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How to close your current account
Learn how to close your current account in branch, by phone, by post or using our Mobile Banking app.
Before you go, you might want to view our range of current accounts to see if there’s one that better suits your needs.
Switching current accounts
If you’re switching current accounts, you can use the Current Account Switch Service. This will automatically close your account, so you won’t need to do anything. It will also move across any Direct Debits and standing orders to your new account.
Ways to close a current account
Joint accounts
Removing someone from a joint account
You’ll need to visit a Bank of Scotland branch to remove someone from a joint account. You will need to make sure any overdraft debt is cleared before someone can be removed from the account.
Closing a joint account
To close a joint current account, we only need instruction from one of the people named on the account. You can do this in branch, over the phone, by post, or using the Web chat function in our Mobile Banking app.
You’ll need to move or cancel any Direct Debits or standing orders and you must make sure any overdraft debt is paid off including interest. If you’re using the Current Account Switch Service, any Direct Debits and standing orders will be moved automatically to your new account.
If you want to move to a different provider, you can use the Current Account Switch Service. Your account will be closed automatically as part of that process.
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A look at the details
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We want to make it easy as possible to deal with some of the money-related issues you may be facing when someone passes away.
Our bereavement page will help you understand how to close the account of someone who’s died.
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Once we have processed the closure, we’ll send confirmation to you by email or post.
You won’t be able to deposit money into or withdraw money from the account. You should also destroy any debit cards you have for that account.
If you’re switching to another account using the Current Account Switch Service, any standing orders and Direct Debits on your old account will be automatically moved to your new one. Any payments made to your old account will be redirected to your new account. We will contact the sender with your new account details.
If you’re not using the Current Account Switch Service, you will need to update any payment details yourself. Learn how to update a standing order here, and how to update a Direct Debit here.
Once we close your account, we can't reopen it.
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If someone attempts to make a payment into a closed current account, the money should be automatically returned to them.
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We can give you access to copy statements (your transaction history) after you have closed your account. We can do this at any time for the following five years.
If you still have access to our Mobile Banking app or Online Banking through having another open account, you can continue to view electronic copies of your transaction history on your closed account through your Digital Inbox.
If you’re closing a current account, we will also give you your transaction history (at no cost) covering up to five years before you closed the account, unless you choose not to receive it at that time.
Please call us to speak to one of our assistants. Lines are open 8am – 8pm, seven days a week. You can also visit a Bank of Scotland branch, and one of our branch colleagues will be happy to help.
Find out more about requesting statement from an account that has been closed.
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Packaged accounts with insurance benefits
There is no charge for converting or closing your account but you’ll pay the monthly fee for the time the account has been open. Your final account fee will be proportionate to the number of days from the last fee debit day to the date of closure or account change.
When you close your account, the insurance benefits that come with the account will stop straight away, except for any upgrades purchased for breakdown cover directly through the AA.
- AA Breakdown Family Cover: if you purchased additional upgrades on your AA Breakdown Family Cover, these will still be in place until they reach the end of their term and the AA will continue the cover previously provided to you with your account, at no additional cost to you, until the annual expiry date of your upgrade.
Vantage Account
There is no charge for converting or closing your Vantage account, but you may not qualify for credit interest in the last month.
To qualify for credit interest in that month, you need to have paid £1,000 or more into your account, as well as having paid at least two Direct Debits for that calendar month, up to the point of closure or conversion. The account will also need to have remained in credit (above £0 balance) for that monthly billing period up to the point of closure or conversion.
If you do qualify for credit interest for that month, it will be proportionate to the number of days from the start of the monthly billing period to the date of closure or account conversion.
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It’s normal that closing a current account could have an effect on your credit score. How much it affects your score depends various things. These include whether the account has an arranged overdraft, the age of the account, and how you used the account, and if you made payments on time.
If there is a change in your credit score from closing your account, it will usually only be temporary.
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If you want to close a business bank account, please visit our business banking help and support.
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