Current Accounts news in 2024
21 stories, newest first.
- December 2024
Nationwide payment outage on 22 December leaves customers waiting for wages
Nationwide customers reported waiting for wages and seeing Direct Debits bounce during a payment outage on 22 December, one of four faster payment problems at the building society in recent months.
FCA cash access rules intended to be in force
The Financial Conduct Authority intends its rules making cash access reviews a legal requirement to be in force by the end of 2024, under powers granted by the Financial Services and Markets Act 2023.
- November 2024
FCA updates CONC 5D rules on identifying repeat overdraft use and supporting customers in financial difficulties
The Financial Conduct Authority has revised its overdraft repeat use rules, updating definitions, monitoring duties and intervention requirements for firms, including sustainability tests and objective income and expenditure assessments.
Strengthened intervention rules for repeat overdraft users in financial difficulty take effect
The Financial Conduct Authority's strengthened rules for banks and lenders dealing with repeat overdraft users in financial difficulty took effect on 4 November 2024, requiring prompt contact and assessment of options.
- October 2024
High Court approves transfer of Tesco Bank banking business to Barclays
The High Court approved the transfer of Tesco Bank's banking business to Barclays Bank UK PLC on 17 October 2024, with the transfer completing on 1 November 2024.
Over 350 more firms to join Confirmation of Payee
More than 350 additional payment firms are to join the Confirmation of Payee name checking service by the end of October 2024, alongside new mandatory APP fraud reimbursement rules starting on 7 October.
Virgin Money acquired by Nationwide Building Society
Virgin Money's banking business transferred to Nationwide Building Society on 2 April 2026, after Court approval on 23 February 2026, combining the two businesses under mutual ownership.
- September 2024
CP24/11 consultation closes on the maximum level of reimbursement for Faster Payments APP scams
The Payment Systems Regulator's consultation on lowering the maximum reimbursement for Faster Payments APP scams from £415,000 to £85,000 closed on 18 September 2024, with the policy start date unchanged.
FCA access to cash rules come into force
Rules requiring designated banks and building societies to assess and fill gaps in local cash provision came into force on 18 September 2024, after being published by the FCA on 24 July 2024.
Specific Direction 21 issued for CHAPS APP scam reimbursement
The Payment Systems Regulator has published Specific Direction 21, requiring firms participating in CHAPS to reimburse victims of authorised push payment scams from 7 October 2024.
FCA cash access rules come into effect
Rules giving the Financial Conduct Authority responsibility for protecting cash access took effect in September 2024, requiring banks to assess an area before closing services that affect withdrawals and deposits.
Government secures industry commitment to 350 banking hubs
The Government says it secured an industry commitment in September 2024 to roll out 350 banking hubs by the end of this parliament, alongside new access to cash rules.
PSR publishes PS24/5 CHAPS APP scams reimbursement requirement
The Payment Systems Regulator has published Specific Direction 21, extending authorised push payment scam reimbursement rules to CHAPS payments from 6 September 2024.
- August 2024
Consultation launched on extending APP scam reimbursement to CHAPS participants
The Payment Systems Regulator has consulted on proposals to require banks and other firms using the CHAPS payment system to reimburse customers who are victims of authorised push payment scams.
- July 2024
FCA publishes access to cash rules
The Financial Conduct Authority published final rules on 24 July 2024 requiring designated banks and building societies to assess and fill gaps in local cash provision, with the rules taking effect on 18 September 2024.
- June 2024
Pay.UK must publish final Faster Payments reimbursement rules and compliance monitoring regime
Pay.UK was required by the Payment Systems Regulator to publish final Faster Payments reimbursement rules and an approved compliance monitoring regime by 7 June 2024, ahead of the 7 October 2024 start date.
- May 2024
Treasury designates 14 large banks and building societies and 2 LINK entities for the access to cash regime
The Treasury has designated 14 large banks and building societies, plus two LINK entities, for the FCA's new access to cash regime, with rules taking effect on 18 September 2024.
Current account holding rises and unbanked population falls
The number of UK adults holding a current account rose to 52.5 million in May 2024 from 50.8 million in 2022, while the unbanked population fell to 0.9 million from 1.1 million.
Treasury designates banks and building societies subject to access to cash rules
The Treasury has named the banks and building societies that will fall under the Financial Conduct Authority's access to cash rules, along with an operator of cash access coordination arrangements.
- March 2024
Government published draft rules on account termination notice
The government has published draft rules that would require banks to give 90 days' notice before closing an account and to explain the reason, with the rules intended to be in force by the end of 2024.
- January 2024
Link recommends 101 new banking hubs across the UK
Link has recommended 101 new banking hubs across the UK, following assessments made when the last bank branch in an area closed and requests from communities.