Personal Finance Bank accounts

Closing a Co-op Bank account - A Guide

Tommy Buckley

07.11.23 (updated more than 1 year ago)

Read time 2 minutes

No longer need or use your Co-operative Bank account, or thinking of switching to a different provider? You’ll need to know how to close down your existing account.

Read on for a full walkthrough of how to close a Co-op Bank account. We’ll help you find the easiest and most convenient way to do it, whether it’s online, over the phone or in a branch.

And when you’re ready for a new account, make sure to check out Wise. The Wise account is tailor-made for international transactions, so it’s ideal for travellers, expats and people with family in other countries.

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Things to do before closing a Co-operative Bank account

Before you close your bank account with the Co-operative Bank, there are a few things you need to do:

Make sure you don’t have any outstanding debts, such as any money you owe to the bank on your overdraft. You’ll need to pay this back before your account can be closed.
Make arrangements for any important upcoming or pending payments, such as setting them up in a different account.
Download your payment transaction history. With the Co-op Bank, you’ll need to complete a form and provide proof of identity in order to access this. Once you’ve verified your identity, the bank will send you a copy of your transaction history dating back to a maximum period of five years. You’ll get this within 10 working days of submitting your ID.¹

Closing a Co-op Bank account - online, in branch and over the phone

There are a few different routes you can take to close your account with the Co-operative Bank. Online tends to be the quickest and easiest, but you can also get help with the process over the phone or in a high street branch.

Here are the details you need for each method:

Online

One of the fastest ways to close your bank account with the Co-op is online. All you have to do is follow these steps:¹

Go to the Co-operative Bank website and sign into your online banking
Send a secure message requesting the closure of your account
A customer services representative will get back to you, to request more information or confirm that your closure request is being processed.

And that’s it!

Over the phone

You can also request the closure of your account by calling up the bank. Here are the phone numbers you need, depending what kind of account you’d like to close:¹

03457 212 212 for current accounts and savings accounts
0345 600 6000 for credit cards.

For both numbers, lines are open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. You can also call at weekends, but be aware that lines are only open from 9am to 5pm.¹

In branch

If you prefer to do your banking in person, you can also pop into a local high street branch of the Co-operative Bank to discuss the closure of your account. Click here to find your nearest branch.

How long does it take to close a Co-op Bank account?

The Co-operative Bank doesn’t say exactly how long it takes to close personal current accounts.

But it does say that it takes up to 5 working days to process closure requests for business accounts, so this is an indication of how long you can expect it to take.²

Don’t forget that if you want copies of your transaction history, you’ll need to factor in up to 10 additional working days for your identity to be verified and the documents sent to you.¹

Looking for a new account? Check out Wise

Ready for a new account? You can open a Wise account online in just a few clicks, and you can start managing your money in multiple currencies (including GBP).

With Wise, you can send payments worldwide for low fees and mid-market exchange rates, and receive it for free in some major currencies. International transfers are often expensive when you use a bank, so Wise offers a money-saving alternative.

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There’s even a Wise card for spending abroad (and in the UK), where your pounds are automatically converted to the local currency at mid-market exchange rates. There are no foreign transaction fees, only a tiny conversion fee - or it’s free if you already have the foreign currency in your Wise account. So, it’s perfect for holiday spending.

Please see the Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for the most up-to-date information on pricing and fees.

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 05-Oct-2023

*Please see terms of use and product availability for your region or visit Wise fees and pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

This publication is provided for general information purposes and does not constitute legal, tax or other professional advice from Wise Payments Limited or its subsidiaries and its affiliates, and it is not intended as a substitute for obtaining advice from a financial advisor or any other professional.

We make no representations, warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that the content in the publication is accurate, complete or up to date.