Three of the mainstream banking groups operating in Northern Ireland saw more than 1,400 current account holders defect in the first three months of this year, new data shows.
But Danske Bank reported a net gain of 88 personal customers over the same time period, according to the Current Account Switch Service (Cass).
Current account switching levels in the UK as a whole jumped by 43% annually in the first quarter, with 319,529 accounts moving compared to the 222,805 switches recorded in the first quarter of 2025.
The flurry of switches was driven by a busy February and March, with January being quieter, in line with long-term trends, Cass said.
Ulster Bank lost 642 customers over the quarter while 418 moved away from Bank of Ireland and 361 from AIB UK.
The figures are provided voluntarily by banks and building societies and do not include switches made outside the scheme, which was launched in 2013 to make it easier for people, small businesses and small charities to move providers.
John Dentry, product manager at Pay.UK, owner and operator of Cass, said: “It has been an economically turbulent year so far and we anticipate high levels of activity to continue as interest rates creep back up.
“Higher savings rates are a key driver of consumer movement and if previous offers are brought back to the market, we would expect a flurry of activity to follow.
“As families navigate fluctuating inflation and a higher cost of living, a strong and well-suited bank account can be a real difference-maker for building financial confidence and economic resilience.
“We’re pleased to see so many people take advantage of the free, quick and easy process of switching accounts to ensure they’re with a bank that suits their needs.”