PGCE - student accounts?

I have been into every highstreet bank to find one that would give me a student account for my PGCE year. I got a flat out No from Lloyds and Natwest, and a maybe from Halifax (but stey said I could only get a max of £500 overdraft). The most luck I have had was with Barklays who said yes but again said I'm only likely to get between £500 and £1000 overdraft. The most promising bank was HSBC who state in their terms that they will take those studying post grad, including PGCE. They also said I could get up to £3000 overdraft depending on personal circumstances and credit check.... So I am going to go back there to open the account.

On top of a student account, if you have graduated within the last 3 years you are also eligible to have a graduate account at most banks. I found Lloyds bank the most promising for that, and I should be able to open both a student and a graduate account with two separate banks in order to make the most out of two interest-free overdrafts. Beware though, that some banks may ask to make sure you don't have more than one student account etc.

Has anyone here tried to open a student account when they are doing a PGCE? I have a graduate account with NatWest, I graduated in 2008 and changed my account from student to graduate. Went back in today to ask if I can change it back to a student account as I'm going back to uni and was told no. I asked if I could go to any other bank and open up a student account and the woman said no you have to be doing a course at least 2 years long to get a student account.

I then walked in to Santander and was told I could "probably" open a student account there on a 1 year course (I couldn't stay an actually sort it as I had to be elsewhere, will try tomorrow). However the woman didn't look particuarly certain!

Any experience with this?

I had a student account with HSBC from 2006-2011 (4 year degree then MA). It then became a graduate account and my overdraft allowance dropped, but when I started my PGCE in September 2012 I showed them confirmation that I was a student again and they changed it back to a student account which meant I had a £2000 interest free overdraft allowance.

It was no hassle - I just said I would be a student again so needed my account changing, gave them confirmation of student status, and it was sorted.

It went back to a graduate account at the end of my PGCE and it has now just changed to a regular bank account, 2 years later. It's definitely been worth being on the student/graduate account as it meant I had a £1,500 interest free overdraft in my NQT year and a £1000 interest free overdraft the year after that. Now, about to start my 3rd year of teaching, I'm more financially stable and should be fine without dipping into the overdraft anymore.

Natwest said no? Really? I looked online and their website says they do a student account for one year postgraduate courses and I was planning to go in this week and open an account :-/
Hmm OK looks like I'll have to go for HSBC or Barclays then. Either way I need a student account for the year as I graduated 6 years ago and I pay £1 a day for my overdraft (Halifax) and I need to not be doing that this year with money being so tight.

I'm afraid that Natwest told me that their terms state that you have to be studying on a course that lasts no less than two years, so my PGCE course didn't qualify.. You should have some luck with HSBC or Barclays; I am going into HSBC later today to open the account. I have also heard that Santander will offer a student account but when I went in they were so rude and disinterested that I didn't bother to pursue it!

I'm the same in that money is going to be tight so I really need the highest interest-free overdraft I can get!

I'm afraid that Natwest told me that their terms state that you have to be studying on a course that lasts no less than two years, so my PGCE course didn't qualify.. You should have some luck with HSBC or Barclays; I am going into HSBC later today to open the account. I have also heard that Santander will offer a student account but when I went in they were so rude and disinterested that I didn't bother to pursue it!

I'm the same in that money is going to be tight so I really need the highest interest-free overdraft I can get!

Santender has a postgraduate account. As a very mature student (graudated more than 10 yrs ago and has a mortgage) I got approved on the phone quite quickly and the card arrived in a few days. They give you £250 interest-free OD initially then £1500 when you're paid in £500 (not tested that yet as I'm still waiting for my student finance).