Find the best bank account for cash bonuses UK

Halifax Reward - £125 cash and £5 a month
If you haven't received anything for switching to Halifax since January 2012 or before, then you're eligible for this bonus, you should sign up quickly though as it is only available until the 18th of July, 2016 and after this it will go back down to £100. To get the switching offer you need to:

• Use their current account switch service
• Transfer all active credits and debits from your existing bank account and close that account
• Not be a Bank of Scotland customer switching to Halifax
• Have your existing bank participate in the Current Account Switch Service

You need to pay in £750 a month, pay out at least two direct debits and remain in credit to get the £5 a month, so this is a good bank account for you if you won't be using your overdraft very often. They offer online, mobile and telephone banking and you get a debit card with contactless payments. The initial reward and monthly bonus adds up to £185 in your first year and £60 for each subsequent year.

Co-op Bank Standard Current Account - £150 cash and £5.50 a month
To be eligible for this bonus you need to:

• Have not received a co-op current account sign-up bonus since January 2014
• If you're a Co-op customer, you can get this unless you've been paying in average £800+ a month into your current account since 3rd February 2016
• Fully switch using their switch service, and transfer four direct debits
• Be a UK resident and over 16 (or 18 when requesting the optional overdraft)

You can get £4 a month for:

• Paying in a minimum for £800 to your standard current account
• Staying in credit, or within your formally agreed overdraft limit 
• Log into Online Banking or Mobile Banking at least once during the month
• Stay opted in for paperless statements
• Pay out at least four direct debits
• (If you meet all of these, you can get up to an extra £1.50 as you'll get 5p each time you use your debit card to pay for things)

Overall this account will give up to £216 in the first year and £66 for each subsequent year, but there are a lot of hoops to jump through and upkeep required to maximise your earnings from this account so it may not be for everyone.

First Direct 1st Account - £100 cash

To get First Direct's £100 switching bonus you have to:

• Use their switching service to fully switch and close your existing account
• Pay in at least £1000 in the first three months of your account opening
• Never have held an account with First Direct before

They have a monthly fee of £10 which is waived if you pay in £1000 (can't be from another First Direct account), have an average monthly balance of £1000 or hold a First Direct mortgage, credit card, personal loan, or savings account. If you don't enjoy banking with first direct after 6 months but within 12 months of switching they will help you move banks and give you another £100, and you must have contacted them before leaving to get the service guarantee, see more here.

Nationwide FlexDirect £100 cash. Nationwide offer an extra £100 credited to both accounts if you are recommended by a friend, you can contact me to be referred to this program, or see more information here. Nationwide offer 5% interest on balances between £1 and £2500 with no monthly fee, but you have to pay in at least £1000 a month and after 12 months the interest rate lowers to 1%. This 5% interest rate means you get 10 pounds a month from interest alone if you max the account out, and if you have a joint FlexDirect account as well that is 20 pounds a month just from making a standing order to transfer in/out £1000 a month, making Nationwide a good choice. This 5% interest rate equals £125 a year from one account, which alongside the £100 credit bonus is a powerful incentive,