Barclays Current Account for online banking

LookingToTheFuture_2

I have a Barclays regular savings account but I've been told by the bank staff that I can't check it online without also holding a Barclays current account. I've been advised by a friend that it's worth opening a current account just to get the free Kaspersky software as well as having the benefit of checking my savings account.
Does anyone know if Barclays will let me hold a current account if I don't really use it much? I've already checked that they have no minimum monthly deposit requirement and I can't see anything online about needing to set up direct debits but I'm concerned that they might decide to close my account if they see only a couple of transactions going through every few months.
Thanks

rb10

Open an e-Savings account with £1 - this will then give you online access to the regular savings account.

LookingToTheFuture_2

That's a much better option. Thanks, rb10.

ColdIron

rb10 wrote: »

Open an e-Savings account with £1 - this will then give you online access to the regular savings account.

Are you sure about this?

See point 5 at the bottom of the page
5. You need a Barclays current account and your debit card to register for Barclays Online Banking.

http://www.barclays.co.uk/Savings/Instantaccess/esavingsReward/P1242557963964

rb10

ColdIron wrote: »

Are you sure about this?

See point 5 at the bottom of the page
5. You need a Barclays current account and your debit card to register for Barclays Online Banking.

http://www.barclays.co.uk/Savings/Instantaccess/esavingsReward/P1242557963964

I did this a couple of years ago when I had a Barclays monthly saver. They had the same notices on the website about requiring a current account, but they turned out to be incorrect.

I've never had a Barclays current account, but had online banking access through having the e-Saver.

Looking to the Future - do post back to say how you got on. It may help someone in a similar position who comes across this thread in the future.

jonesMUFCforever

I was going to say that you probably need a current account to be able to open an E- account with Barclays although I have not read their terms and conditions.

noh

With an E-Savings account you should get an authetication card to use with the card reader.
See this thread from a few years back.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2630731

LookingToTheFuture_2

I've applied online for the e-savings account. It asks you if you've a Barclays current account and still lets you proceed if you say no.

However I was surprised that they do a credit check for a savings account but I assume it's just for identification purposes as they asked me a series of questions based on my credit record. It said they are now processing my application and will contact me in writing within 4 working days with the outcome of my application.

jonesMUFCforever

Do you have any other Barclays accounts?

Reason I ask is that with most online savings accounts you cannot make faster payments out - so how will you make withdrawals.
I assume as this is an internet account you cannot walk into Barclays to take cash out?

Bloomberg

LookingToTheFuture wrote: »

I have a Barclays regular savings account but I've been told by the bank staff that I can't check it online without also holding a Barclays current account. I've been advised by a friend that it's worth opening a current account just to get the free Kaspersky software as well as having the benefit of checking my savings account.
Does anyone know if Barclays will let me hold a current account if I don't really use it much? I've already checked that they have no minimum monthly deposit requirement and I can't see anything online about needing to set up direct debits but I'm concerned that they might decide to close my account if they see only a couple of transactions going through every few months.
Thanks

I had a Barclays account for two years before I started using it as my main account. There were prolonged periods of inactivity and nothing was said. All the best.

LookingToTheFuture_2

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

Do you have any other Barclays accounts?

Reason I ask is that with most online savings accounts you cannot make faster payments out - so how will you make withdrawals.
I assume as this is an internet account you cannot walk into Barclays to take cash out?

I've checked the account conditions and there is an optional ATM card that lets you withdraw up to £300 per day. But you're right about transfers out - it seems that you can only transfer to another Barclays account. That won't be a problem until the 12 months on my Regular Savings account is up - I'm hoping to be able to save the full £250 a month and at the end of the year Barclays will close the Regular Saver and will put the money into another savings account, so I will want access to faster payment transfers at that point. Looks like it will be a good idea to apply for a current account after all.

Thanks for your comments, Bloomberg, you've set my mind at rest that I shouldn't have any trouble from Barclays if I do apply for the current account with them. Mind you, I'm still waiting to hear from them about my e-saver application!