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Graduate accounts
Cut the cost of post-uni banking
Updated 28 November 2022
Don't just stick with your student bank account after uni – loyalty can cost! Some banks let you switch even if you've not had their student account and you can get 0% overdrafts for up to three years. If you've graduated recently, see if you can ditch and switch your account to save £100s in interest.
Five graduate account need-to-knows
Top graduate accounts for switchers 2022/23
To be included here, banks must first let you switch to their graduate accounts – and only a few do that. Mostly, banks will only let you have their graduate account if you'd had their student account. Yet, if you are switching from a student account or other graduate account, you need to know that...
All overdraft limits are 'up to' amounts, so you're not guaranteed to get them – it'll depend on your credit score.
However, providing you've got no glaring issues on your credit file, the chances of getting the full amounts are decent.
You'll need to be within three years of graduating to switch to these accounts (two years for HSBC) and all of them require you to pass a credit check when you apply (see Credit rating guide).
Top graduate accounts for switchers 2021/22
| TABLE_CELL_STYLE | HSBC Graduate Bank Account | TSB Graduate Bank Account | Barclays Higher Education Account |
| Max 0% overdraft in year 1 | £3,000 | £2,000 | £1,500 |
| Max 0% overdraft in year 2 | £2,000 | £2,000 | £1,500 |
| Max 0% overdraft in year 3 | £1,000 | £2,000 | £1,500 |
| Overdraft interest outside 0% | 39.9% | 39.9% | N/A |
| Any perks? | Access to 5% regular saver | None | 5.12% savings account + other perks if you join Blue Rewards |
| How to apply | In branch | In branch | In branch |
| ID needed to apply | - Degree certificate - Photo ID - Proof of address - Bank statement |
- Degree certificate - Photo ID - Proof of address |
- Degree certificate - Photo ID - Proof of address |
| TABLE_CELL_STYLE | Apply | Apply | Apply |
After three years of holding these banks' graduate accounts, you'll be transferred to the bank's standard fee-free bank account. These don't tend to have perks or reward you with interest or cashback. So, when the bank writes to you to tell you your graduate account's ending, check our Best bank accounts guide.
If you still have an overdraft, look at our top pick accounts if you're overdrawn.
Top in-credit current accounts
If you don't need an overdraft after graduating, then don't go for a graduate account. These standard bank accounts have perks such as free cash or vouchers for switching, linked regular savers, and monthly cash rewards.
However, their overdrafts are often much smaller, or more expensive. Only do this if being overdrawn is a very unlikely scenario. To get any of the following you must have an adequate credit rating (see Credit rating guide).
For the full range of our top pick accounts, see the Best bank accounts guide.
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