Switching From Barclays

[Jennykenny]

I want to switch most of my income and direct debits to another bank, but still keep my Barclays account. I keep getting told I have to close it. Which bank allows me to have both accounts??

[murraymints]

if you keep a wee bit in I don`t see why not ?

[Cloverjo]

Who is telling you have to close your Barclays account? Any bank will open a new account for you. It's nothing to do with them if you keep others.

[knowabit]

Is it one of those accounts you have to have a minimum amount being paid into each month?

[dzug2]

If you use the banks' switching service for DDs etc then your old account will be closed by default

If you want to keep the old one you must open the new account and transfer the DDs etc yourself. You will probably miss out on any incentive for switching accounts

[boxtops]

I've got accounts with different banks - one with Nationwide, one with Lloyds. There's never been any suggestion that I have to close one or the other. Both are active.

If you move your direct debits gradually - doing it yourself, not getting Barclays to do it - I can't see that there would be a problem?

[kvalidir]

I have five different bank accounts, you can have as many as you like. Just open a new account at your chosen bank ( not via a switching service) and arrange for your finances to be paid into your new account. If you need to troll money through your original account do that and set up a direct debit to yourself.

[factor-fiction]

Does this new account come with an offer of something like £100 for switching to them? Those offers usually require you to switch your account. Who is saying you need to close it- Barclays or your proposed new bank?

[Peter Pedant]

Perhaps you are using the transfer service and they are saying if you do, then the old account will be closed.

Do one account and keep decent books ( good training and discipline )

I am in the process of CLOSING accounts as maintaing a few seems a waste of time.

[pretty_snowdrop]

If you are using the current account switch service which most banks use to transfer over dds etc you can either choose a full or a partial transfer. The full transfer moves everything over including your salary and the old account closes. With a partial transfer you can choose which payments move over, your salary or balance isn't transfered and the account isn't closed. However if you are moving banks in order to get a joining incentive many insist you do the full transfer.

[Jennykenny]

Thanks to all.
Appreciate that I have to do the switching myself.

[pretty_snowdrop]

No need to do it yourself. Tell them you want to do a partial mandate switch and don't wish to close your old back account down. Your new bank will send you a list of payment instructions held on your old bank account ( direct debits, standing orders and abps) and you can choose which ones are transferred. By doing a partial mandate switch your old bank will not be closed. Please be aware that the majority of switches are full switches ( where the old account is closed) so ensure the bank understand your instructions.