Newbie here -need basic account with debit card

FinallyLearnt

I've been lurking for a while and finally got the nerve to post.

I'm just about to start a DMP with Payplan, and need to get a basic bank account sorted out first. I do need one where I'll get a debit card though.

Co-Op, Barclays, Nat West, Lloyds (now they own HBOS) and Santander are out - does that leave me much choice? Or am I best going to the local credit union which now offers banking as well?

Thanks for any advice.

DizzyDizzy

Try the post office - they do a basic bank account. Not sure if any of the big banks underwrite it tho?

crazyguy

Credit unions take longer to clear cheques and you cannot set up dd'd on the accounts or have money paid into them other than cheques or cash, try the Halifax

fermi

There is a table in this with available accounts.

http://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/_assets/downloads/pdfs/your_money/a5_guides/basic_bank_accounts.pdf

May be some in there that you haven't looked at yet?

Gordon_Hose

I can recommend the Natwest Step Account. I use it for my spending money and have a proper current account for bills etc.

You can set it up online and within a few days you'll have your Visa Debit card drop through the door.

EDIT: Apparently it's not the "Step Account" any more, it's the "Basic Account": http://www.natwest.com/personal/current-accounts/g1/other-accounts/basic-account.ashx#tabs=section1

FinallyLearnt

Thanks for the replies.

I'm already with Nat West so presumably if I opened a Basic Account with them they'd still be able to offset any debts to them through that?

Gordon_Hose

Sorry, I mis-read your post lol

Tixy

Nationwide? That comes with a debit card.

Lulee36

Tixy wrote: »

Nationwide? That comes with a debit card.

My friend just opened a Nationwide Basic account and seems happy with them, Im sure she did this online and it came with a debit card ,

Candy53

Did the Co-op themselves tell you they didn't do a basic account?

We have one called the Cashminder account, and it has a debit card with it.

Candy

Tixy

Candy53 wrote: »

Did the Co-op themselves tell you they didn't do a basic account?

We have one called the Cashminder account, and it has a debit card with it.

Candy

OP already owes money to Co-op so they can't use co-op for their new account, as they need to protect themselves from offsetting. Good account though that cashminder one.