Switching student current account?

Mike1989

Hi, currently a second year at university and I'm considering switching my current account from the Halifax. Been looking around the sites, Abbey, Nationwide, Yorkshire Bank etc, read some reviews and seen differing reports on each account.

Now I'm not bothered about an over draft on these accounts as I've never been near it, nor do I intend to. I travel into my local uni and work a couple of days so its never been near the red. Anyway basically I'm wanting to change and I've kinda narrowed it down to Abbey, Yorkshire and Nationwide. But I have a couple of questions;

1. Nationwide offer a current account, not a student one. Would it be possible for me to switch my student current account to them, as I pay in my wage and bursary? Just it does not really give any details, you search on their site for student current account and it directs you there and does not feature any information on if this product would be available to a student.

2. What is the best student current account out of Abbey, Yorkshire, Nationwide, or heck any student current accounts? In terms of customer service, best account etc.

Just with Halifax's takeover I was told that Lloyds call centres are aboard and are a pain in the !!!. So I suppose a third question would be, which banks have UK based call centres as its not really mentioned on their sites. Would much prefer having the ability to either call directly to my local bank or a UK based call centre.

So if anyone can answer my questions it would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

Miss_Liquorice

As far as student accounts go, I'd suggest going specifically for a student account. If you don't use the overdraft, it will at least be there for you in an emergency situation and is the only time you'll get a free overdraft in your life, so why not?

The merger with Halifax and LTSB is only conditional at the moment, it will take months to go through and won't really affect anything for a while, but if you are wanting to switch, I suggest Royal Bank of Scotland for a student account, they paid me £100 for opening it, which isn't too bad, and have never had a reason to complain.

Also, I can say the Lloyds call centres are definitely not abroad, they are all based in the UK. (I should know, else my commute to work would be a bit of a pain...)

No_Future

Abbey gives you 50 pounds if you deposit 500 within 1 month