Convert to a Joint Account

Parkhall

I want to convert my current account to a joint account with my wife. I emailed the bank and the process requires a lot of rigmarole. Does anyone know if it would be less hassle to just create a new joint account and then transfer all into it? Can you do one of those handy account switches within the same bank?

Mark_d

It's very easy to create a joint account and then transfer in to it.
We've tried joint accounts in the past but decided to go back to sole accounts.  Maintaining a joint account means we'd both take an interest in each other's spending...and shouldn't you be able to make purchases that your partner might not completely agree with?

PRAISETHESUN

If your OH isn't a customer of the bank in question then they basically need to go through all the same process you would have gone through to open the account in the first place. Even as an existing customer, some banks still put you through the ringer when trying to open a joint account - I recall past threads about LBG requiring branch visits, etc.

As for CASS switching, you won't be able to switch within the same bank as the process is designed for switching between banks, not within a bank.

ButterCheese

My partner was already with Barclays, and we wanted a joint account with Barclays.  We both still had to go into the branch with ID, and then I had to download an App that verified my face and my voice.  It was a bit of a pain, especially because Barclays own Wifi did not work and the mobile reception was terrible.

But, I would not choose which bank to go with purely on how easy or hard it is to set up.  Barclays app is much better (IMO) than Lloyds.  Santander is not too bad. I don't know about the others.  Look into what you can do on each of their apps and what services they provide, then just go through what you have to go through.

We find it much easier having a joint account but to each their own.  If you are living together, whether married or not, there should be an element of Trust i.e. neither party should have anything to hide!  There are so many stories of spouses running up debt and putting a mortgaged house at risk without the other spouse knowing.  Having it in full view prevents this.

We also keep a spreadsheet of incoming and outgoing monies so we can manage it better

Rob5342

It depends on how difficult the bank wants to be . Halifax wanted us to mess around going to a branch so we gave up on that and opened one with Santander instead who let us do it all online. More recently we opened a joint Monzo one which was a breeze, ten minutes with our phones and passports and it was all done

I'd suggest that you both kept your personal accounts in any case, and move things to a joint one depending how it all works out. 

Jami74

Recently opened a joint account with Lloyds. We both already had sole accounts so were able to do it in the app, we stood next to each other at home in the evening in our pyjamas, think we had to swap codes or something. Proper romantic it was  

WillPS

Mark_d said:

It's very easy to create a joint account and then transfer in to it.
We've tried joint accounts in the past but decided to go back to sole accounts.  Maintaining a joint account means we'd both take an interest in each other's spending...and shouldn't you be able to make purchases that your partner might not completely agree with?

Every relationship is different. Not everyone needs this level of privacy from their spouse.

Even if you do, surely you'd just have a separate sole account for this kind of purpose? There's no limit to the amount of current accounts one can hold overall, and even the banks which do have limits like Starling a sole and a joint is always allowed.

WillPS

My wife and I have been through the process of turning a few accounts in to joints. As a rule of thumb, converting existing accounts to joint normally requires a branch visit, but opening new joint accounts normally doesn't.

MillieJean

hi, not a response for your particular enquiry, but to throw into awareness. For 14 years I cared for my invalid mother who eventually developed dementia. During this time I did all her shopping and finances. It became a bit of a bother so on advice from a friend in social services. But this was in the days of walk-in high street banks though and the staff knew mum and me, it was easy to do (with hers and families approval).I got a debit card and life became a lot easier. When she passed away, I (family) had no finance/banking issues to sort out, or pay to sort out as my name was on the accounts.
Hubby and I have always had a joint bank account, plus personal ones when we worked. Just about to close the loop and bring them into the joint account. So may experience something quite different. There’s no need for money to be a touchy subject in relationships, the only times we argued about spend - was when he smoked!

Bigwheels1111

After my friends experience with a joint account and his now ex wife.

It was not for me. Cleaned it out before she left, over 20k.

We had separate accounts before we got together, I then opened a new account for us to use.

Bill etc. As we both had access to my iPad via Face ID, that gave us both access to the account.

So no joint account needed.