Best banking welcome offers & refer-a-friend deals

Discover which banks have welcome offers, rewards or refer a friend deals available.

It’s not all about switching deals when it comes to banking offers. There are also welcome bonuses, refer-a-friend deals, reward programmes and business banking offers. Find out which banks are offering what.

Welcome cash deals

From time to time, banks and e-money account providers offer cash just for opening an account. Below we’ve listed the latest we’ve found.

Refer-a-friend offers

Providers occasionally run refer-a-friend deals with specific rewards or benefits attached. Here are some current ones.

  • Starling – Free National Trust day passes when you refer a friend
  • Triodos – £60 shopping voucher or a donation to a charity for the recommended friend, plus a £25 charity donation for the recommender
  • Monzo – £5 refer-a-friend bonus
  • Monese – £10 refer-a-friend and earn up to £150

Best high-interest rate offers

Some free current accounts come with a high interest rate or access to exclusive linked savings accounts. We’ve listed the best we’ve found below.

  • first direct – 1st account – Access to a 7% AER interest Regular Saver Account
  • NatWest – Digital Regular Saver – Access to 6.17% AER on balances up to £5,000 with a Digital Regular Saver account
  • TSB – Monthly Saver Account – Access to 5.00% gross/AER fixed interest monthly saver
  • HSBC – Advance Bank Account – Access to a 5% AER HSBC regular saver account
  • Lloyds – Club Lloyds Monthly Saver – Access to a 6.25% monthly saver account
  • Nationwide – FlexDirect Account – 5% AER fixed for 12 months on balances up to £1,500
  • Santander – Edge – Access to a 4% AER interest savings account on balances up to £4,000
  • Chase – Current Account – Access to a 3.3% AER interest Chase saver account
  • Virgin Money – M Plus Account – Access to 3.03% AER on balances up to £25,000 with a linked M Plus Saver account

Best cashback account offers

If you fancy earning a bit of extra cash every time you spend money, then a current account with cash back could be the answer. Below we have listed a number of accounts with attractive cashback offerings.

  • Santander – Edge – 1% cash back on household bills, 1% cash back at supermarkets and on travel costs (exclusions apply)
  • Santander – 123 Current Account – Earn cash back every month on selected household bills + interest on your balance
  • Chase – Current Account – 1% cash back on purchases for 12 months
  • Nationwide – FlexDirect – Get 5% cash back on your supermarket shop

Best student bank account offers

Banks also offer tempting deals for students. From railcards to tastecards to upfront cash, there are multiple incentives a student can choose. We’ve published a separate guide to comparing and finding the best student bank account deal for you.

Welcome cash deals

Revolut - £20 top-up offer

Revolut Standard
Finder rating
★★★★★
Customer rating
★★★★★
Go to site Read review

£0

Min. opening balance

£0

Account fees

0% AER

Interest (AER)

Open an account with no monthly fees.
Requirements to get the bonus
  • Sign up using the unique link sent to your mobile number from Revolut's website
  • Pass the identity and verification checks
  • Top up your account and spend £20 using the app within 1 month of opening the account

Exclusions

  • You must not already have a Revolut account

Offer ends
This offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time.

  • Quick application,
  • No credit check or proof of address,
  • Set budgets and save for financial goals,
  • Virtual cards for online purchases,
  • Easy to transfer money internationally,
  • Linked 'Junior' account available for one child
  • 1% currency conversion charge on weekend spending abroad,
  • Free cash withdrawals in the UK and abroad both limited to £200 per month,
  • Cannot deposit cash or cheques into the account,
  • Charged a fee to receive your bank card
Interest rate 0% AER
Minimum opening balance £0
Account fee £0
Overseas card transactions 0% Mon-Fri (max. £1,000 per month)
Overseas cash withdrawals 0% Mon-Fri (max. £1,000 per month)

Curve - £15 spend offer

About the account

Curve’s big selling point is that you can connect all your separate debit and credit cards to your Curve account and then spend from any of them using just a single Curve payment card. So you can leave your bulging purse or wallet at home and head out in the UK or on a longer trip abroad and just take your Curve card with you, managing the whole service from its app. You won't get the same protection you have with a credit card, but Curve offers its own protection.

Requirements to get the bonus

  • Open a Standard Curve card on the app
  • Sign up and add a bank card to the wallet
  • Make a single transaction

Exclusions

  • You can only claim the £15 up to 24 hours after the first transaction is made

Offer ends
This offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time.

  • Account can be set up quickly online.
  • Virtual card on registration and physical card arrives in the post.
  • Link all your different debit and credit cards to your one Curve card.
  • A complete record of your spending over these multiple accounts.
  • Spending categorisation can help you budget and save money.
  • Cashback rewards from retailers.
  • Safe and secure.
  • Compatible with Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and wearable devices.
  • Limits on free spending and withdrawals.
  • Digital company, so no face-to-face customer support.
  • Is a payments service, not a bank account (if that’s what you’re looking for).
  • Section 75 consumer rights don’t apply to purchases made with a Curve card.

Monzo - £5 welcome bonus

Monzo
Finder rating
★★★★★
Customer rating
★★★★★
Read review

£0

Min. opening balance

£0

Account fees

0% AER

Interest (AER)

Monzo Instant Access Savings Pot earns you 3.40% AER interest (variable), paid monthly into the Pot you create.
Requirements to get the bonus
  • The friend needs a valid referral code
  • They must download the Monzo app within 30 days of receiving the invite link
  • They need to apply for a personal, joint or business account
  • They must deposit money in the account and make a transaction
  • They must be over 16 and a UK resident without a Monzo account

Exclusions

  • Existing customers can't invite more than 100 people to sign up (so the maximum is £500 from this offer)
  • You can't advertise your share code, game the offer in any way or behave in a fraudulent way

Offer ends
This offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time.

  • Easy to set up,
  • Good for budgeting and categorising spending,
  • Automatic saving feature,
  • Fee-free spending abroad,
  • Slick app with face login,
  • Overdrafts and loans available
  • Free ATM withdrawals outside the EEA limited to £200,
  • £1 fee for depositing cash at PayPoints,
  • Maximum cash deposit of £1,000 every 6 months
  • No rewards program
Interest rate 0% AER
Minimum opening balance £0
Account fee £0
Overseas cash withdrawals 0%

GoHenry - with free custom card and three months free

GoHenry - with free custom card and three months free

★★★★★

Go to site Read review

£2.99 (+3 months free)

Monthly fee

£0

Card delivery fee

6-18

Age range

3 months free + £10 pocket money
gohenry is designed for children aged 6 to 18, and is managed digitally through an app for a monthly fee. It consists of a parent and child account combination, which sees parents use their account to top up the child’s balance and set limits on their spending. The child can check the available balance in their account and spend the money they’ve been given using a prepaid Visa debit card. Its free to use the card to make purchases online and in-store, as well as to make ATM withdrawals in the UK. But you only get one free money load from the parent’s account to the child’s account each month – after that it’s 50p per top-up.
  • Full parental control thanks to instant notifications and spending limits
  • Spend abroad fee-free
  • One-month free trial
  • It can be used by children as young as six
  • Reward system for completed tasks
  • Children learn about personal finance in a controlled environment
  • Relatives can also send money to the children
  • You can manage up to four child accounts from the same parent account
  • Monthly fee
  • Only one free top-up to the child account a month
  • Safe, but not as safe and regulated as a bank
  • You cannot load cash onto the account
  • It doesn’t pay any interest
Monthly fee £2.99 (+3 months free)
Card delivery fee £0
Card transaction fee £0
Cash withdrawal fee £0
Loading fee 1 free/month, then 50p each
Replacement card fee Free, or £4.99 if changing the card design
Network VISA
How many child accounts 4
Fees abroad £0
Other fees £4.99 for a customisable card or Eco Card
Freeze/unfreeze card Yes

Refer-a-friend offers

Get a free National Trust day pass when you refer a friend

Current Account - Age 18 and over
Finder rating
★★★★★
Customer rating
★★★★★
Go to site Read review

£0

Min. opening balance

£0

Account fees

0.05% AER

Interest (AER)

No fees overseas plus refer a friend and earn a free National Trust day pass – redeemable at hundreds of the places it looks after.

Requirements to get the bonus
  • On the starling app, tap profile picture and choose 'refer a friend' then 'share referral link' and message it to your friends
  • Once their account is approved, both will be sent a free National Trust individual day pass

Exclusions

  • Each of the Referring Customers and Referees must acknowledge and agree that no direct financial reward will arise as a result of the scheme, and neither party shall in any circumstances attempt to derive a financial or other benefit from the scheme
  • Maximum of 50 daily referrals per referring customer
  • Passes cannot be used at paid-for events or certain properties

Offer ends
There's no specified date when this offer ends, but it's subject to availability and can be withdrawn at any time.

Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 15% EAR variable .
  • Free ATM withdrawals and spending anywhere abroad
  • Can deposit both cash and cheques for free
  • Spending insights and saving tools
  • 'Settle up' feature to split joint bills
  • Pays interest on current account balance
  • Overdrafts and loans available
  • Lower ATM withdrawal limit than some other digital challengers
  • No group savings feature
  • Doesn't have a specific monthly budgeting tool
  • No rewards program
Interest rate 0.05% AER
Minimum opening balance £0
Minimum operating balance £0.01
Switch service guarantee Yes
Account fee £0
Overseas card transactions £0
Overseas cash withdrawals £0

Monese - £10 refer-a-friend offer

Monese
Finder rating
★★★★★
Customer rating
★★★★★
Go to site Read review

£0

Min. opening balance

£0

Account fees

0% AER

Interest (AER)

Requirements to get the refer-a-friend bonus
  • Both you and your friend must live in a country Monese operates in: UK, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden
  • Your friend needs to be at least 18
  • Signup and make a card transaction to both get your first £5
  • You get £5 more each once your invited friend has spent a total of £500 in card transactions on their Monese account or sent this much internationally (outside the EU/EEA)
  • Open a Monese account through the Monese app or website by clicking on the Referral Link or by using the Referral Code when signing up

Exclusions

  • You can earn a maximum of 2 referral bonuses from each friend referred
  • Refer a maximum of 15 people
  • You can earn a maximum of £150 from this offer (£10 x 15)
  • The person you invite must be a different individual
  • This offer can't be used for any kind of commercial activity or in connection with any paid promotions

Offer ends
This offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time.

  • UK current account that does all you can expect, including direct debits and standing orders.
  • Fast and easy set-up (no credit check or proof of local address needed).
  • Colourful app that is easy to use, allows you to categorise your transactions and freeze the card if you lose it.
  • Free card payments and ATM withdrawals abroad.
  • You can load cash into the account for free.
  • Can open both a UK and European account and switch instantly.
  • With a free plan, fee-free ATM withdrawals and cash loads are limited to £200 per month.
  • You can’t put your savings in a separate account or earn interest on them.
  • It doesn’t offer anything more than a current account.
  • No physical branches.
Interest rate 0% AER
Minimum opening balance £0
Account fee £0

Triodos - £60 voucher for the Ethical Superstore or Neal’s Yard Remedies for the recommended friend, plus a £25 charity donation for the recommender

£0

Min. opening balance

£3 per month

Account fees

0% AER

Interest (AER)

£60 voucher or £60 donation to a charity.
Requirements to get the bonus
    The recommender:
  • You need to be over 18 and have one of the following Triodos products in your name: Personal Current Account, Savings Account, Cash ISA, Investment ISA, including joint accounts
  • You must register for the refer-a-friend scheme by using the link within the invitation email

The recommended friend:

  • You must use the same email to register for the scheme and your new Triodos account
  • You need to open a Personal Current Account within 60 days of registering for the scheme
  • You need to deposit £100 within 30 days of opening the account
  • You must be a new customer of Triodos Bank UK and not already hold any accounts with Triodos Bank UK
  • You need to register for the refer-a-friend scheme by using the unique link given to you from the recommender

Exclusions

  • A maximum of 30 donations to a chosen charity within a 12-month period
  • You can't apply for this offer if you live with or are family members of someone who works for Triodos
  • Joint accounts get one £25 donation

Offer ends
This offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time.

Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 18% EAR variable . Account fee of £3 per month.
  • Ethical banking
  • Arranged overdraft available
  • Easy to manage
  • Interest charged on overdrafts
  • Foreign transaction charges
  • No cash deposits
Interest rate 0% AER
Minimum opening balance £0
Minimum operating balance £0
Switch service guarantee Yes
Account fee £3 per month
Overseas card transactions 2.5%
Overseas cash withdrawals 2.5%

High interest offers

TSB - Spend & Save - Access to a Monthly Saver Account

Spend & Save
Finder rating
★★★★★
Customer rating
★★★★★
Go to site Read review

£0

Min. opening balance

£0

Account fees

0% AER

Interest (AER)

Earn £5 cashback a month for six months when making 20 or more debit card payments each month.
This account from TSB allows users to earn up to £5 cashback for the first six months when they make 30 or more payments on their debit card each month. Alternatively, if you’re happy to pay a monthly fee, you could consider the Spend and Save Plus account instead, which offers cashback with no end date. The Spend and Save account also enables you to set up different Spending Pots and earn interest as you do so, plus set yourself goals and track how your money is growing. With the Save the Pennies feature, every debit card payment will be rounded up to the nearest pound and the pennies can be transferred to your Savings Pot or other eligible TSB savings account. In addition, you’ll have access to a competitive Monthly Saver account with a rate that’s fixed for a year, helping your savings to grow further. You can also apply for an arranged overdraft.
Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39.9% EAR variable .
  • Earn cashback as you spend
  • Access to a competitive Monthly Saver
  • Save the Pennies feature
  • Overdraft available
  • Cashback on Save and Spend account expires after six months
  • Interest charged on overdrafts
Interest rate 0% AER
Minimum opening balance £0
Minimum operating balance £0
Switch service guarantee Yes
Account fee £0
Overseas card transactions 2.99%
Overseas cash withdrawals 2.99%

Lloyds - Club Lloyds Silver - Access to a Monthly Saver Account

Silver - with Club Lloyds
Finder rating
★★★★★
Customer rating
★★★★★
Read review

£1

Min. opening balance

Account fees

1.5% AER

Interest (AER)

£150 for accounts switched using the Current Account Switch Service until 17.7.23.
This account from Lloyds Bank offers you additional benefits such as travel insurance, mobile phone insurance, breakdown cover and cashback. For a monthly fee of £10, you can get European and UK family travel insurance (up to age 65 and subject to eligibility), as well as AA family breakdown cover. In addition to this, you get worldwide cover for your mobile phone up to £2,000. As a Lloyds account, you’ll also benefit from its Everyday Offers programme, which gives you up to 15% cashback at selected retailers. If you are looking for a bit more, you can add Club Lloyds to your account. This will give you monthly credit interest (provided you pay 2 direct debits each month) and a Lifestyle Benefit each year such as an annual magazine subscription or cinema tickets. The cost of this is £3 a month, but Lloyds will refund this if you pay in £1,500 or more each month.
  • European and UK travel insurance
  • Family breakdown cover
  • Mobile phone insurance
  • Cashback with Everyday Offers
  • Arranged overdraft
  • £10 account management fee
  • High interest rate charged on overdraft
  • Insurance comes with individual T&Cs
Interest rate 1.5% AER
Minimum opening balance £1
Minimum operating balance £1
Switch service guarantee Yes
Account fee £3 per month (Account fee waived if account credit with at least £1500 per month). £10 per month
Overseas card transactions 2.99%
Overseas cash withdrawals 2.99%

Cashback offers

Chase - Current Account - Receive 1% cash back on everyday purchases for 12 months

Chase Current Account - Current Account
Finder rating
★★★★★
Go to site Read review

£0

Min. opening balance

£0

Account fees

1% AER

Interest (AER)

Receive 1% cashback on everyday purchases on the first £1,500 per month, capped at £15.
This account from digital bank Chase offers a range of rewards with no monthly fee. Whenever you spend on your Chase debit card, whether at home or abroad, you’ll earn 1% cashback for the first year. You can transfer your cashback whenever you like. Plus, you can round up your spending to the nearest £1 and the difference will automatically be saved for you - your round-up balance will even earn 5% interest. You’ll also have access to the Chase Saver account which pays a competitive rate of interest, and you’ll be able to spend on your debit card fee-free across the globe.
  • No monthly account charge
  • No fees for spending or making cash withdrawals abroad
  • 1% cashback on a wide range of purchases
  • 5% interest on savings generated by the “round ups” feature
  • 1.5% interest on balances in the linked Chase saver account
  • 24/7 in-app customer support
  • 1% cashback and 5% interest offers only run for 12 months
  • No branches if you prefer face-to-face banking
  • Can’t deposit cash or cheques into the account
  • Overdrafts not available yet
Interest rate 1% AER
Minimum opening balance £0
Minimum operating balance £0
Switch service guarantee No
Account fee £0
Overseas card transactions 0%
Overseas cash withdrawals 0%

Nationwide - FlexDirect plus other accounts - Get 5% cash back on your supermarket shop

FlexDirect - Funded
Finder rating
★★★★★
Customer rating
★★★★★
Read review

£0

Min. opening balance

£0

Account fees

5% AER

Interest (AER)

Eligible for Member Credit Card.
Nationwide’s FlexDirect account is a good option whether you’re someone who stays in credit or someone who tends to dip into the red. For those who usually hold a balance in their account, the FlexDirect account pays a competitive fixed rate of interest for the first 12 months on balances up to a set amount. Interest is still paid after this but at a lower rate. Alternatively, if you tend to rely on your overdraft, the account offers an interest-free arranged overdraft for the first 12 months. There is no monthly fee for maintaining the account which can be managed online. To open an account, you’ll need to be aged 18 years or over and a UK resident.
Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39.9% EAR variable .
  • Pays interest on in-credit balances
  • Interest-free overdraft for the first 12 months
  • No monthly fee
  • Account can easily be opened online
  • Interest rate drops after the first 12 months
  • Interest is charged on overdrafts after the first 12 months
  • Account can only be managed online
Interest rate 5% AER
Minimum opening balance £0
Minimum operating balance £0
Switch service guarantee Yes
Account fee £0
Overseas card transactions 2.99%
Overseas cash withdrawals 2.99%

Santander Edge - 1% cash back on household bills and 1% cash back at supermarkets and on travel costs (exclusions apply) plus access to a 4% AER savings account

Edge Current Account
Finder rating
★★★★★
Customer rating
★★★★★
Go to site Read review

£0.01

Min. opening balance

£3 per month

Account fees

0% AER

Interest (AER)

Cashback of 1% on communication, council tax, water bills, gas & electric bills paid via direct debit, capped at £10 per month.
Santander Edge is an everyday current account which allows you to earn cashback on selected household bills and essential spending. You can earn cashback on selected household bills when you pay by direct debit and cashback at supermarkets and on travel costs when you use your debit card. Plus, you’ll have access to the Santander Edge saver account which pays a competitive rate of interest. In return, you’ll need to pay a monthly fee to maintain the account and meet certain eligibility criteria.
Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39.94% EAR variable . Account fee of £3 per month.
  • 1% cashback on selected household bills and essential spend
  • Optional linked savings account
  • Fee-free ATM withdrawals abroad (at Santander cash machines)
  • Arranged overdraft
  • Dedicated 24-hour customer support
  • £3 account management fee
  • Strict eligibility criteria
  • Interest on overdraft is 39.94% EAR
Interest rate 0% AER
Minimum opening balance £0.01
Minimum operating balance £0.01
Switch service guarantee Yes
Account fee £3 per month
Overseas card transactions 2.95%
Overseas cash withdrawals 2.95%

123 Current Account - Earn cash back every month on selected household bills

123 Current Account
Finder rating
★★★★★
Customer rating
★★★★★
Go to site Read review

£0.01

Min. opening balance

£4 per month

Account fees

2% AER

Interest (AER)

Earn cashback every month on selected household bills + 1.5% interest on your balance.
The Santander 123 current account has long been a popular account. As well as paying interest on in-credit balances, it also pays cashback on selected household bills. Account holders can earn tiered rates of cashback on bills including council tax, water, mobile and home phone, broadband and paid-for TV packages, Santander mortgage payments, Santander home and life insurance, plus gas and electricity. In return, you’ll need to meet set qualifying criteria and pay a monthly account fee. Account holders can also take advantage of an arranged overdraft. The account can be applied for online or in branch, but account holders must be at least 18 years old and a UK resident.
Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39.94% EAR variable . Account fee of £4 per month.
  • Interest paid on in-credit balances
  • Earn cashback on selected household bills
  • Easy to apply for
  • Monthly account fee
  • High interest rate charged on overdraft
  • You’ll need to meet certain criteria to earn interest and cashback
Interest rate 2% AER
Minimum opening balance £0.01
Minimum operating balance £0.01
Switch service guarantee Yes
Account fee £4 per month
Overseas card transactions 2.95%
Overseas cash withdrawals 2.95%

Get a free National Trust day pass when you refer a friend

Current Account - Age 18 and over
Finder rating
★★★★★
Customer rating
★★★★★
Go to site Read review

£0

Min. opening balance

£0

Account fees

0.05% AER

Interest (AER)

No fees overseas plus refer a friend and earn a free National Trust day pass – redeemable at hundreds of the places it looks after.

Requirements to get the bonus
  • On the starling app, tap profile picture and choose 'refer a friend' then 'share referral link' and message it to your friends
  • Once their account is approved, both will be sent a free National Trust individual day pass

Exclusions

  • Each of the Referring Customers and Referees must acknowledge and agree that no direct financial reward will arise as a result of the scheme and neither party shall in any circumstances attempt to derive a financial or other benefit from the scheme
  • Maximum of 50 daily referrals per referring customer
  • Passes cannot be used at paid for events or certain properties

Offer ends
There's no specified date when this offer ends, but it's subject to availability and can be withdrawn at any time.

Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 15% EAR variable .
  • Free ATM withdrawals and spending anywhere abroad
  • Can deposit both cash and cheques for free
  • Spending insights and saving tools
  • 'Settle up' feature to split joint bills
  • Pays interest on current account balance
  • Overdrafts and loans available
  • Lower ATM withdrawal limit than some other digital challengers
  • No group savings feature
  • Doesn't have a specific monthly budgeting tool
  • No rewards program
Interest rate 0.05% AER
Minimum opening balance £0
Minimum operating balance £0.01
Switch service guarantee Yes
Account fee £0
Overseas card transactions £0
Overseas cash withdrawals £0

Why do banks offer bonuses and rewards?

Banks want you as a customer. In a competitive market, one way to stand out is to offer bonuses and rewards to encourage you to open an account.

These can include welcome bonuses, ongoing rewards, refer a friend incentives, high interest on your current account or a linked savings account.

The Current Account Switching Service has made it easier to switch your current accounts. So it’s worth keeping an eye on what’s available and what you can take advantage of.

Can an offer or a reward affect my credit score?

There’s typically no impact on your credit score just from accepting a welcome bonus or earning rewards using your account.

However, if you’ve switched current accounts to secure the offer or reward, this can affect your credit score. But only temporarily.

When you open a new account, banks tend to do a “hard” credit search, which will show on your credit file. This will reduce your credit score very slightly, but the effect is short-lived.

Bottom line

If you’re looking to earn a little cash or are just interested in changing current accounts, it’s worthwhile to look at the best banking offers available. Whether it’s an initial influx of cash you are after or ongoing rewards, there’s something for everyone. But as well as considering what offer to take advantage of, make sure the current account you’re switching to has the right features, tools and banking options for you.

Frequently asked questions

We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you.

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