Don't complain about your bank, make the right move and you could gain £100s!

2012 was another awful year for banking with the Libor scandal, RBS/NatWest mess-up and the rest. Yet far too many sit on their hands complaining without acting, thinking there’s little option.

That’s not true. There is banking choice out there. Make the right move and you can gain hundreds of pounds, reclaim fees and get better service. Here are the 10 things you need to know.

1. Reclaim £100s of packaged account fees

Millions pay a monthly fee for their bank account, often sold on the basis of ‘free insurance’. While it can be a great deal, even the regulator, the FSA, says huge numbers of these policies are “useless”. I believe many thousands of people may have been mis-sold them.

So if you’ve got or had a premier or packaged bank account in the last 10 years, if it over-promised, told you it was compulsory, or gave you insurance that didn’t cover you when you came to claim (eg, travel insurance for the under 65s and you were 70), you could be due £100s or even £1,000s back.

This is a new reclaiming campaign for me, but already we’ve had successes coming in, such as: “Wrote to my bank after reading your item – four weeks later and it's just credited my account with £863, the whole amount I had paid since opening.”

To complain, write to the bank and simply explain why you feel it was unfair. The likelihood is it’ll reject you, but that’s not too bad as it allows you to go to the free Financial Ombudsman Service, which gives an impartial adjudication. Full step-by-step help and template letters at mse.me/reclaimpackagefees

2. Switching is easier than it was

Banks' switching services move direct debits and standing orders for you. All you have to do is tell your employer and anyone else who pays money into your account the new details. My tip is to keep your old account open for a few months, with minimal funds, as a back-up.

3. Free £100 to switch to best customer service account

If your bank doesn't treat you right, consider Firstdirect.com. It's smashed every customer service poll I've done, last time 91% rated it 'great'. Right now it's giving new switchers £100, though you need a minimum income of £23,500.

It also gives 0% on overdrafts up to £250, 15.9% above that. While it doesn't pay interest if you're in credit. If you don't hit the earning criteria, or for other options see mse.me/bankaccounts

4. Get 3% bills cashback AND 3% on savings

Alternatively, for rates, the Santander.co.uk/123 bank account uniquely pays 1%-3% cashback on water, council tax, Santander mortgages, energy, phone, broadband and TV bills.

Someone with typical bills would earn around £115 a year, but many with bigger bills can make £300, which easily offsets its £2-a-month fee.

Better still, if you’ve savings and keep £3,000-£20,000 in there, you earn 3% interest, which smashes the best buy savings. Avoid it if you’re overdrawn though, as its overdraft is costly.

5. The top premier account - huge insurance benefits

While slamming packaged accounts at the start of the piece, I did mention that done right, they can occasionally be a good deal.

If you're going to pay for monthly fee for extras, the easy winner is the highly rated Co-operativebank.co.uk Privilege at £9.50 a month (£114 a year).

The main benefits are: Cover for up to four smartphones (including iPhone 5s) in your family - Family high-end worldwide travel insurance, with a maximum age of 79 (64 for winter sport) Buying all this separately would cost around £450.

There's also Privilege Premier at £13 month, which includes RAC European breakdown cover too. To assess whether these are right for your needs, I’ve a special Package Bank Account analyser tool at mse.me/accountanalyser

6.Struggling to get a bank account?

It’s a disgrace that over a million people in the UK are not banked. If that’s you, don’t apply for a normal bank account – the likelihood is you’ll fail the credit score. Instead, go for a basic bank account – these don't credit score you (though you do need ID).

Yet unless you specifically ask for the right application form, you risk being rejected if they give you forms for their standard account – so ask for them by name. Generally, the two easiest to get are Barclays Cash Card and Co-op Cashminder.

7. Is ethical banking an oxymoron?

As the advert says, you need a bank account, but not necessarily a bank. Ethicalconsumer.org rates firms on the environment, human and animal rights, and politics. Luckily, there are accounts where the Venn diagram of its top picks and mine overlap.

Building society Nationwide.co.uk's fee-free account gives European travel insurance for one person up to age 73. Co-operativebank.co.uk is highly rated too, and its packaged accounts are our top pick. Nandp.co.uk building society gives cheap spending overseas.

8. Fed up with banks?

Try a non-profit local credit union instead. There are 500 across the UK and 25 of them offer bank accounts. All do savings and loans. There's the same £85,000 per person protection as banks, and the Government's just given £38m extra funding. Find your nearest via Findyourcreditunion.co.uk.

9. Shift your overdraft to 12 months at 0%

If you're overdrawn, Halifax.co.uk/reward offers a 12 month 0% overdraft, and also gives switchers £100. Watch out though, as after a year, the overdraft charges jump to a huge £1-£3 a DAY, so you'll need to switch again.

10. Reclaim cash from old accounts

There are billions unclaimed in forgotten accounts (or those of deceased relatives). If you think there might be cash you can claim, go to Mylostaccount.org.uk.