Danske Bank

Danske Bank is the brand you see on Northern Ireland high streets and in its app, and it is the name the bank uses for everything it sells to personal customers: current accounts, mortgages, personal loans and cards. Its branch network and its mortgage lending are built around Northern Ireland, and that shapes what it offers more than anything else. Its mortgages are for properties in Northern Ireland only, and if the home you are buying is in England, the bank directs you to a local Mortgage Advice Bureau broker instead¹.

The bank runs three named personal current accounts, Danske Reward, Danske Freedom and Danske Choice, each with a contactless Debit Mastercard, plus a Discovery account for children and teenagers². It also offers a fixed rate personal loan to existing customers, credit cards, and a range of mortgages for first-time buyers, home movers and people remortgaging. Accounts are offered subject to status, eligibility criteria and the bank's lending policy¹.

What Danske Bank offers: current accounts, loans, credit cards and mortgages

Danske Bank's personal current account range has three named accounts. Danske Reward comes with a contactless Debit Mastercard, and the bank states that debit card use abroad in any currency attracts no fees from it, as do online non-sterling purchases⁶. Danske Freedom and Danske Choice sit alongside it in the range, and the bank's own site sets out each account's monthly fee and how to reduce or avoid account charges, for example by how you use the account⁷. If you are comparing accounts generally, our current accounts guide explains how fees, overdrafts and switching work.

The debit card across the range is a Debit Mastercard, which can be used for contactless payments, online shopping and cash withdrawals, and can be blocked and reordered through eBanking or the app⁸. Credit cards are also available, and payments to a Danske Bank credit card can be made at any Danske Bank branch⁵. Our credit cards guide explains how card charges and protections work.

On the lending side, the Danske Fixed Rate Personal Loan is fixed for the whole term, so repayments stay the same whether interest rates rise or fall. It is only open to existing customers: you must be 18 or over, resident in the United Kingdom, and hold either a Danske Bank personal current account, excluding Danske Standard, that has been open and operational for at least six months, or a Danske Bank residential mortgage drawn down at least six months ago⁹. See our loans guide for how personal loans compare with other ways of borrowing.

Mortgages are the bank's biggest lending product, covered in the next section. The bank also runs a switch offer for people moving their current account to it, open to new Danske Bank personal current account customers, with full terms on its own site¹.

Mortgages for Northern Ireland homes: applying, valuations and moving house

Danske Bank offers mortgages for properties in Northern Ireland only¹⁰. That applies across the whole range: first-time buyer mortgages, home mover mortgages, remortgages and fixed rate mortgages are all for Northern Ireland homes¹¹. The remortgage offer is currently only available to customers in Northern Ireland¹³. If your home is in England, the bank's consistent answer on every mortgage page is to contact a local Mortgage Advice Bureau broker for information on current rates¹⁰.

The range covers the main ways people buy. First-time buyer mortgages include a Fixed Rate option and a Fixed Rate on Co-Ownership mortgages in Northern Ireland, a shared-ownership style arrangement that lets you buy both new and existing properties¹⁴. Home mover mortgages include options for overpayments and lump sums¹⁰. There is also an Energy Efficient Home Mortgage, available to first-time buyers, home movers and remortgage customers for properties in Northern Ireland, and a homeowner personal loan for existing mortgage customers living in Northern Ireland who want to make energy improvements¹⁵.

When you apply, the bank arranges for a surveyor to inspect the property, provide a valuation and produce a basic valuation report, and it currently covers the cost of that basic valuation. Any additional checks or more detailed surveys, such as a full structural survey, must be arranged yourself with a professional of your choice, at your own expense¹⁶. A remortgage application runs in three steps: use the repayment calculator, get a Decision in Principle, then submit your application and speak with a Mortgage Adviser¹³. Our mortgages guide and buying a home guide explain each stage in detail.

If you have a fixed rate and are moving home, you may be able to take that rate with you, which the bank calls porting. Porting is subject to its lending, affordability and eligibility criteria, and you must have a new offer from Danske Bank before you sell your old home. When you port, the outstanding mortgage amount, the interest rate and the end date of the fixed rate all stay the same. Any new borrowing is at rates available on the day of application. The bank will not charge an early repayment charge if the sale of your old home and the purchase of your new one complete on the same day. You can also port when adding or removing a person on the mortgage, known as Change of Title or Transfer of Title¹⁷. To arrange it, contact your broker or the bank to make an appointment¹⁷.

Danske Bank has signed up to the UK Government's Mortgage Charter, which sets out support options lenders offer borrowers who are struggling¹⁸.

Paying off a Danske Bank mortgage and getting your deeds back

When your mortgage is fully repaid, you can ask Danske Bank to release the title deeds to your home. You complete a form to request the deeds, and the bank then begins the process of vacating the mortgage and releasing them. Vacating the mortgage means Danske Bank will no longer be named on your deeds as an interested party. Fees apply to vacate the mortgage and release the deeds, and these are set out in the form itself, so the current amounts come from the bank's own site¹⁹.

Once the deeds are released, they are your responsibility. The bank advises you to consider how and where you will store them safely, since the deeds are the legal documents proving ownership. It also suggests that with the mortgage repaid it may be a good time to review your financial situation and consider future investment or savings opportunities, and to check whether any insurance related to your mortgage still suits your needs, taking advice before making changes¹⁹. Our savings guide and investing guide cover those next steps.

Before that point, the bank's mortgages give you the option to make regular overpayments or one-off lump sums²⁰. For fixed rate mortgages, you can arrange an overpayment by sending a secure mail message via the Mobile Banking app or eBanking, or by calling the mortgage customer line; for variable rate mortgages you can transfer funds directly to your mortgage account using eBanking or the mobile banking app²⁰. The rules on how much you can overpay without charge are set out in your mortgage terms.

Who can open a Danske Bank account and how long setup takes

For adult accounts, whether the bank provides credit depends on your circumstances, and you must be 18 or over⁷. Personal current accounts are offered subject to status, eligibility criteria and the bank's lending policy¹. You may need to provide security for overdrafts⁷.

The bank publishes service timescales required by the Financial Conduct Authority, covering the six months to 30 June 2026. Accounts are opened on the same day for 33% of customers, on average in 1 day, and within 9 days for 99% of customers, counted from receipt of all required information and documents. Internet banking access is set up on average in 5 days, and within 7 days for 99% of customers from account opening. A debit card arrives on average in 4 days, and within 6 days for 99% of customers²¹.

There is also an account for young people. Danske Discovery can be applied for online by a parent or legal guardian of a child aged 8 to 17, or by 16 and 17 year olds themselves, by phone by a parent or legal guardian, or in branch²².

If you are switching from another bank, the current accounts guide explains the Current Account Switch Service and what guarantees it gives you.

Banking with Danske Bank: app, eBanking, branches, phone and the Post Office

Danske Bank's digital services are eBanking, its online banking platform, and the Mobile Banking app, available on iOS and Android. Together with its alert services they let you manage your money 24 hours a day, seven days a week²³. Setting up eBanking involves two methods of authentication: your logon details plus either the Danske ID security app or an eSafeID device²⁴. The bank offers a range of free text or email alerts managed through eBanking, including daily, weekly or monthly balance alerts, payment alerts and low balance alerts⁷. There is also a text service for customers who prefer updates by SMS²³.

You can send the bank a secure message through the Mobile App, under Messages, or through eBanking under Contact²⁵. Branches handle the things that need a person: opening accounts, changing loan payment dates, blocking cards and lodging cash. Some branches also have cash machines or automated deposit machines you can use to lodge cash²³.

Through the bank's relationship with the Post Office, personal customers can withdraw and deposit cash, check their balance and lodge cheques at any Post Office in the UK with just their Danske Debit Mastercard. To lodge or withdraw cash, or check your balance, you need your Debit Mastercard, and cash and cheques must be lodged separately. When you withdraw cash at the Post Office, your available balance is adjusted immediately, though the value date and entry date are the next business day. Cheques can be lodged at all Post Office branches in Northern Ireland²⁶.

Using your Danske Bank card at home and abroad

Your card can be managed across three areas: the UK only, abroad, or online for internet transactions²⁷. This matters because when the bank sends you a new card, it is set to work in the UK and online only, so before you travel you need to switch on use abroad in the app or eBanking²⁸. When you return to the UK, you enter your PIN the first time you use your card again to reactivate it for use in the UK²⁸.

A new card can be activated by using it with the correct PIN in a shop's card terminal, at a cash machine or in a Post Office, by tapping Cards and selecting Activate card in the app, or by logging on to eBanking and selecting Cards and currency, then Card overview²⁸. Using a debit card to withdraw cash from a Danske Bank cash machine is not charged for by the bank²⁸.

Contactless payments let you pay for purchases of £100 or less by holding your card against the reader, and your card has a default contactless limit of £100 per transaction²⁹. You can choose a lower limit between £0 and £100 in the Mobile Banking app under the Cards tab, then Card settings, Card limits and Contactless Limit, or by calling or visiting a branch²⁹. Changing the contactless limit does not affect what you can pay for using your PIN at the till, or spending with cards in a digital wallet²⁷. For what cards cost abroad generally, see our money abroad guide.

Scams and fraud: what Danske Bank will never ask you to do

Danske Bank publishes a consistent list of things it will never ask you for, and knowing it is a practical protection against fraud. The bank will never ask you to reveal PINs, the numbers from your credit or debit card, your 3-digit card security code, or unique one-time passwords from 3D Secure³⁰. It will not ask for codes it has texted you, your eBanking user ID or passcode, or your Danske ID username or passcode³¹. It will never ask you to move money to a "safe account", and neither Danske Bank, law enforcement nor other genuine firms will ever ask you to move money out of your account for security reasons³². It will never ask you to approve a refund, and it will never ask you to install software or apps, or for remote access to your device, for example through AnyDesk or TeamViewer²⁷.

A few practical rules follow from this. As part of your card agreement, you must be the sole user of your card and it should never be out of your possession³⁰. 3D Secure passwords will only ever be sent to your phone if you have made an online purchase yourself³⁰. A genuine link from Danske Bank will contain "danskebank.co.uk" followed by a "/" and the subdomain, so check the address carefully before logging on³¹.

If you suspect fraud, an unauthorised transaction, or misuse of your eBanking or Mobile Bank access, contact the bank immediately. Its help pages list a 24-hour telephone service, with 0800 032 4368 given for suspected unauthorised transactions or fraud²⁹ and 0345 600 2882 given as a customer service and fraud line³⁴, so the number on the back of your own card or the bank's contact page will have the current one. You can also call 159, the banking short code²⁷. You can block your card yourself in the Mobile Banking app or eBanking at any time³². If your card is retained by a cash machine, call the bank immediately so it can block the card from use³⁰. Our scams and fraud guide explains the main scam types and your rights.

Help if you are struggling with repayments or need extra support

Danske Bank has signed up to the UK Government's Mortgage Charter and states it is committed to it¹⁸. If you are struggling with mortgage repayments, the bank has support options that can be applied for online, and you can request a call to see what support is available¹⁸. Mortgage support options include reducing your payments for an agreed period, a partial payment deferral where you make reduced payments of a specific amount for an agreed period, a full payment deferral, and reviewing your existing mortgage product or term³⁵.

For personal loans and credit cards, the bank lists options including consolidating your existing commitments into one affordable monthly payment, subject to its normal checks, and agreeing a repayment plan based on your individual circumstances. Loan support can also include repaying arrears in a structured plan or pausing repayments for a short period³⁵. The bank also says help is available from independent organisations, from free debt advice to mental health support¹⁸. Free, independent debt advice is available from MoneyHelper, and our debt guide sets out the options and your rights.

If you are worried that someone else has access to your bank card and PIN details, the bank can block the card and order a new one, or you can do this yourself on eBanking²⁵.

Changing your name and other details

For changes to your personal details, including your name, Danske Bank does not publish a single dedicated process, so the practical route is a secure message through the Mobile App or eBanking, a call, or a visit to a branch²⁵. You will normally need to provide evidence of the change, such as a marriage certificate or deed poll, and the branch can confirm exactly what it needs.

Some routine changes you can make yourself. You can change the date a standing order leaves your account through eBanking, the Mobile Banking app or by contacting your branch. If you want to change the date a Danske Bank loan payment is taken, the bank directs you to contact your branch, and it notes that changing the payment date may affect the amount of interest you have to pay on the loan. Direct debits are different: to change the date a direct debit leaves your account, you must contact the company that takes it, not the bank⁷.

Making a complaint to Danske Bank

You can complain to Danske Bank through an online form, by phone on 0345 600 2882, in branch, by email to its complaints team, or in writing to its Belfast address, all listed on its complaints page³⁷. If part of your complaint relates to a product another company has provided, such as an insurance product, the bank sends that part to the company concerned promptly and explains why in its Final Response, including that company's contact details³⁷.

The bank tries to resolve complaints by the close of business on the third business day after receiving one. If it cannot, it sends you a letter to acknowledge the complaint, which may include its final response, and in all other cases it will send a letter explaining its position within eight weeks of receiving your complaint³⁸. If you have been the victim of a scam, you complete the bank's Scam Claim form with as much information as possible; it aims to have an outcome within 5 business days, and in some cases claims may take longer but not more than 35 business days. When raising a claim, the bank needs to share your information with the receiving bank to investigate fully³⁴.

For card disputes, contact the retailer or service provider first to see if they can resolve the issue, then ask the bank, as your card provider, to raise a dispute with the retailer's or service provider's bank. Use one dispute form for each transaction you are disputing³⁴. If you have not contacted the retailer you can still proceed with the claim, but the bank may require details of how and when you attempted to resolve things and the outcome²⁸.

Danske Bank has been named a Which? Recommended Provider for current accounts²². In the first half of 2026, 1,509 banking and credit card complaints were opened across the firm³⁹. If you are unhappy with the bank's final response, or eight weeks have passed, you can take the complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service; our consumer protection guide explains how.

How your money is protected at Danske Bank

Danske Bank is a trading name of Northern Bank Limited, which is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority and is on the Bank of England's list of banks incorporated in the UK authorised to accept deposits². Deposits with UK-authorised banks are protected by the UK's deposit guarantee scheme; our consumer protection guide explains how that scheme works and where its limits sit.

Day to day, the bank layers security across its services. Every time you log on to eBanking, it uses two-factor authentication to make sure it is really you, using either the Danske ID security app or an eSafeID device, alongside your logon details²⁴. Its systems use SSL encryption to confirm you are communicating with the bank, to identify you before confidential information is transmitted, and to prevent unauthorised access³³. Cards are protected online by Strong Customer Authentication, which adds an extra layer of security when you shop online; where a retailer asks for approval, you use the Danske ID security app or a password you create alongside a six-digit one-time passcode sent by text²⁸. For approving payments over £1,000 on the Mobile Banking app, the bank asks for an extra security check using its security app²⁷.

The bank also runs a Customer Protection Centre, a team of local advisers whose purpose is to keep you and your Danske Bank accounts safe²⁵. If you are the victim of financial abuse, the bank has a support team that can help, including blocking cards and ordering replacements²⁵. If anything goes wrong, the fraud reporting routes in the scams section above are the way to stop further losses.