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Bank Accounts That Accept CIFAS Markers

Bank accounts are essential for daily life. Discover which bank accounts you can open even if you have a CIFAS marker, and regain financial freedom today.

Bank Accounts That Accept CIFAS Markers
Monese Limited Prepaid E-Money Account — 2025. Image credits: Fintech Compass
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July 3, 2025

What is a CIFAS marker?

CIFAS (or Cifas) stands for ‘Credit Industry Fraud Avoidance System‘, a not-for-profit fraud prevention membership organisation with over 500 ‘members’.

It is the UK’s leading fraud prevention service, managing the largest databases of fraud risk in the country — the National Fraud Database and the Insider Threat Database, which they refer to as the CIFAS databases.

They are a not-for-profit membership organisation that serves those companies and organisations who are their members by facilitating the sharing of risk data to reduce exposure to fraud and financial crime. 

CIFAS membership includes over 500 financial institutions that contribute information on individuals and businesses. Access to shared data is conditional—members must first supply their own before viewing that of others.

When one institution—such as a bank, insurer, or lender—has concerns about a customer’s behaviour or application, it can log a warning that becomes visible to other member institutions. This shared alert is commonly referred to as a CIFAS marker.

The presence of a CIFAS marker can significantly restrict an individual’s access to credit, bank accounts, and employment within the financial sector for as long as the marker remains in place.

Applications for credit or current accounts—many of which involve automatic decision-making—are often declined when a CIFAS marker is present. Even when reviewed manually, the outcome is typically the same.

If fraudulent conduct is identified in an application, a member may decide to not proceed with the application, or may decide to review an existing facility or employment, which can result in the sudden closure of existing bank accounts, credit, and employment.

The CIFAS Banking Survival Pack

This free guide gives you real options that have worked for others in your position — plus the real steps to avoid active facilities closing and regain control of your finances.

Why regular banks reject you

Many UK banks use CIFAS to screen applicants. Once flagged, even for a misunderstanding or dispute, most high-street banks will automatically reject your application — often without explanation.

This makes it feel like you’ve been financially blacklisted. You’re stuck in a cycle of:

  • Repeated rejections
  • Inability to access wages or benefits
  • No access to debit cards or direct debits

But thankfully, not all banking options rely on CIFAS checks.

Bank accounts you can open with a CIFAS marker

The following accounts are known to accept applications with CIFAS markers, based on real-world usage and verified client feedback.

Pockit

Personal E-Money account

Interest

0% AER interest on in-credit balances

Monthly Fee

Pay as you go

Overdraft

Unavailable

Visit Pockit

Great for

  • A popular alternative for those with poor credit or CIFAS markers.
  • Offers prepaid Mastercard, direct debits, and faster payments.
  • No credit or CIFAS checks.
  • FSCS-protected partner bank.

But be aware that

  • Monthly maintenance fee or fees for spends and transfers on Pay As You Go.
  • Limited customer service availability.
  • Slower transfer speeds on weekends or holidays.
  • No overdrafts or credit facilities.
Monese Account

Monese

Personal E-Money account

Interest

0% AER interest on in-credit balances

Monthly Fee

No monthly fee

Overdraft

Unavailable

Visit Monese

Great for

  • UK & EU support with instant mobile banking setup.
  • Doesn't use CIFAS or credit referencing in its onboarding process.
  • Good for travel and local payments.
  • Fast setup via app.

But be aware that

  • Limited features on the free plan.
  • Monthly fee for full access.
  • Customer support is mostly chat/email based.
  • Some users report issues with account freezes.

Our recommendation

CardOneMoney Account

CardOneMoney

Personal & Business E-Money account

Interest

0% AER interest on in-credit balances

Monthly Fee

£12.50/month + transactional fees

Overdraft

Unavailable

Visit CardOneMoney

Great for

  • Markets itself specifically to people with poor credit or CIFAS problems.
  • Offers online banking, UK sort code & account number.
  • Monthly fees apply, but offers higher stability.
  • Accepts wages, benefits, and direct debits.

But be aware that

  • Setup fee required.
  • Monthly fees apply (not the cheapest).
  • No overdraft or lending facilities.
  • Outdated interface compared to newer fintechs.
Wise (Formerly TransferWise) Account

Wise (Formerly TransferWise)

Personal & Business E-Money account

Interest

0% AER interest on in-credit balances

Monthly Fee

No monthly fee but transactional fees

Overdraft

Unavailable

Visit Wise

Great for

  • Originally used for transfers, now offers borderless banking with UK details.
  • No CIFAS checks for personal or business accounts.
  • Supports holding multiple currencies and sending money globally.
  • Instant account creation.

But be aware that

  • Cannot be used for benefits (some may reject it).
  • Not ideal as a primary salary account in the UK.
  • No direct debits for all users.
  • Limited support for cash deposits.
HyperJar Logo

HyperJar

Personal E-Money account

Interest

0% AER interest on in-credit balances

Monthly Fee

No monthly fee but transactional fees

Overdraft

Unavailable

Visit HyperJar

Great for

  • Offers prepaid debit cards and budgeting features.
  • Aimed at customers who need better money control, not credit.
  • No credit or CIFAS marker checks during signup.
  • No monthly fee.

But be aware that

  • Cannot accept wages or benefits.
  • No sort code or account number.
  • Not suitable as a main bank account.
  • No bill payments or direct debits.
Suits Me Logo

SuitsMe

Personal E-Money account

Interest

0% AER interest on in-credit balances

Monthly Fee

Pay as you go or £4.97 - £9.97 per month

Overdraft

Unavailable

Visit SuitsMe

Great for

  • Specifically designed for people with poor financial histories.
  • Includes salary deposits, contactless debit card, and bill payment options.
  • No credit checks — and accepts many with CIFAS markers.
  • Multilingual customer support.

But be aware that

  • Monthly fee on most plans.
  • No overdrafts or credit options.
  • Some reports of slow card delivery.
  • Not FSCS-protected (uses e-money license).

Crypto accounts that offer debit cards (and accept CIFAS markers)

Important: These accounts cannot be used to accept wages, benefits, or Universal Credit. They’re good for spending crypto or topping up — not for full financial use.

Some crypto platforms offer usable debit cards without performing traditional banking checks.

Nexo Logo

Nexo

Crypto Wallet + Debit/Credit Card

Interest

14% AER interest on in-credit balances

Monthly Fee

No monthly fee

Overdraft

Unavailable but loans offered

Visit Nexo

Great for

  • Crypto wallet + Visa card.
  • No CIFAS screening — works on crypto balances.
  • Cashback options and no monthly fees.
  • Easy to use for spending crypto.

But be aware that

  • Cannot accept salary or benefit payments.
  • No UK sort code/account number.
  • Not suitable for rent, bills, or daily banking.
  • Assets held in crypto — may be volatile.
Wirex Logo

Wirex

Crypto Wallet + Debit Card

Interest

16% AER interest on specific currencies

Monthly Fee

£0.00 - £29.99/month depending on plan

Overdraft

Unavailable

Visit Wirex

Great for

  • A hybrid fiat-crypto account with debit card support.
  • Uses minimal identity checks and no CIFAS reporting.
  • Usable in the UK and globally.
  • Cashback on card purchases.

But be aware that

  • Cannot receive wages or benefits.
  • Account setup can be buggy.
  • Some users report slow response times.
  • Crypto volatility may affect available balance.
Coinbase Logo

Coinbase

Crypto Wallet + Debit Card

Interest

14% AER interest on specific currencies

Monthly Fee

£0.00 - £29.99/month depending on plan

Overdraft

Unavailable

Visit Coinbase

Great for

  • Requires identity verification but doesn’t screen for CIFAS markers.
  • Offers a debit card but may take longer to become accessible.
  • Best used alongside another account for spending.
  • Secure and regulated in the UK.

But be aware that

  • Cannot receive salaries or benefits.
  • Debit card takes time to access.
  • Card use limited to crypto balance.
  • Not designed for everyday banking.

What to watch out for

Even with these options, it’s important to be aware of the following:

  • Some providers change their policies without warning.
  • Features like direct debit, overdrafts, and cash deposits may be limited.
  • Some accounts have monthly fees — always check the terms.

How to choose the right account

When comparing bank accounts that accept CIFAS markers, look for:

  • No CIFAS or credit checks
  • Instant access to a UK account number & sort code
  • A working debit card
  • Support for direct debits and payments
  • Low monthly fees

Most people choose Pockit or Monese for fast setup, or CardOneMoney if they want a more premium feel.

What to do next

If you’ve been hit with a CIFAS marker, you’re not alone — and you’re not stuck forever.

  • Use one of these accounts above to regain basic access now
  • Start rebuilding your financial footprint
  • Begin the process to remove your CIFAS marker entirely

Frequently Asked Questions

Discover answers to our most asked questions.

No, traditional UK banks such as Barclays, TSB, and Lloyds will reject applications if you have a CIFAS marker, even for basic bank accounts.

However, you can open an account with certain e-money providers and fintech companies that do not use the CIFAS database in their decision-making.

You can open accounts with regulated e-money institutions including CardOneMoney, SuitsMe, and Pockit.

These accounts allow you to receive wages, pay bills, and make everyday transactions, though they may come with some limitations compared to traditional bank accounts.

Yes. Most e-money accounts that accept people with CIFAS markers provide a debit card for everyday use. However, they typically do not offer credit facilities or loans as this isn’t permitted under e-money institutional regulation.

No. While they prevent you from opening accounts with traditional banks, you can still open a limited range of accounts.

To verify whether you can open an account with an institution, check the CIFAS members for the institution’s name as well as any group that specific institution is part of.

A CIFAS marker usually lasts for six years. During this time, financial institutions that are CIFAS members will reject applications, but e-money providers often remain accessible.

Most e-money account providers do not carry out a full credit check. Instead, they perform ID verification checks required by Anti Money-Laundering (AML) regulations, meaning you can be accepted even with a CIFAS marker.

Yes. Reputable e-money providers are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and use safeguarding measures to protect your money.

However, e-money accounts typically tend to not be protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCA), so it is recommended to not keep a large amount of funds in these accounts, or to use them for a long-term basis.

Removing a CIFAS marker also removes any restrictions it imposed.

As a result, once your CIFAS marker has been removed, you will be able to open a traditional bank account again.

However, you may not be able to open another bank account with the institution that recorded the CIFAS marker against you, as they would have recorded an internal risk flag that will show anytime you make new applications with them.

E-money accounts typically don’t offer overdrafts, cheques, or credit products. In some cases, international transfers or large payments may also have restrictions or fees.

However, for everyday banking on a short-term basis, they usually provide all the essential features you need.

No. Applying for traditional bank accounts, or for facilities with any CIFAS member, while you have a CIFAS marker will almost always result in rejection, which may complicate your record further.

It can complicate your record further as making applications for new facilities with CIFAS members often always require a full credit check, of which a hard search is then made on your credit file.

Too many hard searches can then also make it difficult being accepted for financial products or services, even if the CIFAS marker is removed.

More to explore

CA Auto Finance: Mishandling of Fraud Victims

How UK Banks Are Quietly Controlling How You Spend Your Own Money