The battle to tempt you with big switch bribes has been hotting up this autumn and now it's hit boiling point with a massive, mega, gigantic, huge (you get the gist) FREE £250. It's the biggest one-off bank switch freebie we can remember.

Switching's easy. The new bank does everything for you - plus new official stats suggest 95% were happy with the process. So if you dislike your current bank, or just want a cracking deal, what are you waiting for? 

• New. FREE £250 - BIGGEST switch bonus we've ever seen. Switchers to Clydesdale Bank*, Yorkshire Bank* or Clydesdale's app-based B Account* get a massive £250 bonus. It's likely to be mega popular, and could be pulled with little or no notice, so if it's right for you go quick.
  
  Which should I go for? All are part of the Clydesdale group, so it depends which you prefer. Clydesdale's big in Scotland, Yorkshire in...er, much of England. Both offer app and online banking. App-based B is new-ish, giving additional spending and budgeting insights, though you can still use Clydesdale or Yorkshire branches.
  
  How do I get the £250? Anyone who's not had a switch bonus from the trio qualifies. Start the switch when you set up the account online, otherwise you may have to call to make it happen. You're paid within 70 days of the switch if you...
  - Pay in £1,000/mth for the first 2 months
  - Set up/switch 2 direct debits, which must pay out within 62 days
  - Log in to online or mobile banking within 62 days
  PS, existing customers need to contact Clydesdale/Yorkshire/B directly, if eligible.
  
  
• Free £125 + no.1 service + linked 5% savings. Via this link, First Direct* gives £125 to new customers who switch to it (£100 if you go direct), plus it's won every customer service poll we've done, with 90% most recently rating it 'great'. All account holders can save up to £300/mth in its 5% fixed regular saver for 1yr, and some get a £250 0% overdraft.
  
  How do I get it all? Once you've switched, the free cash comes within a month or so of you paying in at least £1,000. Then pay in £1,000/mth to keep the account free; if not, it's £10/mth.
  
  
• Free £200 + linked 5% savings. You get £150 for switching to the HSBC Advance* account and £50 more if you're still with it after a year. Plus all account holders get access to a linked 5% regular savings account where they can put up to £250/mth for 1yr.
  
  How do I get it all? You can't have had any HSBC current account since 2015. Apply online, then call or go to a branch within 30 days to start the switch (incl 2+ direct debits/standing orders), register for online banking within 60 days and pay in £1,750+/mth. The £150 is paid within a couple of months of the switch completing.
  
  
• Free £125 M&S gift card + £5/mth for a year + linked 5% savings. M&S Bank* gives new switchers a £125 M&S gift card, and for the first year it'll add another £5/mth. It also offers some a £100 0% overdraft and gives access to its 5% fixed regular savings account, which lets you save up to £250/mth for 1yr.
  
  How do I get it all? You'll get the initial £125 within a month if you switch at least two active direct debits. For the rest, you need to keep the direct debits active and pay in at least £1,000/mth.
  
  
• Free £125 + £3/mth. Switchers to Halifax get £125, paid before the switch completes, and another £3/mth.
  
  How do I get it all? For the £125, you can't have had a Halifax switching bonus since 2012. For the £3/mth, you must pay in £750+, stay in credit and pay out 2+ direct debits.
  
  
  More bank switching help
  
  
• Switching's easy and you're protected from errors. If you use the banks' official switching services - and you'll need to if you want the free switching cash -  the whole process takes seven working days, plus your new bank does the hard work by closing your old account and moving direct debits, standing orders and payments.
  
  If anything goes wrong with the switch, you're protected from any resulting interest or charges. Plus, if a payment goes to or from the old account in error, the little bots behind the scenes automatically ensure it's all shifted to the new account for a minimum of three years. See switching help.
  
  
• Can't meet the minimum pay-ins? Trick to play the system. They're designed so you pay in your salary or pension and use 'em as your main account, but you can usually get round this. As you need to pay in a set amount from external sources, say there's a £1,000 minimum but you've only £500, pay the £500 in, withdraw or transfer it elsewhere, then pay it back in. Then BINGO, you've qualified.
  
  
• You need to pass a credit check, but they're often not harsh. Like with many financial applications, the banks will check your credit history. You can do this yourself to ensure it's all shipshape via our free Credit Club which shows your Experian Credit Score and Credit Report, plus gives tips to boost them.
  
  
• Got an overdraft? Cut interest to 0%. If you often go into the red, focus on cutting your overdraft costs instead. Two of the top accounts above, First Direct and M&S, offer a 0% overdraft. And with First Direct, you can use the free cash for switching to help pay it off. See Cut Overdraft Costs for more.
  
  
• The accounts if you can't get an account. While you need to pass a credit check for those above, basic bank accounts don't do such stringent checks (though most do a credit check for ID), as they provide a no-frills, no-overdraft service. See Basic Bank Accounts for full info.

There is lots more info and help in Best Bank Accounts including top deals if you don't want to switch bank.

PS: The clocks go back an hour at 2am on Sunday, so we all get an extra hour in bed. Hurrah. (Though it also means darker evenings.)