News

**MSE Dan** · 11-08-2009, 6:21 PM

Hi folks,

In our newly published Student Accounts 2009/10 guide, RBS Student Account is one of our new top picks.

It offers 0% overdrafts of 'up to £2,750' for every year of study, and we're after feedback from people who have applied this year about what overdraft limit you are given to start with, and also whether this was upped if you requested more.

Thanks for all help in advance

Dan

littlepinkstars44 · 11-08-2009, 11:08 PM

this is my second year with this account, and have been told i cannot increase my £1400 overdraft untill 3rd year starts

erathean · 12-08-2009, 10:43 AM

In my first year with this account I received a £1250 overdraft, however, I must put out a warning that I had absolute hell getting this account setup.

I've been an RBS customer for 13 years and it was the first time I seriously considered leaving until I finally got several very apologetic and helpful members of staff.

I had my Route21 account converted to a Student Current Account and this process was not completed correctly. As a consequence I had no approved overdraft limit, so they had to send off to request an overdraft for me. They managed to lose my application for an overdraft three times and it took 2 and a half weeks from me asking for my overdraft and about 3 hours in branch to finally get it setup.

It got worse when I requested their Highline Maestro card - I hit the same "no approved limit" issue here and instead of being issued with one automatically like my colleagues (who'd just opened RBS accounts) I had to fill out two forms (yes, they lost the first one) and finally got one a couple of weeks after requesting it.

I also didn't appreciate being told to join the Student queue in my local branch which was what new account recruits were being told to do but branch staff were quite happy to serve me in the non-student queue when I explained my situation.

folkestonelisa · 12-08-2009, 10:59 AM

I opened a student account last year, but still have no overdraft.
I now see that you have to have at least 3 direct debits going out of the account before they will consider an overdraft. Which they had told me at the time as i would have done that.

Coconuts · 12-08-2009, 9:43 PM

All very well if you are in 1st year, won't let you get the benefits if you are like me entering 4th year..it sucks. but they will let me open an account...don't think so.......

Masomnia · 12-08-2009, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by folkestonelisa

I opened a student account last year, but still have no overdraft.
I now see that you have to have at least 3 direct debits going out of the account before they will consider an overdraft. Which they had told me at the time as i would have done that.

Did they tell you that in the branch? I think someone's got confused somewhere.

lrr · 15-08-2009, 3:30 PM

Have just applied and been offered £500. Also says "To help you budget in your first year, we normally offer a limit of £500 in your first term, £1,000 in your second term, £1,250 in your third term (not sure how that works with only two semesters in one year)
Moving on, you can decide to apply for up to £1400 in your second year, £1600 in your third, £1800 in your fourth and £2000 in your fifth.
However, you can apply for up to £2,750 at any time - but this will depend on your personal circumstances" .

folkestonelisa · 16-08-2009, 8:09 PM

I might have got it confused, but im sure that is what it said on their website the otherday.
They flatly refused to give me an overdraft when i opened the account and still dont have one.
Having a review in a few weeks and may well close the account down as im not getting anything from it.

folkestonelisa · 16-08-2009, 8:10 PM

To maintain your overdraft, we need to see that you're using your RBS Student Current Account as your main account. This means at least one credit (money paid in) every 3 months, and three debits (money paid out) a month

Aghhh maybe they wont let me because i dont do that, I tend to take the money out every quarter

hieveryone · 16-08-2009, 8:33 PM

I had/have an RBS student account and the most I ever got as an overdraft was £1,800. I did have to ask them for this though.

luellaaa · 17-08-2009, 1:12 AM

I set up this account last year. I've maxed my overdraft at £1200 ( oh the joys of paying rent). Problem is i have to pay a deposit on my flat, and travel to my new job until i move in, which is really hard to do if you have nothing in the bank - I've begged and begged them for a few extra pounds to help but to no avail, they don't even give me a reason, i just get" It's not possible, sorry, very sorry...etc".

I want to pay this overdraft off and find another student account.

Happytin · 21-08-2009, 4:51 PM

I just got my account and was given the standard first year incremental increasing overdraft to £1250. However, what I was not warned about was that you MUST state right when the bank advisor starts taking your details that you want the account based in Scotland, if you are studying there and got it for the train and bus travel. I had applied online and had stated I wanted my account based in Edinburgh, but it turns out that it is now based in my hometown. Having phoned them I was informed that I must close the account and open an entirely new one. Joy!

WolfSong2000 · 22-08-2009, 2:37 AM

I opened a student account with them 3 years ago, after receiving a leaflet through the door that said if you opened an account you'd be credited with £100...so, opened account in england, and got them to clarify that the leaflet was correct. When I got to Scotland, however, I was told that in order to receive the £100 I needed to have opened my account in Scotland, so was no longer eligible.

djmartin999 · 07-09-2009, 10:31 PM

I received £1400 going into my 3rd year. Easy to apply

KateDoll90 · 09-09-2009, 10:12 PM

I apologise that this is'nt strictly about the overdraft limit, however it is an odd catch worth being aware of.
I am not from but studying in Scotland and therefore, following Martins tips, decided on an RBS student account. However when I went to open this account in my local Oxfordshire branch I was informed that I have to open the account in Scotland itself to get the Scottish benefits (railcard etc).
This seems ridiculous! How many students from England are willing to take a day trip to Scotland to open an account!?

Twister84 · 10-09-2009, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KateDoll90

...I have to open the account in Scotland itself to get the Scottish benefits (railcard etc).
This seems ridiculous! How many students from England are willing to take a day trip to Scotland to open an account!?

Is it me, or did you just answer your own question?

Greengo · 10-09-2009, 6:29 PM

I received £1250 in my first year. In my 2nd year I tried to apply for the £2750 but they refused! I did manage to raise it to £1400 though. Just out of interest! Does anyone know about this 2 fr 1 Vue cinema card you're supposed to get when you open the RBS student account! Think it's a scam myself! Received no leaflet or phone number, and when I go in to speak to the staff they don't know anything about the offer. What a heap of rubbish!

amiehall · 06-10-2009, 9:50 PM

I have an account with the RBS that has recently converted into a graduate account. In my first year, I was given £1250 overdraft (as per the terms offered at the time) when I went to increase it at the end of my 1st year I was offered £1400 but when I asked about increasing it further, as the offer available to new students had changed, I was offered the full amount of £2750. I believe that my request to increase the overdraft so significantly was granted because my account had been kept in credit for a significant portion of the year (crucially also I was in credit at the time of the request) as there is an element of discretion on the part of bank staff. They won't increase the overdraft if it's due to obvious financial problems.

Also to add, as mentioned above by some other posters, more favourable conditions are often given to those with accounts based in Scotland. As I live near the border, I hopped over to one of their Scottish branches to open my account even though I lived and studied in England, this gave my account larger opening incentives!