Best banks for customer satisfaction named — where does yours rank?

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) requires banks to take part in an independent customer satisfaction survey, run every six months, so customers and small businesses can compare providers before deciding where to bank. Here's how the latest results, published August 2026, stack up.

1. Personal Banking: Digital Challengers Lead the Table

Monzo holds the top spot for personal current accounts, with 79% of customers saying they'd recommend it to friends and family. Starling follows in 2nd place at 76%, with Nationwide and First Direct tied for 3rd at 75% each.

At the other end of the table, Royal Bank of Scotland ranks last (17th) at 48%, with Virgin Money just above it in 16th place at 49%.

2. Business Banking: A Digital-First Top Three

The business current account table is led entirely by digital-first providers: Monzo takes 1st place at 85%, followed by Starling at 83% and NatWest's digital-only brand, Mettle, at 82%. Handelsbanken rounds out the top four at 78%.

Traditional high-street names occupy the bottom of the table. Santander sits last (17th) at 48%, with Bank of Scotland just above it at 53%, and a three-way tie between The Co-operative Bank, Barclays, and TSB at 56% each.

2026 Banking Winners and Losers

Monzo holds the top spot in both the personal and business current account categories for Great Britain.

In personal banking, Starling holds a clear 2nd place, ahead of a tie between Nationwide and First Direct for 3rd.

In business banking, the top three are all digital-first providers — Monzo, Starling, and Mettle — a notable shift from the traditional high-street banks that still dominate further down the table.

At the bottom of the personal banking rankings, Royal Bank of Scotland remains the least-recommended provider (17th), followed by Virgin Money (16th) and a tie between Santander and The Co-operative Bank for joint-13th.

For business accounts, Santander sits last of the 17 providers surveyed, with Bank of Scotland, and a three-way tie between The Co-operative Bank, Barclays and TSB, also trailing the digital challengers at the top of the table.

The CMA requires banks and building societies to display these survey results prominently, both in branch and online, so customers can compare providers and consider switching if their current bank's service falls short.

The CMA has published these independent rankings every six months for over seven years as part of the Retail Banking Order, helping customers compare the quality of service between providers.

Monzo, now with more than 15 million customers, is an app-only bank that has proved popular with people wanting to easily track their spending. It features services including splitting your salary into pots such as bills and savings, as well as offering easy-access savings pots.

Best and worst personal current account providers*

*How likely customers said they would be to recommend their personal current account provider to friends and family. Source: Ipsos, published August 2026.

Best and worst business bank account providers*

*How likely customers said they would be to recommend their business current account provider to other SMEs. Source: Ipsos, published August 2026.

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Card details correct as of 09 September 2026. Terms, rates and features are subject to change — always verify current details before applying. This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice.