7 Chase UK alternatives for UK banking in 2026
Chase UK’s launch hooked a generation of UK switchers with 1 percent cashback on debit-card spend, a 5 percent AER round-up saver, no foreign-transaction fees, and a clean app. Two years in, the limits are clear: the cashback dropped after year one, the saver rate has been trimmed, and Chase still won’t lend you a penny. No credit card, no overdraft, no personal loan, no mortgage. For customers who want one app that covers a borrowing need alongside everyday banking, Chase UK isn’t enough on its own. These Chase UK alternatives cover the same digital-first banking comfort with options for credit, savings depth, multi-currency, or international reach.
We picked seven: the two UK challenger banks Chase competes with directly, the multi-currency travel money specialist, a traditional bank with the best customer service, a borderless e-money option, and two global banks for customers who want a real branch network behind their app.
Quick comparison
| App | Best for | Free plan | Standout feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monzo | Spending insights and Flex credit | Yes | Real-time category budgeting + small credit |
| Starling | Fully free overseas card | Yes | No FX or ATM caps abroad |
| Revolut | Multi-currency travel + investing | Yes | 30+ currencies, crypto, stocks |
| First Direct | Customer service | Yes | 24/7 UK call centre + £250 overdraft |
| Wise | Real exchange rate on transfers | Yes | Mid-market FX, multi-currency receive |
| HSBC UK | International branches | Yes | Global Money Account, 20+ currencies |
| Barclays | One app for everything | Yes | Banking + Barclaycard + mortgage view |
Why people leave Chase UK
Cashback drops after year one. The 1 percent cashback on debit-card spend is a launch incentive that expires after twelve months. The renewed terms cap it lower, and not everyone qualifies for the extension.
No credit, no loans, no mortgages. Chase UK is a current account and a saver. There’s no credit card, no overdraft, no personal loan, and no mortgage. Customers who need any of those keep a second relationship open elsewhere.
The 5 percent saver rate is variable. The headline round-up saver rate has been adjusted down from its launch level. It remains competitive but isn’t guaranteed at 5 percent AER through every rate cycle.
International account opening is restricted. Chase UK accounts are limited to UK residents with a UK address, and opening one as a non-UK national has been bumpy in user reports. International customers find HSBC UK or Revolut easier.
Customer support is chat-first. Chase UK runs a 24/7 chat line but phone support is more limited than First Direct or the traditional banks. For complex disputes, that gap matters.
The best Chase UK alternatives
1. Monzo — best for spending insights and Flex credit
Monzo is the closest like-for-like UK challenger bank to Chase, with Pots (sub-balances), Trends (spending insights), and Flex (a small credit-card-like product that splits purchases into instalments). Monzo’s free Standard tier covers current account, debit card, basic Pots, and Trends. Monzo vs Chase UK: Monzo wins on budgeting depth and the Flex credit option; Chase UK wins on the round-up saver rate and the introductory cashback.
Where it falls short: the free plan caps fee-free overseas cash at £200/month. Some features sit on Plus (£5/month) or Premium (£15/month). Customer service is chat-only.
Pricing: free Standard tier. Plus £5/month, Premium £15/month.
Switching from Chase UK: open Monzo, use CASS to move direct debits and salary in seven working days. Chase UK doesn’t host loans or mortgages, so nothing else needs migrating.
Bottom line: the right call when budgeting depth and a small built-in credit product both matter.
2. Starling — best for a fully free overseas card
Starling Bank has the cleanest free-tier travel money in UK banking: no FX markup, no ATM withdrawal cap abroad, and no foreign-transaction fee. The Mastercard debit charges the Mastercard rate, full stop. Starling Spaces sub-divide the balance, Bills Manager rings off the bills allotment, and joint accounts are free. Starling vs Chase UK: Starling matches Chase on the no-fees-abroad promise without an annual reset, but Chase’s cashback and saver rate are stronger.
Where it falls short: no cashback. No credit card. Savings rates have been competitive but less aggressive than Chase’s saver during high-rate cycles.
Pricing: free current account, free joint account, free saver Space.
Switching from Chase UK: open Starling and run CASS to migrate direct debits. Many switchers keep both accounts open — Chase for the saver, Starling for overseas spending.
Bottom line: the right pick for travellers who don’t want Chase’s annual cashback expiry to determine their overseas card.
3. Revolut — best for multi-currency travel and investing
Revolut holds 30-plus currencies, gives interbank FX on weekdays, and bundles savings vaults, crypto, and stock trading. For customers spending in multiple currencies, Revolut’s free tier handles most travel money cleanly. Revolut vs Chase UK: Revolut is broader (multi-currency, investing) but applies weekend FX markups and ATM caps; Chase UK is the simpler choice for UK-only spending with cashback.
Where it falls short: the free Standard tier caps fee-free ATM withdrawals at £200/month and adds 0.5 percent weekend FX markup. Account freezes are a recurring complaint.
Pricing: free Standard. Plus £3.99/month, Premium £7.99/month, Metal £14.99/month.
Switching from Chase UK: treat Revolut as a travel and investing companion rather than a full replacement. Keep Chase UK for cashback and the saver, use Revolut for overseas spending and stocks.
Bottom line: the right call when travel money and investing matter alongside banking.
4. First Direct — best for customer service and an overdraft
First Direct is HSBC’s premium digital sister brand, with the longest-running reputation in UK banking for human customer service. The 1st Account is free, includes a £250 interest-free overdraft for eligible customers, and the 24/7 UK phone line answers in seconds. Chase UK has no overdraft at all — First Direct’s £250 buffer fills that gap.
Where it falls short: the app is functional rather than slick. No round-up saver. No cashback on debit-card spend. The £250 overdraft is small if you need a real credit line.
Pricing: free 1st Account. £250 interest-free overdraft for eligible customers (charged interest above).
Switching from Chase UK: open First Direct, use CASS for direct debits, and let the £250 overdraft act as a buffer for the days the salary hasn’t landed.
Bottom line: the right pick when an interest-free buffer overdraft and a real phone line matter.
5. Wise — best for the real exchange rate on transfers
Wise is an e-money account with local account numbers in 10-plus countries, mid-market FX on transfers, and a debit card that converts at the interbank rate. For Chase UK customers who occasionally receive USD or EUR or send money abroad, Wise routinely beats Chase’s no-foreign-fees promise on transfers specifically (it’s free spending but the conversion isn’t mid-market).
Where it falls short: Wise is not a bank — deposits aren’t covered by FSCS. Account freezes for compliance checks are documented.
Pricing: free account. Per-transfer fees vary by currency. Card spending in stored currency is free.
Switching from Chase UK: open Wise alongside Chase, not instead of it. Use Wise for international transfers and receiving foreign income; keep Chase for cashback and the saver.
Bottom line: keep alongside Chase for actual international transfers and receiving foreign currency.
6. HSBC UK — best for international account presence
HSBC UK is the global megabank with the Global Money Account giving balances in 20-plus currencies, branches in 60-plus countries, and free transfers between HSBC entities worldwide. For Chase UK customers who travel often or have international family, HSBC UK’s footprint outweighs the slicker challenger-app experience.
Where it falls short: the login flow is heavier than Chase UK — multiple security layers per session. No round-up saver, no cashback. The app feels older than challenger competitors.
Pricing: free standard current account. Premier and Advance tiers add multi-currency benefits with eligibility criteria.
Switching from Chase UK: open HSBC UK alongside Chase, not instead of it. Use HSBC UK for international moves and the Global Money Account; keep Chase for cashback.
Bottom line: the right pick when an international footprint matters more than a slick app.
7. Barclays — best for one app covering everything
Barclays is the traditional UK bank that’s stayed closest to a single-app strategy: current account, Barclaycard, mortgage view, savings, and Smart Investor all sit inside the same Barclays Mobile Banking app. For customers who don’t want a Chase saver and a separate credit-card app and a separate mortgage portal, Barclays is the one-stop option. Barclays vs Chase UK: Barclays is comprehensive but slower; Chase UK is faster but covers a narrower slice.
Where it falls short: the login flow involves Mobile PINsentry, biometric, and security questions — heavier than Chase UK by every measure. The app is feature-rich but cluttered. Day-to-day banking is slower than challenger banks.
Pricing: free Barclays Bank Account. Premier tier with eligibility. Barclaycard products vary by tier.
Switching from Chase UK: open Barclays alongside Chase rather than replacing it, then decide where salary lands based on whether you actually use the Barclaycard or mortgage layer.
Bottom line: the right call when one app for banking, credit card, and mortgage matters more than the slickest day-to-day experience.
How to choose
Pick Monzo when budgeting depth and the built-in Flex credit option matter more than Chase’s cashback. Pick Starling for travellers who want zero overseas fees on the free tier without an annual reset. Pick Revolut for multi-currency spending and built-in investing.
Pick First Direct when an interest-free £250 overdraft buffer and a real 24/7 UK phone line matter. Pick Wise as a companion for international transfers and receiving foreign income at the real exchange rate. Pick HSBC UK when international branches and multi-currency accounts matter more than challenger-app polish.
Pick Barclays when you want a single app that handles current account, credit card, mortgage, and investments — accepting a slower day-to-day experience as the trade-off.
Stay on Chase UK for the cashback (especially in year one), the round-up saver rate, and the clean app — and keep a second account elsewhere for the credit, loan, or mortgage Chase doesn’t offer.
FAQ
Is Chase UK better than Monzo? Chase UK wins on the launch cashback and the saver rate; Monzo wins on budgeting depth and the Flex credit product. Many switchers run both — Chase for the cashback, Monzo for the spending insights.
Why doesn’t Chase UK offer a credit card? Chase UK is JPMorgan’s UK retail-banking arm, scoped at launch as a digital current account and saver. No public commitment to launching UK credit cards has been made through 2026. Customers who want JPMorgan-issued credit have to look at the US Chase card range, which is region-restricted.
Can I get an overdraft with Chase UK? No. Chase UK does not offer arranged overdrafts. For an interest-free buffer, First Direct’s £250 overdraft for eligible 1st Account holders is the most direct alternative.
Is Chase UK’s 5% saver still 5%? Chase UK’s round-up saver has been adjusted from its launch rate. It remains competitive among UK round-up savers but isn’t fixed at 5 percent AER through every rate cycle. Check the current rate in the app before relying on the figure.
Can I open a Chase UK account from outside the UK? Chase UK requires UK residency and a UK address. Customers without UK residency or who travel frequently between countries find Revolut and Wise easier to open and use.
