Guides › Banking Scams and Fraud › Bank Closed My Account
Bank Closed My Account
A bank must give you reasonable notice before closing your account; check your account terms for the notice period. It does not always have to explain why, but for accounts opened on or after 28 April 2026 it should explain if it can. Complain to the bank first, then the Financial Ombudsman Service after 8 weeks.
At a Glance
Your Rights
What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.
Account Closures
Notice and Reasons
Check your account terms for the notice period; banks must give you reasonable notice. Your bank does not always have to explain why it closed your account, but for accounts opened on or after 28 April 2026 it should explain if it can. source
What the Ombudsman Looks At
The Ombudsman looks at the law, rules and codes, the account terms, evidence from you and the bank, and your circumstances: whether you had access to the account during the notice period, whether the bank held or released money (including benefits or salary), and how it supported you if you were overdrawn or in financial difficulty. source
Complaining
How to Complain
Make a formal complaint to the bank that closed the account. You can bring it to the Ombudsman if you are unhappy with the response, or the bank does not send a final response within eight weeks. source
Complaining to the Ombudsman
If your bank refuses or you are unhappy with how it handled a scam, you can complain to the bank and then to the Financial Ombudsman Service, which is free. Its compensation limit is 430,000 pounds, and it can look at cases where losses are over 85,000 pounds. source
Time Limits to Know
Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.
- 8 weeksBank sends its final responseThen you can go to the Financial Ombudsman Service
Steps to Take
Step 1 of 5
Read the closure letter and check your account terms for the notice period.
Step 2 of 5
Move your salary, benefits and Direct Debits to another account during the notice period.
Step 3 of 5
Ask the bank how and when you will get your balance.
Step 4 of 5
If you think the closure was unfair, complain in writing. We do not take insurance or banking complaints as cases, but our free letter templates can help you write to the firm.
Step 5 of 5
If not resolved in 8 weeks, go to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)
Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right
Your options, in order, and when each one applies.
Your Bank's Complaints Team
Always start here, in writing, once your bank has refused or not replied.
Financial Ombudsman Service
You are unhappy with your bank's final response. It is free, and its limit is 430,000 pounds.
Good to Know
Small things that make your complaint stronger.
A basic bank account may be available if you struggle to open a new one.
Want Help?
If you would like one of our team to look at your problem, our initial case review is free. We cannot guarantee any outcome and we do not give legal advice.
Lead reviewer
Luke Marley
Founder and Lead Reviewer
Luke founded CPUK in 2026 after seeing how hard it is for ordinary people to get problems with companies put right. He oversees our guides and checks them against official sources.
Research by Katie Burt, Co-founder and Operations Lead (17 years in the care sector, including managing services for vulnerable adults), and the CPUK Research Team. Researched with AI-assisted research tools, then checked and corrected by our team.
Last checked: 13 October 2026. We are not paid by the companies we write about. Adverts never affect our guidance. Read our editorial policy.
Sources and official links
- financial-ombudsman.org.uk/consumers/complaints-can-help/banking-and-payments/bank-accounts Checked 13 October 2026
- psr.org.uk/information-for-consumers/app-fraud-reimbursement-protections Checked 13 October 2026