the other for future switch incentives

flaneurs_lobster

PlatinumChaos said:

Thanks very much for all the advice! Looks like my best bet will be to open a dummy account with Metro or Monzo. Has anyone used either of these for the purpose of switching? Any advice here?

Yes, both. Not much to choose between them, Monzo are a little quicker getting things set up and having a debit card number available for use when applying online. Metro can apparently open an account and supply a debit card on the day if you are able to apply in branch.

Rob5342

PlatinumChaos said:

Thanks very much for all the advice! Looks like my best bet will be to open a dummy account with Metro or Monzo. Has anyone used either of these for the purpose of switching? Any advice here?

I'd go for Metro Bank as they are quite basic and there wouldn't be much reason to use them normally. Monzo is a good modern bank with a good app who you might want to use later and you could deny yourself that opportunity in the future if you use them as a burner (at least for a year or so). Metro Banks website says you can apply online so you shouldn't have all the hassle of needing to go to a branch.

flaneurs_lobster

Monzo bank allowed me to open a new account a month after swapping away from them - I had asked to reopen the swapped one but that wasn't allowed since I'd CASSed rather than just closed.

PlatinumChaos

Thanks again for all your suggestions. Metro fairly recently opened a branch near where I live (Bradford), so it sounds like they’ll be a good choice for me. Cheers!

[Deleted User]

PlatinumChaos said:

Thanks again for all your suggestions. Metro fairly recently opened a branch near where I live (Bradford), so it sounds like they’ll be a good choice for me. Cheers!

You have to visit a branch and waste a full credit check on Metro.
Monzo is done via the app and no full credit check and their USP is a pretty coral debit card.

PlatinumChaos

Sorry to resurrect this but I’ve ended up opening a Monzo account this week and have put £1100 into it. Should I wait a while before switching to First Direct, or is there nothing against switching straight away?

Band7

Deleted_User said:

PlatinumChaos said:

Thanks again for all your suggestions. Metro fairly recently opened a branch near where I live (Bradford), so it sounds like they’ll be a good choice for me. Cheers!

You have to visit a branch and waste a full credit check on Metro.
Monzo is done via the app and no full credit check and their USP is a pretty coral debit card.

It has also been possible to open a Metro account online for quite some time now.You will most likely get a Monzo debit card sooner than a Metro card though who knows these days with the postal strikes. The colour of the card is pretty non-important if the account is merely a donor account for a switch

PlatinumChaos said:

Sorry to resurrect this but I’ve ended up opening a Monzo account this week and have put £1100 into it. Should I wait a while before switching to First Direct, or is there nothing against switching straight away?

Assuming you have the Monzo debit card, I can't think of a good reason for why you would need to wait.

To be on the safe side, you should also deposit another lot of £1,100 once the switch it is complete. You can withdraw the switched £1,100 and redeposit them (and withdraw them again).