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Bank accounts for students and graduates

See a list of the best student banking saving accounts

Updated: 01.11.2025

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Bank of Scotland

Student Current Account

Interest-free arranged overdraft – apply for up to £1,500 in years 1-3 and up to £2,000 in years 4-6 (available if aged 18 or over)

Easy access to your account via Internet Banking and the Mobile Banking app, Telephone Banking, plus any of our branches in Scotland

Free everyday banking when you stay in credit – no monthly fee

Receive up to 15% cashback with our Everyday Offers – available with some of your favourite retailers

Save the Change® – automatically rounds up your transactions to the nearest pound and puts the difference in a nominated savings account

Barclays Bank

Barclays Bank

Student Additions Account

interest-free overdraft of up to £1,500 over the course of your studies

To apply for this account, you’ll need to:

Be 18 or over

Be studying full-time in the UK as an undergraduate, postgraduate or higher apprentice

Have lived in the UK for more than three years

Halifax

Halifax

Student Current Account

Apply for an interest-free arranged overdraft of up to £1,500 – for the duration of your course and 3 years after you graduate

Free everyday banking when you stay in credit – no monthly fee

Up to 15% cashback at some of your favourite retailers – shop with our Cashback Extras to earn some extra cash

HSBC Bank

HSBC Bank

Student Bank Account

guaranteed interest-free limit of up to £1,000 when you apply for a Student Account, regardless of what year you're in, which could rise to £3,000 by year 3.

You can apply for a Student Bank Account if you:

are 18 or over

live in the UK and have lived in the UK, Channel Islands or Isle of Man for the past 3 years

have proof you've been accepted onto a qualifying course (eg your 16-digit UCAS code)

Lloyds Bank

Lloyds Bank

Student Current Account

You can apply if

You're aged 17 or over

You’re studying full-time on a course of at least two years’ duration, or a one-year full-time access course leading to a degree

You have been a resident in the UK for at least three years

You have a university place confirmed

You're already a student, you can still apply for a student account

If you’re 18 or over, you can apply for an arranged overdraft of up to £1,500 in years 1 – 3 and then up to £2,000 in years 4 – 6.If you’re 18 or over, you can apply for an arranged overdraft of up to £1,500 in years 1 – 3 and then up to £2,000 in years 4 – 6.

Nationwide Building Society

Nationwide

FlexStudent current account

an interest-free arranged overdraft of up to £1,000 in your first year, up to £2,000 in your second year and up to £3,000 in your third year.

You need to:

be 18 or over

have been a UK resident for 3 or more years

not have another student bank account

have an unconditional offer or a confirmed conditional place on a full-time UCAS course of at least 2 years

be starting your course at a UK institution in 5 months or less, or have been on your course for less than 12 months

pay in at least £500 per term from the date the account is opened

National Westminster Bank (NatWest)

NatWest Bank

Student bank account

receive £100 and a free 4 year tastecard worth £55.00 per year

Interest-free overdraft - get an overdraft of up to £2,000 from year one (limited to £500 in term one, year one) with an instant online decision. Students can apply for up to £3,250 interest free from year three onwards.

No monthly Student current account fees.

To apply, you must be 17+ and have been living in the UK for at least 3 years. Online applications only.

You need to be a full time undergraduate student (on at least a 2-year course at a UK university/college) or you need to be completing a full time postgraduate or nursing course lasting a year or more. You can apply within 6 months of your course start date.

To confirm you're a student and eligible for this account, we require your unique 16 digit UCAS code.

You must use your student account as your main account by depositing student finance, wages, or other regular income into it.

Royal Bank of Scotland

Royal Bank of Scotland

Student bank account

To apply, you must be 17+ and have been living in the UK for at least 3 years. Online applications only.

You need to be a fulltime undergraduate student (on at least a 2 year course at a UK University/College) or you need to be completing a full time postgraduate or nursing course lasting a year or more. You can apply within 6 months of your course start date.

You must use your Student account as your main account by depositing your wages or other regular income into it.

Interest-free overdraft - get an overdraft of up to £2,000 from year one (Limited to £500 in term one, year one) with an instant online decision. Students can apply for up to £3,250 interest free from year three onwards.

No monthly Student current account fees.

Santander

Santander

1|2|3 Student Current Account

You’re 18 or over and live in the UK permanently

You’re about to begin or have started an undergraduate course or a level 4-7 apprenticeship, that is at least 2 years in length. If you’re about to begin your course, you must have an ‘unconditional’ or ‘confirmed conditional’ offer (i.e. you have your exam results) before you apply

You pay in at least £500 into your account every 4 months

If you already have a Santander current account, you'll need to transfer it

This is a paper-free account – learn more in ‘Key documents and account information

An interest-free arranged overdraft of £1,500 in years 1-3, £1,800 in year 4 and £2,000 if you stay on to year 5.

The Co-op Credit Union

The Co-operative Bank plc

Student bank account

What you get with our student bank account:

An interest-free overdraft starting at £1,400, that you can request to increase each year

One year to pay off your overdraft after you finish your course, without any interest

Access to our mobile app and online banking so you can securely manage your account anywhere, any time

You can apply for our student account:

As soon as you turn 18

Once you have a confirmed place on a full-time course

TSB

TSB

Student bank account

To qualify for TSB’s student bank account, you:

Must be 17 or over (or 18+ to qualify for the overdraft)

Must have been a UK resident for at least three years

Must be studying for a full-time course which lasts a minimum of two years or be on a one-year access course leading onto a full-time degree.

Interest-free overdrafts

Author: Prostobank Consulting

More about bank accounts for students and graduates

Which account is best for students in the UK?

Students, like other bank clients, want to choose an account with the best service conditions. The best conditions are a rather individual indicator that depends on the needs and preferences of the client. Therefore, we will provide the basic parameters that you should pay attention to when choosing a student account in the bank. Considering these parameters and combining them with their needs, students will be able to choose the best bank accounts.

The main criteria to consider when choosing a student account:

  1. Interest-free overdraft. When choosing an account, pay attention to the possibility of issuing an interest-free overdraft, ideally with high limits. After all, there are various life situations, when there is a lack of funds, such an overdraft can be your salvation.
  2. Commissions and fees. Look for accounts with low or zero fees.
  3. Benefits and incentives. Choose an account with the benefits and rewards that are relevant to you (discounts, profitable cashback, railway cards, etc.).
  4. Availability. Be sure to test mobile banking, because nowadays it is a convenient way to manage an account. It does not hurt to check the network of bank branches for its convenience to your location.
  5. Customer service. Give preference to banks with good customer service reviews.
  6. Interest rates on student savings accounts. If you want to accumulate your funds, choose savings accounts with high interest.
  7. Compliance with requirements. Check if you meet the bank's criteria. After all, some banks open accounts only for full-time students, for international students  or may set other requirements

You can also place free funds on a savings account.

Calculate your future income on a savings account (example): 

Amount, $ Rate, % Accrued %, $
30,000 4.40% 1,320
30,000 4.45% 1,335
30,000 4.50% 1,350
80,000 4.90% 3,920
80,000 4.95% 3,960
80,000 5.00% 4,000
190,000 5.40% 10,260
190,000 5.45% 10,355
190,000 5.50% 10,450
340,000 5.90% 20,060
340,000 5.95% 20,230
340,000 6.00% 20,400

Can a foreign student open a UK bank account?

Yes, an international student can open a bank account in the UK. What's more, most UK banks offer accounts specifically designed for international students. Therefore, students from other countries can choose the most suitable bank and open a student account there. By opening such an account, foreign students can safely and easily carry out banking operations, have easy access to their funds and use all the functions and advantages of mobile banking.

Who offers student savings accounts in the UK?

Several banks and financial institutions in the UK offer student savings accounts designed to help students manage their finances while earning interest on their savings. These accounts often come with special features tailored to students, such as fee waivers, bonus interest rates, or other incentives.

Here are some of the main providers: HSBC, Santander, NatWest, Lloyds Bank, Barclays, TSB, RBS, Halifax

See the similar FAQ about the UK banks: 

Details of companies offering the financial services:

Bank of Scotland

Head office’s address: The Mound, Edinburgh EH1 1YZ

Phone: +44 (034) 5721 31 41

Web-site: http://www.bankofscotland.co.uk/

Swift code: BOFSGB31

Reference number: 169628

Stock code: 0076540

ABN: SC327000

BSB: BOFS

Barclays Bank

Head office’s address: 1 Churchill Place, London E14 5HP

Contact center: 0800-400-100

Phone: +44 (034) 5734 53 45

Web-site: http://www.barclays.co.uk/

Swift code: BARCGB33

Reference number: 122702

Stock code: BARC

ABN: 01026167

BSB: BARC

Halifax

Head office’s address: The Mound, Edinburgh EH1 1YZ

Contact center: 0345-720-3040

Phone: +44 (011) 3242 19 84

Web-site: http://www.halifax.co.uk/

Stock code: HALP

HSBC Bank

Head office’s address: Unit 8, Canada Square, Retail, London E14 5AH

Phone: +44 345 740 4404

Web-site: https://www.hsbc.co.uk/

Swift code: HBUKGB4B

Reference number: 114216

Stock code: HSBA

ABN: 00014259

BSB: HBUK

Lloyds Bank

Head office’s address: 25 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HN

Contact center: 0345-300-0000

Web-site: https://www.lloydsbank.com/

Swift code: LBGTGB22

Reference number: 119278

Stock code: LLOY

ABN: 00002065

BSB: LBGT

Nationwide

Head office’s address: Nationwide House Pipers Way

Contact center: 0800-30-20-15

Phone: +44 (034) 5730 20 15

Web-site: http://www.nationwide.co.uk

Swift code: NBSMGB22

Reference number: 106078

Stock code: NBS

ABN: 355B

BSB: NBSM

NatWest Bank

Head office’s address: 250 Bishopsgate, London, EC2M 4AA

Contact center: 0800-88-11-77

Phone: +44 345 788 8444

Web-site: https://www.natwest.com/

Swift code: NWBKGB2

Reference number: 121878

Stock code: GBP1

ABN: 00929027

BSB: NWBK

Royal Bank of Scotland

Head office’s address: 36 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH2 2YB

Contact center: 0345-600-2230

Phone: +44 (070) 3597-88-42

Web-site: https://www.rbs.co.uk/

Swift code: ROYCGB2LCLS

Stock code: NWG

ABN: BR000548

BSB: ROYC

Santander

Head office’s address: 2 Triton Square, Regent's Place, London, NW1 3AN

Contact center: 0800-389-7000

Web-site: http://www.santander.co.uk/

Swift code: ABBYGB3E

Reference number: 106054

ABN: 02294747

BSB: ABBY

The Co-operative Bank plc

Head office’s address: 1 Balloon Street, Manchester M60 4EP

Contact center: 159

Phone: +44 (034) 5721 22 12

Web-site: http://www.co-operativebank.co.uk/

Reference number: 121885

ABN: 00990937

TSB

Head office’s address: Henry Duncan House, 120 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4LH

Phone: +44 (034) 5975 87 58

Web-site: http://www.tsb.co.uk

Swift code: TSBSGB2A

Reference number: 119278

Stock code: 94AQ

ABN: SC095237

BSB: TSBS