Sometimes not knowing how to switch bank accounts is all that prevents people from doing so. Fortunately, breaking down the process into manageable steps makes moving banks simple.
Make your move to a new bank as quick and painless as possible by following the checklist below.
Choose a Bank If you haven’t decided where you want to bank yet, look for banks that offer the kind of account you want—checking, savings, or money market account—and narrow your search down to those banks. After that, carefully examine the bank’s features, fee schedule, and online customer reviews. You’ll pick between establishments like:
Standard banks: These are actual businesses, such as big banks and community banks. They frequently, but not always, charge more than online banks and credit unions.
Cooperative banks: These nonprofit organizations, which are owned by customers and function similarly to banks, may provide customers with advantages such as lower interest rates and fee schedules.
Online banks: In most cases, you won’t be able to visit a physical branch of these banks. With lower fees and higher yields, they make up for not having a physical location.
Get Started with Your New Bank Account The sooner you get started with your new account, the better. You can’t switch banks until you have someplace to go.
The simple process of opening an account can typically be completed online within ten minutes or less. Wait for the funds to clear, then verify that they have been deposited into your new account by making an opening deposit (some banks require a certain minimum opening deposit). Make it easier to switch bank accounts by following these account opening guidelines:
Get a Head Start Sign up for an account at least a week before you plan to make your final switch. This is because receiving your new debit card by mail can take several business days. You can also create login credentials for online bank access during this time to set up your online account. Before switching to using your new account exclusively, you will need to have your debit card on hand and all of your online accounts, including any apps, set up.
To activate wire transfers or other features of your new account, some banks may require you to sign and return forms via mail. You will be able to immediately begin utilizing all of your new account’s features if you promptly return these forms.
Connect the New Account to the Old One Establish an electronic connection between the New Account and the Old Account that You Want to Close. Money can be moved in this easiest and cheapest way. On the off chance that both the new and old banks utilize one individual to another portable installment stage, for example, Zelle, this is your lucky day — that is many times the quickest method for moving cash free of charge.
Ask about the bank’s resources for switching accounts. Some banks offer services that take the hassle out of switching accounts. For instance, the bank might transfer your direct deposits and automatic payments, or it might even notify your previous bank to close the account. To make the switch as simple as possible, inquire about your bank’s account switch services.
Identify Your Monthly Costs Before switching banks, take a look at all of your bills that are paid automatically. Before you cancel those payments and set them up to be paid from your new account, you shouldn’t close (or empty) your old bank account.
For a while, you might want to switch to paper bills so that nothing gets lost in the shuffle. You can still use the old account to pay bills through online bill pay; however, rather than having your service providers “pull” payments automatically, make sure to “push” the money from the account while it is still there. During the transition, make use of the following suggestions to help keep payments on time:
Start Using Your New Account If you plan to use online bill pay or write checks, start writing checks from your new account to get used to using it. Transfer money from your previous account to help pay for those payments.
Recognize Installments in Past Explanations
Survey the whole year of exchanges in your old record to guarantee that you represent any forthcoming installments that are ordinarily charged on a less continuous premise. The statement from the previous month is insufficient, and the minimum amount of time should be three months. You can only make certain payments once a year or every three months, and those typically represent significant sums of money (for instance, premiums for life insurance). Different installments might be interesting, for example, PayPal drafts out of your financial records for inconsistent eBay buys.
Redirect Your Income If direct deposit is being made into your previous account, you should request that your employer transfer payments to the new account. Again, before you’re done switching banks, be ready to transfer money several times between your old and new accounts, possibly by check or electronic transfer.
It might take a few payroll intervals or charging cycles to change installments to another financial balance. Make a schedule that takes into account the duration of the procedure by asking your employer.
Take into account all of your sources of income, including:
Benefits from Social Security, including income from pensions and annuities, investments, and regular payments Link the New Account to Your Other Active Accounts Use the app or website of your new bank to link your new checking or savings account to all of your other active accounts. To make it easier for you to achieve your financial objectives, this step gives you the ability to make one-time or recurring transfers from one account to another.
You can, for instance, schedule automatic transfers from a checking account to a retirement account or emergency fund by linking accounts.
You should carefully plan the day you want to switch over your money, direct deposits, and bill payments because there are a lot of moving parts when switching bank accounts. If you don’t watch out, you probably won’t leave sufficient cash in the old financial balance for a programmed bill installment you disregarded, and that could bring about an overdraft charge.
To minimize damage, keep a small amount in your old account. Accept the fact that your previous account will need to remain open for an additional month. It’s smarter to pay from the old record than miss an installment or pay late. Late loan payments can result in penalty fees and even have an impact on your credit score.
Inadequate timing when switching bank accounts is to blame for many errors. Plan important planned transactions into your day to complete the switch. Think back through your exchange history and find a date that will give you a lot of lead time. Change everything on the second of each month, for instance, if you don’t have any automatic transactions between the second and the 12th of each month. This will give your service providers (like your mortgage, electric company, and insurance) enough time to update your account information before the next payment is due.
Keep Your Old Record Open (for some time)
Try not to close your old record excessively fast. The process of updating the instructions for automatic billing and direct deposit may take longer than you anticipate. To ensure that everyone is using your new account information, wait at least a month or two.
You probably want to close your account as soon as possible if you are switching banks because of fees. However, if you are changing accounts for other reasons (such as relocation), it is safer to keep your previous account open for a few more months.
Check your checkbook one last time before closing your old account to make sure there are no unpaid checks or missed electronic payments.
Close the Old Account After all expected debits and credits have cleared in the Old Account, take out any money that is still in the Account. If it’s a small amount, you can pay with cash or ask for a cashier’s check. Because you might not be able to process the check before your bank closes the account, writing yourself a personal check is less secure. One way or another, make it official. Give the bank official instructions to stop making statements, paying interest, and charging fees, as well as specify where to send any money that is still in your account.
The closing of the account is the final step in switching banks. Online account closure is an option offered by some banks. Contact the bank to find out how to permanently close the account if yours does not. You can typically send a letter or call to request account closure, but joint accounts may have additional requirements. You have successfully switched banks once the bank has informed you that your account has been closed.
How simple is it to switch bank accounts, according to frequently asked questions (FAQs)
It is simple to switch bank accounts, but there are several steps involved and you will need to coordinate your new and old accounts with all of your incoming and outgoing funds. You may bounce a transaction or overdraw one of your accounts if you miss any steps. Be mindful to design out the means and watch your records cautiously during the interaction.
When is the best time to change banks?
There is no ideal time to switch bank accounts; rather, it all comes down to what you want from your banking experience. Consider other options if you find that you are paying a lot of fees, earning low yields in your savings accounts, or missing out on modern features like mobile deposit.
