[fabbykadabra]

Sorry if this is in the wrong place/has been asked before, I am using the iPhone app which is really hard to navigate.

Anyway I'm looking into student accounts and wondering if any are significantly better/have good perks? I was planning to just convert my current account which is natwest. But I saw last year Santander had a deal where you got free insurance. I was wondering if anyone has particular banks they reccommend as being good or having great perks like that.
Thanks!


This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

[Dan1909]

It varies fairly often to be honest. The only things really worth considering is any free gifts they'll give you (like the rail cards Natwest were doing a few years back), and, should you need it, the amount of overdraft they'll let you take, as these can differ from as low as £500 to upto £3000 in some cases. Be careful with that though.

Also obviously the quality of the service plays into it, I was with Santander but their local branch was absolutely abysmal for getting anything done, so I moved to Lloyds who have been great, and their internet banking is top notch!

[Flan!]

I think the amount of overdraft they'll let you take is thing you should be looking at, as you don't know when you'll need to use it and it can be a big help. For this reason I wouldn't choose barclays - they only give you £200 which isn't great in comparison to other banks and trying to extend it if you need to is a nightmare

[Sparklyblue171]

I use Halifax, and the £500 interest-free overdraft literally saved me this year (mainly the closing of the year expenses)

[laura_ann]

I've just applied for the Co-op Bank student account. Have had a current account with them before and haven't had any problems to date. Cancelled my Barclays account to take up one of theirs. Great staff in branch and at the call centre and get queries sorted out ASAP.

[cdoyle]

How easy is it to apply for an overdraft? I will definitely need one this year.

[brbr]

I wanted to open a student account at Lloyds and they told me that I have to put at least 500 pounds each month to have it. Wtf?

[cdoyle]

(Original post by brbr)
I wanted to open a student account at Lloyds and they told me that I have to put at least 500 pounds each month to have it. Wtf?

I read one bank- cant remember which one- said £500 a term.

[PeterJames69]

Each year it's different, last year I went with Natwest, they have an interest free overdraft which was good. The only conditions were a certain amount of deposits (covered by student loan) and using your debit card 3 times per month.

If something better comes along you can switch every summer.

[YByrne]

Hi natwest's rail card is only for existing customers Lloyds and HSBC look good -Lloyds do a buffer thing so if you go over your limit by a tenner they will let you off . They have an interest free overdraft of £1500. HSBC have a massive limit of £3000 I am not sure what sort of account use you need for that though...

Also check which banks will be near you university (especially if it is campus eg/ Falmouth arts college) . Banking with Halifax won't be good if there isn't one near you

[bananaslug77]

smile online bank student account - £1400 interest free overdraft!