Go.compare expert urges anyone with a bank account to take up this simple habit | Personal Finance | Finance

Savvy savers who think they are covered should one of their bank cards fail as they have a back-up account may be in for an unpleasant surprise.

Experts at Go.Compare spoke about the benefits of having access to several bank accounts but issued a warning to do something in case you are unable to withdraw funds.

Matt Sanders, money spokesperson with the comparison firm, said: “While it isn’t essential, having two current accounts can provide you with a backup option should you have problems accessing one of the accounts.

“It is rare, but bank apps have been known to have technical issues, leaving customers without access to account information or the ability to make online payments so opening another current account with a second provider could save you a headache.”

He pointed to the perks of having more than one account, as different providers have offered a variety of features to customers.

Services you can get include cashback and travel insurance, while many providers have switching offers, providing free cash if you move over to them.

But Mr Sanders had a word of caution for those thinking they can avoid payment issues by having different accounts.

He explained: “An important thing to note however, is that when the payment element of your banking goes down, it’s often due to a third party such as the carrier or payment processor which many banks have in common. This means that if it is down for one bank it is likely down for many.”

Given this risk, he said it can be a good habit to make sure you have some cash on you should there be an issue paying with your card.

The expert stated: “In this situation, having a second card might not help you but keeping a small amount of cash with you could.

“While it isn’t a good idea to carry a large amount of cash on you, keeping a small amount could help in an emergency.”

There is a growing trend of people having more than one current account, with almost 10 percent of customers now having three or more.

John Dentry, product owner of the Current Account Switch Service at Pay.UK, said: “We always encourage people to review their bank account and see if there might be an option out there that better suits your needs, and if you find one, then it’s worth making the switch.