Please recommend a bank account for my student daughter

Seaxwyn

My daughter has successfully applied for student finance as she is going to university this year.

Now she needs a bank account! I'm hoping people can recommend a good basic account which will give her a debit card and cheque book and not allow her to get overdrawn.

She currently has a Nationwide account opened some years ago as it was recommended for children at the time. She doesn't have a debit card.

I'm inclined to recommend the Co-op Bank, on ethical grounds and as I've heard very good reports of their service. But I'd like to hear others' views.

Thank you!

HappyMJ

Seaxwyn wrote: »

My daughter has successfully applied for student finance as she is going to university this year.

Now she needs a bank account! I'm hoping people can recommend a good basic account which will give her a debit card and cheque book and not allow her to get overdrawn.

She currently has a Nationwide account opened some years ago as it was recommended for children at the time. She doesn't have a debit card.

I'm inclined to recommend the Co-op Bank, on ethical grounds and as I've heard very good reports of their service. But I'd like to hear others' views.

Thank you!

Ethical? Might be ethical but the online banking is rubbish and archaic. I can't use my Co-operative account properly in my local town that only has a Britannia Building Society branch. I would avoid them if you can. Halifax online banking is one of my favourites followed by Natwest. Santander is OK and Barclays is rubbish. In my opinion.....They are the ones I bank with. The co-operative account was only opened to get the £200 incentive payment and I have hated it ever since. I have taken the £200 and not used it again.

InsideInsurance

Why not look at the site article?

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/students/Student-bank-account

trikidy

I'm confused, you want her to have a basic bank account with no overdraft, or a student account? You say she is going to Uni, so I imagine you want a student account.
Lloyds have a good online service and I have found are better in my area than natwest and barclays (my other bank acc).
Also they have a good student account with a free NUS extra card.

SuperHan

She'll probably find an overdraft a godsend, so my advice would be to take the student account with the largest interest free overdraft. I have banked with Natwest throughout my degree and have been happy with their services. I have spent most of my 4 years overdrawn, often over £1,000, but I finished my exams last week with a positive balance of £100 (plus savings), I definitely couldn't have lived without it! Is there any reason you don't want an overdraft facility? Like I've said, I REALLY wouldn't write the idea off.

SuperHan

Also, speak to Nationwide about converting the account to a fully featured FlexAccount with debit card!

spadoosh

Another student how lived in their overdraft here!

Will give halifax a shout, fantastic overdraft facilities always helpful when i was in trouble a bit. They give Debit card and cheque book (seriously who uses cheques, s'pose thats another thread though) mine is lost in amongst a box of assignments and revision notes having never been touched, didnt even tear off the bit before the book starts.

Im a mug though and believe in loyalty.

beadgirl87

My sister has just got a Natwest account ready to be upgraded to the natwest student account once her results come in in August. she seems very impressed so far, as has set up txt message notifications when her balance falls.
I was with lloyds while I was a student, never had a single problem, also their internet banking is very good.
Useful to look into perks aswell, Natwest used to do a 5 year train railcard, thats worth quite a bit to save money for her travelling home at holidays.
I agree with the biggest overdraft possible, otherwise you will have to support her.