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Student Bank Accounts

Grab the top overdrafts and freebies in 2020

best student bank accounts
Rosie Bannister
Rosie Bannister | Edited by Martin Lewis
Updated 24 September 2019

Free cash, 0% overdrafts and railcards; banks love reeling new students in with goodies, and the latest batch of accounts are out. This is a guide to bagging the best deal, whether you're a fresher or just refreshing your finances.

Best student bank accounts

In this guide

What is a student account?

Student accounts are simply bank accounts made for those in higher education. They let you pay money in and out, and offer additional benefits such as an interest-free overdraft.

To be accepted you'll need a UCAS confirmation letter with an unconditional offer or, if your offer's conditional, A-Level results that meet that condition, or a letter from the university you'll be attending confirming your place. As soon as you've got these, you can open an account, allowing you extra time to make full use of its benefits before the start of term.

Quick questions

  • What ID do I need to open an account?

    As with all bank accounts, you'll need proof of address and identity. This can include: passport, birth certificate or current UK driving licence.

  • I'm an existing student. Can I switch to a different bank account?

    Existing students can usually switch their account to get the same terms as others in the same year of study – though certain accounts restrict opening to first year students. If you're in your second or third year, or beyond, be sure to check the new account at least matches what you're already being offered (or have) in terms of a 0% overdraft.

    For more details, see the top accounts below.

The student account need-to-knows

Here are the big things you need to consider...

  • 1. Get the biggest 0% overdraft – unless huge freebies beat it

    Most students need an overdraft, where the bank lets you spend more than you've got (at no extra cost) to a set amount. Aim to get the biggest and longest 0% overdraft you can – the only time this doesn't apply is if the freebie on offer is so valuable to you it outweighs this.

    Be wary of banks offering bigger overdrafts than our top picks – some give 'guaranteed' amounts, others 'up to' amounts – so make sure you're comparing like for like.

    It's also worth noting that many student bank accounts offer tiered overdraft amounts, which increase with each year of study, meaning you could end up with a bigger overdraft limit after your first year, so factor this into your decision-making process. However, you must ask for extensions each year, even on guaranteed limits – they're not applied automatically.

    Also be wary of applying for the maximum overdraft possible just because you can. If you budget well you may not need it as anything other than a buffer, and the smaller your overdraft, the less likely you are to get caught in a dangerous spending spiral.

    Here are the student bank accounts available for new customers and the 0% overdraft amount they offer.

    Student bank accounts with 0% overdrafts

    LENDER 0% OVERDRAFT AMOUNT
    Bank of Scotland Up to £1,500 in years 1-3, then up to £2,000
    Barclays Up to £1,000 in year 1, up to £2,000 in year 2, then up to £3,000
    Halifax Up to £1,500
    HSBC £1,000 in year 1, up to £2,000 in year 2, then up to £3,000
    Lloyds Up to £1,500 in years 1-3, then up to £2,000
    Nationwide £1,000 in year 1, £2,000 in year 2, then £3,000
    NatWest £500 in term 1, then up to £2,000
    Royal Bank of Scotland £500 in term 1, then up to £2,000
    Santander Up to £1,500 in years 1-3, then up to £1,800 in year 4 and up to £2,000 in year 5
    TSB Up to £1,500

    Last updated July 2019.

    Remember the bank is just lending you this money. It'll need to be paid back, so don't get too comfortable. Always keep in your mind that's it's not actually yours, it's the bank's.

  • 2. Never go over your overdraft limit

    This isn't a rule just for students, it's a rule for life. The game totally changes if you go beyond your overdraft limit – charges shoot up and you can be caught in a vicious cycle that's tough to ever escape from. If you stay within your limit there's usually no cost.

    If you're struggling, at least talk to the bank. Try to agree an extension but remember, you are likely to be charged a high rate of interest. It's always far better to plan and budget to avoid this.

    If not, or if you go over without permission, the charges can be enormous – up to £15 per transaction (so a shopping trip spending £30 in five debit card transactions could see you facing £75 of charges) – beware!

  • 3. Beware, you'll be credit-checked

    When you apply for debt products, including a bank account with an overdraft, the bank will credit-check you to decide how desirable a customer you are based on behavioural predictions from your previous financial data.

    As a student, it's likely there'll be very little data on you, which makes credit checking very difficult. Sadly this can leave some students rejected due to ridiculous anomalies, and there may be no rhyme, reason or solution to this. Read the Build Your Credit History and the main Credit Scoring guides for more info.

  • 4. DON'T pick based on the closest branch or ATM

    Just because there's a particular bank on campus, or a conveniently-located cash machine nearby, it DOESN'T mean you should choose an account with it.

    You can withdraw cash free of charge from any bank's ATM and almost every bank gives online access. Branch location has little relevance for able-bodied students. To compare, examine what's on offer and go for the best deal.

  • 5 You CAN switch to a student account

    Most banks that offer student accounts are part of the Current Account Switch Service (CASS), so you can easily switch your existing bank account – or another student account – as part of the normal process. Just open a new account, then use the new bank's switching service and it'll close your old account and move your money, direct debits, standing orders etc across.

    However, many student accounts will only let you open them if you're a new student – as is the case with two of the accounts below – so check first if switching from another student account.

  • 6. After uni, switch to a top graduate account

    Your aim straight after uni should be to pay down your 0% overdraft. If that's not possible, for at least a year after finishing your course, you're still eligible for preferential terms, including 0% interest overdrafts, allowing you to gradually pay off the debt.

    Switch to the Top Graduate Account to continue getting the benefits. Many of these accounts operate by reducing your 0% overdraft limit each year, allowing you to gradually pay it off before the interest-free period ends.

Top student accounts 2019/2020

The high street banks compete in a red-hot battle. They publish ever bigger overdraft limits, but then sneakily won't allow all students to have them. The key is whether the overdraft is 'guaranteed' or 'up to' – the latter means you'll only get it if you have a good credit record, and all accounts require you to pass a credit check.

Some banks also try and attract students with the promise of freebies, from free cash to railcards. While you should never be enticed just by these offerings, they sometimes offer decent overdraft limits too so can be a good option. We've included the best of both worlds here.

Nationwide Building Society*

Guaranteed £1,000 0% overdraft in year 1, £2,000 in year 2 and £3,000 in year 3

Apply*

The Nationwide FlexStudent* account offers first-year students a £1,000 0% overdraft in year one, £2,000 in year two and £3,000 in year three. You'll definitely get these limits if you ask for them – as long as you pay in at least £500 per term (eg, your maintenance loan/cash from parents) and don't have credit problems.

0% overdraft: Year 1: £1,000, Year 2: £2,000, Year 3 & beyond: £3,000
Unarranged overdraft fees: N/A (you won't be able to use it until you get the balance back under your limit)
Savings protection: Full
Who's eligible: First-year university students or apprentices (see FAQs) 

  • Who can get the account?

    You need to be 18 or over and have lived in the UK for the last three years, and your course needs to be at least two years long.

    Plus, you must apply for the account between five months before the start of your course and two months after it starts, unless you've been a Nationwide member for at least a year – then you can apply up to 18 months after your course starts.

  • What's the deal with going over your overdraft limit?

    This account's not designed to allow you to do that. But, if you do go over your limit, you won't be able to use the account until you get the balance back under your agreed limit – so no debit card spending, no cash withdrawals.

    If you're not at the maximum overdraft for your year of study, you can request to increase the limit to the maximum.

  • Can I get a graduate account?

    Once you've graduated, Nationwide will transfer your account to be a FlexGraduate account. It's not available to apply for – you can only get it if you've had the FlexStudent account.

    In the FlexGraduate account, your 0% overdraft tapers off over three years (£2,500 one year after graduation; £1,750 after two years and £1,000 after three years), but other graduate accounts may beat it.

  • Does the account offer interest?

    Yes, if you're in credit you'll earn 1% AER variable up to £1,000.

  • Are there any other perks?

    Not currently.

APPLY*

Santander*

Free 4yr railcard, plus guaranteed £1,500 0% overdraft in years 1-3 

Apply*

The Santander 123* student account gives full-time students and apprentices a four-year 16-25 Railcard (worth £90ish), which gets you a third off rail travel, and a guaranteed £1,500 overdraft in years one to three – as long as you pay in £500/term and register for online banking. What's more, unlike the accounts above, you don't need to be at the beginning of your course to open it. If you're in credit, you'll also get up to 3% interest on up to £2,000.

0% overdraft: Years 1-3: £1,500. Year 4: £1,800. Year 5: £2,000
Unarranged overdraft fees: £5 daily charge, paid/unpaid fees: £5/£10 per item. Max monthly charge of £50.
Savings protection: Shared with Cahoot
Who's eligible: University students in any year or apprentices (see FAQs)

  • Who can get the account?

    You need to be 18 or over, a UK resident and studying or about to start a 2 year+ undergrad course or a level 4 to 7 apprenticeship. 

    If you're not in your first year of study you must switch your account from another bank.

  • How do I get the railcard?

    To get the railcard, you'll need to open a Santander 123 Student Account for the first time and make the £500/term pay-in. You must register for online banking, which will take 7-10 days to set up, then enter a special code on the railcard website, which is valid for 60 days ONLY.

    Make sure you enter the code within the timeframe, as they won't issue you another code. You'll get your railcard within five working days of ordering.

    We valued the railcard by working it out against a three-year railcard which normally costs £70, as four-year cards aren't available for general purchase. The railcard is also available to full-time students aged 26 and over.

  • Can I get the railcard if I'm in Northern Ireland?

    Unfortunately the railcard isn't valid in Northern Ireland, although the overdraft still makes this account a decent option.

  • What should I avoid with this account?

    Avoid going into an unauthorised overdraft, as the fees are huge, so avoid at all costs. Arranged overdrafts aren't permitted above the set limits.

  • How can I give feedback on this account?

    Please let us know your experiences and any problems: Santander feedback.

  • Does the account offer interest?

    Yes, if you're in credit you'll earn 1% AER variable for £100-£200, 2% for £200-£300 and 3% between £300 and £2,000.

  • Are there any other perks?

    As a 123 account holder you're also eligible for savings accounts and loans at preferential rates, eg, a linked 2.5% regular saver.

APPLY*

Don't need an overdraft? Maybe try stoozing...

For that rare student breed, the ones who are always in credit, there aren't many choices (even if you're occasionally overdrawn, go for the top overdraft deal).

The Santander account above pays interest on up to £2,000 which is a decent option. If you've more, the prime option is to get a normal student account then dunk your cash in the Top Savings Accounts. But there's a way to boost even that.

  • How to stooze your student account

    Please don't even read this unless you're an anally-retentive financial superhero. The consequences of getting it wrong can be a real problem and with low savings rates the current returns just aren't that good anyway.

    Those always in credit could PROFIT (provided they're financially disciplined) by opting for the account with the biggest and longest lasting interest-free overdraft and using a budgeting technique we call 'current account stoozing' (see the Stoozing guide for a full definition of the word).

    Once you get your account, take cash out of it and plop it into a top-paying instant access savings account (see Top Savings and Cash ISA guides) leaving yourself reasonably near, but never over, your overdraft limit. Make sure you also manage any changes in limits and leave enough room to do your normal spending.

    As a result, you're earning interest on money the bank lends you for free. Done right, this can add around £120 to a student's coffers over the length of a course. Similar tricks are possible with student loans (see the Student MoneySaving article). However, this isn't an excuse for spending or borrowing more. If you're not financially disciplined, please DON'T try it.

Do a budget the right way

It's a mantra parents push at their student offspring all the time. "You've got to do a budget young Johnny, it'll all go to hell if you don't, please do it Johnny, please..."

Yet "do a budget" is a meaningless phrase unless you understand your income.

 With people who work it's an easy message:

 You shouldn't spend more than you earn.

But when it comes to those going to university, you need to:

Add up student loan + employment earnings + money from family + any grants/sponsorship money, and that is your income.

While 0% overdrafts are very useful and should help with cashflow issues while you're a student, they're never part of your income. Always remember, an overdraft is a LOAN and must be repaid (its rate will jump once you graduate).

But if you're going to university next year or are currently studying, funding is key. Make sure you're aware of the loans and grants available to you and plan accordingly. See our Student Loans 2019/20 guide for more on fees and funding.

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Top Student Bank Accounts

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