Want to open a Student account now

madmanmax

I'm going on holiday on Wednesday to see family back home. I'll be back hopefully the day before my term starts.

Is it possible to open a student account now? I don't want to go through the hassle. I already have an unconditional offer to do my course.
Noticed Halifax will only allow student accounts to be opened after 19th of August. Presuembly when most people get their results. I already know I'm going to Uni so can I open early?

If I can which one is the best? All the information on the website is for 2009/10.

glider3560

You could always open a normal bank account at your chosen bank, then ask for it to be converted into a student account when you get back from holiday?

madmanmax

glider3560 wrote: »

You could always open a normal bank account at your chosen bank, then ask for it to be converted into a student account when you get back from holiday?

That solves the problem of opening it. However how will I know which one is the best one for me? There doesn't seem to be a lot of details for 2010/11 that I can find easily.

fridge_raider

The offers and overdrafts that will be able may not have been finalised by the banks yet, perhaps that's why. Maybe you should wait until the season for applying for student accounts properly starts, and then you'll have the banks falling over each other to get people to sign up by offering great overdrafts, freebies, railcard etc.

SUPERMCNATURAL

i swithched between a few banks over the last 4yrs all of which i had student accounts with e.g rbs and santander. and to behonest the best one ive had, which im sticking with for a graduate account has been co-op, their smile account is great overdraft up to £2000, credit card and cheque book. i have been that impressed by them that i am swithching my mortgage over to them in the next few months

paulwellerfan

most banks want you to wait until you have actually got your comformation letter from the uni.
i got mine the day i enrolled.
however at the fresher week there were a nunmber of banks just waiting for the students, all offering free gifts.( i got a nice free camera from Barclays)

wobblymummy

I already have a letter from my Uni offering me an unconditional place and I already have a current account with Smile which I use to pay the mortgage and salary goes into. Should I apply for a student account now or wait ?

dave_phoenix

If you go into the branch you should be able to open a student account.
Before i was a student I had a HSBC current account and they automatically changed it to the student one. This was however, just before I went to uni.
Is there a specific reason why you need a student account now? i.e the interest free overdraft? Or is just because you are going away for the summer?