Close your account

We’ll help make closing your Bank of Scotland bank account simple.

If your account doesn’t suit your needs, we’ve a range of accounts that you may find useful.

Switching current accounts

If you’re switching current accounts, you can use the Current Account Switch Service.

This will automatically close your account, so you won’t need to do anything. It will also move across any direct debits and standing orders to your new account.

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How to do it

How to do it

We'll take it step by step.

Log in to our app and select Search.

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Enter Close current account and we'll help you.

Our virtual assistant may ask for some more details. If it can’t help, it will usually connect you to a helpful human who will reply as soon as possible.

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  • Simple and secure log in.
  • Set up handy notifications.
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Log in to view or manage your accounts on our website.

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A look at the details

  • We want to make it easy as possible to deal with some of the money-related issues you may be facing when someone passes away.

    Our bereavement page will help you understand how to close the account of someone who’s died.

  • Once we have processed the closure, we’ll send confirmation to you by email or post.

    You won’t be able to deposit money into or withdraw money from the account. You should also destroy any debit cards you have for that account.

    If you’re switching to another account using the Current Account Switch Service, any standing orders and direct debits on your old account will be automatically moved to your new one. Any payments made to your old account will be redirected to your new account. We will contact the sender with your new account details. 

    If you’re not using the Current Account Switch Service, you will need to update any payment details yourself. Learn how to update a standing order here, and how to update a direct debit here.

    Once we close your account, we can't reopen it.

  • If someone attempts to make a payment into a closed current account, the money should be automatically returned to them.

  • Packaged accounts with insurance benefits

    There is no charge for converting or closing your account, but you’ll pay the monthly fee for the time the account has been open. Your final account fee will be proportionate to the number of days from the last fee debit day to the date of closure or account change.

    When you close your account, the insurance benefits that come with the account will stop straight away, except for any upgrades purchased for breakdown cover directly through the AA.

    AA Breakdown Family Cover

    If you purchased additional upgrades on your AA Breakdown Family Cover, these will still be in place until they reach the end of their term and the AA will continue the cover previously provided to you with your account, at no additional cost to you, until the annual expiry date of your upgrade.

    Vantage Account

    There is no charge for converting or closing your Vantage account, but you may not qualify for credit interest in the last month. 

    To qualify for credit interest in that month, you need to have paid £1,000 or more into your account, as well as having paid at least two direct debits for that calendar month, up to the point of closure or conversion.  The account will also need to have remained in credit (above £0 balance) for that monthly billing period up to the point of closure or conversion. 

    If you do qualify for credit interest for that month, it will be proportionate to the number of days from the start of the monthly billing period to the date of closure or account conversion. 

  • It’s normal that closing a current account could have an effect on your credit score. How much it affects your score depends various things. These include whether the account has an arranged overdraft, the age of the account, and how you used the account, and if you made payments on time.

    If there is a change in your credit score from closing your account, it will usually only be temporary.

  • Important information about your transaction history

    We are able to provide you with access to copy statements (your transaction history) after you have closed your account, and at any time during the following five years.  

    If you still have access to our mobile banking app or online banking through having another account that remains open, you can continue to view electronic copies of your transaction history on your closed account via your Digital Inbox. 

    Or, you can request copy statements (your transaction history) after you have closed your account. You can do this at any time during the next five years. In addition, if you’re closing a current account, we will provide you with your transaction history (at no cost) covering up to five years prior to the date of closure, unless you choose not to receive it at that time.

    If you’re closing a current account, you can choose:

    • how to receive this information
    • the period (or periods) you want the information to cover, up to five years ago
    • whether you wish to receive it at all at that time.

    We need to make sure that we send information to the right person at the right address. The volume of paper you will receive could be quite large; up to 60 pages of confidential copy statements if you receive the full five years’ worth of history, and even more for accounts with high transaction levels.

    This means, when you close your account, before we post you these documents, you should contact us, or visit us in any branch, to confirm which of the following you would prefer:

    If you would like it posted to you:

    • Contact us to confirm (1) the address we should use and (2) what time period you would like the transaction history to cover (up to five years prior to the date you closed your account).
    • Have your account and Telephone Banking details ready if you call, as we will need to confirm your identity.
    • We will aim for your transaction history to arrive within 10 working days of us having confirmed your identity.

    If you would prefer to collect it in a specific branch:

    • Contact us to confirm (1) which branch you would like to collect it from and (2) what time period you would like the transaction history to cover (up to five years prior to the date you closed your account).
    • Have your account and Telephone Banking details ready if you call, as we will need to confirm your identity.
    • We will aim for your transaction history to be ready to collect in branch within 10 working days of us having confirmed your identity.

    If you would prefer to have an electronic copy of your transaction history:

    You can view your transaction history on your closed account online using your Digital inbox if you still have access to our Mobile Banking app or Internet Banking through having other accounts with us.

    If you do not require this information when you close your account:

    • You may prefer not to receive your transaction history at all at this stage.
    • Regardless of your choice, you will be able to request a copy of the same transaction data from us at any point during the five years after you have closed your account.

    If you’re closing a current account, you can choose:

    • how to receive this information
    • the period (or periods) you want the information to cover, up to five years ago
    • whether you wish to receive it at all at that time.

    We need to ensure that we send information to the right person at the right address. The volume of paper you will receive could be quite large; up to 60 pages of confidential copy statements if you receive the full five years’ worth of history, and even more for accounts with high transaction levels.

    Therefore, when you close your account, before we post you these documents, you should contact us, or visit us in any branch, to confirm which of the following you would prefer:

    If you would like it posted to you:

    Please contact us to confirm (1) the address we should use and (2) what time period you would like the transaction history to cover (up to five years prior to the date you closed your account).

    Please have your account and telephone banking details ready if you call, as we will need to confirm your identity.

    We will aim for your transaction history to arrive within 10 working days of us having confirmed your identity.

    If you would prefer to collect it in a specific branch:

    Please contact us to confirm (1) which branch you would like to collect it from and (2) what time period you would like the transaction history to cover (up to five years prior to the date you closed your account).

    Please have your account and telephone banking details ready if you call, as we will need to confirm your identity.

    We will aim for your transaction history to be ready to collect in branch within 10 working days of us having confirmed your identity.

    If you would prefer to have an electronic copy of your transaction history:

    You can view your transaction history on your closed account online using your Digital inbox if you still have access to our Mobile Banking app or Internet Banking through having other accounts with us.

    If you do not require this information when you close your account:

    You may prefer not to receive your transaction history at all at this stage.

    Regardless of your choice, you will be able to request a copy of the same transaction data from us at any point during the five years after you have closed your account.

  • If you want to close a business bank account, please visit our business banking help and support.

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