Spotlight On: Halifax's £100 switching offer

The deal

The Halifax will add £100 to the account of new customers opening a current account by 7 July.

Good points

The offer is available on all Halifax's current accounts and also includes a fee-free overdraft for six months.

Bad points

You'll need to deposit at least £750 a month and arrange for two direct debits and agree to stay with the bank for at least a year.

Conclusion

This is a gimmick and you shouldn't use it as a basis for picking a current account. However if you like the look of, say, Halifax's Reward – paying £5 a month to account holders – then now could be time to switch to get the extra £100. But do check charges. Reward charges £5 a day if you go into the red without permission.