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List of banks with hard vs soft searches for current accounts

pecunianonolet
Posts: 1,570 Forumite

Hi all,
With the many switching offers popping up and many in need for current accounts for switches, yougov, etc. I thought it would be good to compile a list of which banks do a hard search and those with soft searches only.
The list below is a collection of user reviews and I do not take any responsibility for false or outdated information. As always, do your own research and decide based on your own circumstances.
Please comment and I can edit the list
Hard searches:
Soft searches:
With the many switching offers popping up and many in need for current accounts for switches, yougov, etc. I thought it would be good to compile a list of which banks do a hard search and those with soft searches only.
The list below is a collection of user reviews and I do not take any responsibility for false or outdated information. As always, do your own research and decide based on your own circumstances.
Please comment and I can edit the list
Hard searches:
- TSB
- HSBC
- Natwest
- Royal Bank of Scotland
- Santander
- Lloyds (first account only, further accounts can be opened without additional hard search)
- Halifax (first account only, further accounts can be opened without additional hard search)
- Bank of Scotland (first account only, further accounts can be opened without additional hard search)
- Clydesdale Bank
- Virgin Money
- Barclays
- Co-operative
- Nationwide
- Ulster Bank
- First Direct
Soft searches:
- Kroo (hard search with Transunion when accepting an overdraft, not participating in CASS)
- Metro Bank *
- Starling
- Chase (now participating in CASS) Thanks @lcooper
- Co-op (Cashminder)
- Monzo
- Cynergy (not participating in CASS)
- Zopa (new to selected customers before wider roll out, not yet part of the CASS)
7
Comments
-
Metro, Lloyds, Halifax (and possibly Starling now too?) all do hard searches.
You're mixing two things I think. Lloyds and Halifax will not run another hard search if you open additional accounts. Metro will though.1 -
trient said:Metro, Lloyds, Halifax (and possibly Starling now too?) all do hard searches.
You're mixing two things I think. Lloyds and Halifax will not run another hard search if you open additional accounts. Metro will though.1 -
trient said:Metro, Lloyds, Halifax (and possibly Starling now too?) all do hard searches.
You're mixing two things I think. Lloyds and Halifax will not run another hard search if you open additional accounts. Metro will though.0 -
Hard:
Clydesdale Bank / Virgin Money
Barclays
I imagine you can add Bank of Scotland as per your Lloyds & Halifax
Soft:
Co-operative [EDIT: Cashminder account only]2 -
PloughmansLunch said:Soft:
Co-operative
The link above states clearly that they do a hard search using primarily Experian.
0 -
I called NatWest recently, and they claimed they don't even do a hard search when requesting an arranged overdraft - let alone a current account application. It did sound rather odd - seems they were wrong!If you want me to definitely see your reply, please tag me @forumuser7 Thank you.
N.B. (Amended from Forum Rules): You must investigate, and check several times, before you make any decisions or take any action based on any information you glean from any of my content, as nothing I post is advice, rather it is personal opinion and is solely for discussion purposes. I research before my posts, and I never intend to share anything that is misleading, misinforming, or out of date, but don't rely on everything you read. Some of the information changes quickly, is my own opinion or may be incorrect. Verify anything you read before acting on it to protect yourself because you are responsible for any action you consequently make... DYOR, YMMV etc.0 -
pecunianonolet said:PloughmansLunch said:Soft:
Co-operative
The link above states clearly that they do a hard search using primarily Experian.
0 -
I seem to recall Nationwide did a hard search when I opened a current account with them last year, but didn't when I applied for an overdraft.0
-
AmityNeon said:trient said:Metro, Lloyds, Halifax (and possibly Starling now too?) all do hard searches.
You're mixing two things I think. Lloyds and Halifax will not run another hard search if you open additional accounts. Metro will though.0 -
PloughmansLunch said:pecunianonolet said:PloughmansLunch said:Soft:
Co-operative
The link above states clearly that they do a hard search using primarily Experian.
CashminderA basic bank account with a debit card but no overdraft, for new customers who may not qualify for other kinds of account.Features:
There's no credit check
1
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