Suggestions for a basic bank account - but with a cheque book

PH7

Hi

I wonder if someone would be able to suggest a bank account for my partner. She is looking for an account with the following:

• A debit card
• A cheque book & paying in book (she gets paid some money by cheque)
• Online banking
• Mobile phone app (at least for checking her balance)

She works part time and earns about £400 per month. Her credit history is not bad (a couple of missed payments, no defaults or CCJs or anything like that.) She will be keeping her current NatWest account which has an overdraft that she will pay off over the next 6 months, so she will not be eligible for the switching deals that are around at the moment.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received. Thank you.

p00hsticks

I can't comment on the phone app side of things but with regard to paying in cheques I'd recommend the nationwide, as in my experience nearly all of their ATMs have an option allowing you to pay in cheques & cash out of hours (no need for a paying in book, you use your debit card).

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

why does she need a cheque book these days???

EarthBoy

It's unlikely that you'll find a basic account with a cheque book, but most banks will offer all the other facilities. Bear in mind that a lot of the basic accounts only allow withdrawals from that particular bank's machines, e.g. Lloyds/TSB/Halifax and RBS/Natwest.

PH7

kirkbyinfurnesslad wrote: »

why does she need a cheque book these days???

I've just asked her this. The cheque book is not such an issue, she is more worried about the ease of paying cheques into her account.

PH7

EarthBoy wrote: »

Bear in mind that a lot of the basic accounts only allow withdrawals from that particular bank's machines, e.g. Lloyds/TSB/Halifax and RBS/Natwest.

Thanks for mentioning that. I have just had a look at the Barclays Cash Card Account and it seems that they allow withdrawals from any ATM on the LINK network, so that should be OK. Are there any ATMs not part of the LINK network nowadays?

pmduk

I believe one or two of the smaller building societies aren't members of Link, but far more relevant is the lack of Link access for Lloyds/TSB and RBS group basic account customers.

The Halifax basic bank account doesn't restrict transactions in this way.

Thrugelmir

What's the issue with her current Natwest account?

bengal-stripe

PH7 wrote: »

She will be keeping her current NatWest account which has an overdraft that she will pay off over the next 6 months.....

Once NatWest has realized your partner has stopped funding her account, they might well withdraw the overdraft and demand immediate repayment. If your partner is not in a position to do that, she'll incur charges and eventually the account will go to collection and be defaulted. Then her credit rating will be well and truly shot to smithereens.

The both of you are playing a very dangerous game indeed.

JuicyJesus

PH7 wrote: »

I've just asked her this. The cheque book is not such an issue, she is more worried about the ease of paying cheques into her account.

All basic bank accounts accept cheques in. You don't need a cheque book to pay in cheques.

kirkbyinfurnesslad_2

pmduk wrote: »

I believe one or two of the smaller building societies aren't members of Link, but far more relevant is the lack of Link access for Lloyds/TSB and RBS group basic account customers.

The Halifax basic bank account doesn't restrict transactions in this way.

If they issue cash cards then they will be link members, which ones were you thinking of?