Free student account, no 3 years resident

theriel

Hello!
I am looking for some good current account. I am a student at UK university, came from EU country but I've never lived over 3 years in UK, therefore I am not eligible for the majority of student accounts.

In general, I am asking: what's the best account I can get without paying for it any fees?

Thank you for your help!

Best regards,
Theriel

Lokolo

There are many current accounts. HSBC has one where you get a maestro solo card. Lloyds offer a current account with a visa debit card.

Not sure about the whole internaitonl thing though. I would just go around the town into local branches and ask if this will have any affect on getting a normal current account.

There are free by the way, you can pay like £10 a month and get some extras, but I wouldn't bother.

theriel

Heh I know that there ARE current accounts and that usually I am allowed to create one. The question is: which one has the best facilities?

The_One_Who

A bank that has branches near your house or near your university is good. Natwest, although good, has no branches near me so is a bit useless for me.

You'd need to find out which banks will offer you an account and what type of account they will give you. Then look at what they offer and see which one suits you best.

theriel

Being and studying in London I can literally enumerate the majority of banks - all of them I pass on my way to the campus. There are Natwest, Barclays, HSBC, Halifax, Lloyds and a few more I didn't know before.

Lokolo

Ok well personally I recommend HSBC. But I have banked with them for 8/9 odd years and they have been my main bank used. I have found customer service ok, got better in recent years and their internet banking extremely good.

But then again, I can't really say anything bad about other banks as I haven't banked with them.

kysira

If you want a student account, try Abbey, I am a EU student and have only lived in the UK for about 2 years and they have just given me one. I have a normal current account with Lloyds, they wouldn't give me a student one.

Flower08

If your looking one for the best interest free overdraft, i think Natwest does the best (well highest anyway). And they also offer a free 5 year railcard - but it depends if something like that would be of any use to you?
Your best bet is just to look on the internet or even just go into your local branches and see what each one are offering.
Im not sure about which ones are available for international students though.

natweststaffmember

Flower08 wrote: »

If your looking one for the best interest free overdraft, i think Natwest does the best (well highest anyway). And they also offer a free 5 year railcard - but it depends if something like that would be of any use to you?
Your best bet is just to look on the internet or even just go into your local branches and see what each one are offering.
Im not sure about which ones are available for international students though.

Just to clarify, natwest will not offer overseas/non resident students overdrafts because part of the terms and conditions for studying in the UK is that guarantees are given that they will be self funded prior to coming to the UK. Most banks will take the same line, I believe.

Flower08

like i said im not sure which ones are available for international students

natweststaffmember

I wasn't taking a dig at you flower, just clarifying the natwest angle. Apologies if it came across that way.