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Budgeting & bank accounts

Discuss bank accounts, banking apps, budgeting hacks and how to organise your money.

Santander 123 Current Account---Is It Being Closed?
I have a Santander 123 lite account and I had the email saying that in August it will convert to an everyday current account. My wife has what they call a 123 Current Account where she pays the monthly fee of £4 to get the benefits. She has not had any email---does anyone know if this account is also closing?.
Conditions for 1st Direct switching bonus
I've confused myself - you have to make 5 debit card transactions in the first 45 days that can't be cash withdrawals, but after that ,if I'm reading correctly , you don't have any specific requirements on the frequency of use ? We tend to use a credit card to settle supermarket, petrol bills etc then settle everything…
Santander 'San protect'
Just opened my Santander banking app and got a message saying 'allow Santander to make and manage phone calls' and 'allow Santander to know the location of nearby devices' This is so they can protect you from spam phone calls using 'san protect' Has anybody else had this? I wonder how it works as obviously there is no…
Switching failure and slow transations
Bank 1: Nationwide - I try to Switch away to bank 2 TSB. My initial application is rejected, I thought for insufficient ID (completed online) so I retied in the app. This is rejected too. However a switch has been started and all my direct debits are moved to TSB. I ask Nationwide and TSB for help and they both blame each…
Disabled Trust Fund
Help needed please! My parents died last year and the estate is to be split 4 ways with my siblings this week.. My eldest brother is 65 and in residential care due to a brain injury. A discretionary trust has been created and I am a trustee. The solicitor has suggested I open a Trust account with Metro bank, however…
Managing money as a couple
I've just seen a post about how another couple are looking to manage joint finances. It has made me question if my partner & I could be doing things more efficiently. Every month our fixed joint bills (inc. mortgage) are paid out of my account and my partner has a standing order to cover half of this amount. Following the…
Basic account for vulnerable relative
Hello I have a vulnerable relative, struggling with debt issues. Is there a basic bank account that doesn't offer Direct Debits and Standing Orders? I'm wondering if we could set up a bank account to better control (and limit) spending so it is only conscious decision to pay with a card / withdraw cash.
Danske £175 Switching Offer 7/4/25
I can't seem to see this mentioned anywhere but Danske Bank appear to have launched a £175 switching offer on 7th April. It's only available to those who are a new Danske Bank Personal Current Account customer. You will not qualify for the Offers if you are an existing customer that closes any Danske Bank Personal Current…
Business overdraft personal guarantee
Hoping for some advice. My husbands small business sadly went into liquidation a while ago, Barclays are chasing us through Westcott for repayment of a £10k overdraft on the basis there's a personal guarantee. Neither my husband or I ever recall consenting to a personal guarantee. We asked for proof, all they've supplied…
Anyone got a Natwest debit card due to expire at the end of this month?
If so, have you received the new one yet? The expiry date on mine is 07/25 I dont have the new card yet. Wouldn't be much of a problem but I go away on the 19th for just over 2 weeks and wont be able to make withdrawals or pay anything with the card once it expires. I also have a letter from a company I have a payment plan…
Joint Account - Help please
Hi I purchased a house with a friend in 1995 and set up a joint account for all the bills etc. I sold the house to them left the joint account open (not sure why!). I finally decided to close the account but the bank (Natwest who I have my own account with) have advised they need both account holders to advise this. The…
Identify theft and the Financial Ombudsman
We have an account that was compromised, and the funds transferred to a Santander account. This Santander account was opened in our name. The scammers would have known details of one of our bank accounts and address from the compromised account. We have complained to Santander, who say that their identity checks were…
Fees for receiving international transfers to Santander Easy Access Saver
I'm doing some freelance work for a company in the USA, and they would like to pay me by wire transfer, directly in GBP from an American account. I have a Santander UK Easy Access Saver account into which I'd like to receive the money. Each instalment will be about £250, but they could be higher than £1000 in future.…
Chase UK discussion
Thought we would have heard something by now
Best Multi-currency Account for Sole-trader?
Hello folks. Just starting up my business as a sole trader. It is likely that I will be looking for clients from abroad. It is therefore also likely that I will be requesting a fee in GBP, so I will need an account that will automatically convert to the local currency, and then, of course house that fee in my account (I…
Voice ID
I have received a text from my bank Santander inviting me to register for Voice ID. I am wondering if this can be considered secure, given what I have heard about fraudsters being able to clone voices.
Confusion over flexible ISA rules
Hi, I have a flexible ISA with Trading 212 which I subscribed to in 2024-2025. This tax year I opened another ISA with UBL and used my full £20,000 allowance. My question is can I withdraw some funds from the flexible Trading 212 ISA and replace them back to that account this year? Trading 212 are saying I can’t because…
Paying in old Travellers Cheque
My husband bought Travellers Cheques a good few years ago worth about 80 pounds today Barclays Bank refused to accept it into our Joint Bank account and was instructed that he should sign the cheque and then they would bank it Did this and travelled back into town on the bus about 8 miles away AGAIN they refused to take it…
Is a fixed ISA any good?
I have found my interest rate almost half in past year or so. Is a fixed one any good? I believe I can earn £1500 in interest over a 2 year fixed rate. That’s on 20k. I will have other savings I can use. I am confused by early closure charges any ideas what sort of figure this would be? Can you still view your isa in your…
First Direct Notifications
About a week ago I noticed that I was getting notifications from FD for payments in and out of my current account. I hadn't noticed these before and just assumed I'd just missed them but as of yesterday, they stopped again.My question is is this new thing from FD (perhaps being trialled) or has it always been there and…

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MSE News

Ofgem proposes new 'no standing charge' Price Cap – but Martin Lewis warns vulnerable customers need to be opted in or it won't work
Ofgem has today launched detailed proposals for a major shake up to its Energy Price Cap that dictates the price over 80% of homes in England, Scotland and Wales pay for their energy bills.
Lloyds, Halifax and Bank of Scotland to cut overdraft rates for millions but hike them for others – here's what's happening and full help
If you're a Lloyds, Halifax or Bank of Scotland current account holder, the interest rate you're charged for using your overdraft could change soon as part of a fees shake-up. The Lloyds Banking Group, which owns all three brands, says millions of its customers will pay less after the changes – but a "few" will pay more.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more low-income households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Martin Lewis: At last a chance to fix Council Tax flaws impacting millions – debt collection, difficulty challenging your band, discounts and more
Major flaws in the Council Tax system in England could finally be fixed in future, as the Government has launched a wide-ranging consultation to review hideous debt collection practices, the difficulty of challenging your band, the overly complex and horribly-named Severe Mental Impairment discount and more. MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis, who has long campaigned on these issues, shares his response and analysis.
Energy complaints to be dealt with more quickly and Energy Ombudsman to get new powers under Government plans
If you have a complaint about your energy firm, it may be resolved more quickly in future, as the Government has announced a raft of proposals to strengthen consumer protections in the energy market. The planned changes include giving the Energy Ombudsman new powers to force firms to comply with its decisions – but it's still very early days. Here's what we know so far.
Warm Home Discount expansion confirmed with millions more eligible for the £150 top-up this winter – here's what we know
Around 2.7 million more households, including 900,000 families with children, will become eligible for the £150 Warm Home Discount this winter, as the Government has confirmed it will remove the existing 'hard to heat' eligibility criteria. The extension has only been confirmed for winter 2025/26, with further changes possible for future years.
Base rate held at 4.25% – here's what it means and when it might be cut next
The Bank of England has held the base rate at 4.25%. Below we explain why, when it might be cut, plus what it means for your mortgage and savings.
Applied for South West Trains 'boundary fares' compensation? Act now to claim it
If you applied for compensation from South West Trains before the deadline in January 2025, you now need to provide your bank details to the claim administrator so it can be paid to you. Here's what you need to know.
Winter Fuel Payments to be reinstated for millions – Martin Lewis explains how it'll work, what it means and if it's an improvement
All State Pensioners in England and Wales will receive a Winter Fuel Payment this winter, though those who earn over £35,000 will see it clawed back through the tax system. It means nine million pensioners will get the £200 or £300 top-up. Here MoneySavingExpert.com founder Martin Lewis shares his instant response and analysis, and we include answers to your key questions.

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Budgeting & bank accounts

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