Best account for Mature Students?

Love-a-bargain_5

I am a mature student just about to start a three year degree. I'm thinking that a student account might be useful (low charges, etc) but most of the information is aimed at young students who will be strapped for cash and need large interest free overdrafts. I won't be in that position (thankfully) as I am married, and my husband will be supporting me.

So... large overdraft facilities aren't a priority. What other perks are there?

I have had a quick scan on the internet and it seems that Nat West are offering a student railcard, however I believe it's for under 26's. I'm a bit past that age now though, so can't make use of that!

HSBC are offering 10 free cds or an mp4 player. Lloyds are offering an ipod shuffle (which I could sell on ebay perhaps...?) and something about free vue cinema tickets?

Don't know what to do, really. Does anyone know of other banks that are offering good incentives? Won't use the overdraft facility (it's far too tempting to spend money I haven't got so I would rather not have one!) so I would like to choose the best freebie really.

Can anyone offer advice?

Thanks!

pollocmc

Love-a-bargain wrote:

I am a mature student just about to start a three year degree. I'm thinking that a student account might be useful (low charges, etc) but most of the information is aimed at young students who will be strapped for cash and need large interest free overdrafts. I won't be in that position (thankfully) as I am married, and my husband will be supporting me.

So... large overdraft facilities aren't a priority. What other perks are there?

I have had a quick scan on the internet and it seems that Nat West are offering a student railcard, however I believe it's for under 26's. I'm a bit past that age now though, so can't make use of that!

HSBC are offering 10 free cds or an mp4 player. Lloyds are offering an ipod shuffle (which I could sell on ebay perhaps...?) and something about free vue cinema tickets?

Don't know what to do, really. Does anyone know of other banks that are offering good incentives? Won't use the overdraft facility (it's far too tempting to spend money I haven't got so I would rather not have one!) so I would like to choose the best freebie really.

Can anyone offer advice?

Thanks!

Best moneysaving/making idea is to get the one with the biggest overdraft (HBOS at present i think) and bung it in a high interest savings account. That way you can make interest on the banks own money, lol. Will come to a lot more than you'll get for an ipod shuffle on ebay. Maybe a 30-day notice acount would be best for you to avoid impulse buying. There is a thread about it somewhere on here

Edit: see here for the bit about "in-credit" students and how to make yourself £400

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/cgi-bin/viewnews.cgi?newsid1093692301,68353,

musostudent

I believe that the student railcard is valid for students over 26 as long as you get the application stamped by your university to prove that you are a student. There is a mature student (45) on my course who has done this and all she had to do was get her application stamped at registration by the university. Of course you would have to speak to the bank about it as I guess they probably have different channels to go through than the normal, but if it was possible I would go for that because I had a 4 year one with HSBC when I opened my account with them and I've saved hundreds of pounds over the years!!

Good luck x

Pass_The_Soma

I chose the Natwest account because of the student railcard and it works fine for me (at the ripe old age of 28). I've just received my new card for this year so I can't see that there's any age limit attached.

However, you can't use it before 10:00am so it's pretty useless if you need to be in early. They must think that all students are lazy and can't be bothered getting up early...........zzzzzzzzzzzz................

WYBMADIITY_2

If you open an account online with Royal Bank of Scotland at https://www.rbs.co.uk, quoting "student 55" as an offer code, they'll give you £55.

Wyb

DrFluffy

You can only get the Lloyds i-Pod if this is your first degree...

I'm on my third degree (second undergrad degree), and I've always stuck with HSBC, as I have a good history with them and they always come good when I need them! Dispite having a continuous student account, when I went back to start my current degree they honoured the 5 year railcard offer they had at the time...