I can't seem to get a student bank account. Please help!

stringermm

So I'm currently in my second year and didn't apply for a student account last year due to not needing the overdraft. I now find myself in a position where I would like one and for some reason Santander will not change my current account to a student account. I tried applying for student accounts elsewhere but this wont work either. What should I do?

atypical

Why won't Santander change it to a student account? And why can't you open student accounts elsewhere? As long as you have proof that you are a student (a letter from the uni will do) it shouldn't be an issue.

MrsManda

Are you trying to do it online or have you gone into the branch?
- Generally it's easier to open/change your account if you go into the branch.

A_Doonhamer

This may or may not be the problem as you don't say how long you have left to study but some student accounts are not based on where you study but how long. IIRC RBS require you to have two year of continuous study to open an account and I'm not sure if can be counted retroactively.

ladyfilosopher55

I have looked at Coop's information pack and it seems that part-time study is not considered valid student criteria.
I filled out the gov. student loan sheet and, without telling why, have been informed that I do not qualify for any assistance.
I have been refused a full - fledged student account at Barclays bank despite having been with them for 6 years. The glib reply was "must because of credit rating" not really plausible, I own a house and payregularly. I have decent employment part-time and my husband earns something as well. Is it agism?

I was told that as a part- time student I should not even have the £ 200 slush fund.

rozmister

I had this same problem with Santander when I took a student account with them at the end of my final year. You have to request a letter from your university that declares you are on a full time Undergrad course there and tells them when you started/will finish and then it's stamped by your uni with a special stamp to verify it.

However be warned it was a NIGHTMARE for me to sort this out with Santander and even now, over 6 months after I opened the account, I am still battling them over charging interest on a student account because they aren't capable of processing the paper. I am now on the 2nd complaint level and waiting for a letter in 2 - 4 weeks that will confirm they have rectified the problem and tell me how much I am owed in compensation. They are the worst bank I have ever dealt with and absolutely atrocious!! But I've spent more of the overdraft than I can afford realistically to pay back so at present I'm putting up and shutting up while I save enough to pay the blighters off.

rozmister

At the end of my second year sorry I don't know why I put final!! I'm on a four year course so I did have 2 years of study left!

metalgal

i had an account with santander and had it for approx 4 years before i started uni and they wouldn't give me a student account. santander are useless so i changed to first trust.

kayleigh_x_2

What about the Natwest, I have had my student account with them since I started university (now in my final year) and have had no problems with them?