bank accounts for people with bad credit rating

dblfc

Hi

After a long struggle, ive finally become debt free but i have the lingering issue of an awful credit rating. I dont have a bank account and have been using building society savings account to help me manage my finances more easily.

I have just bought a house with my partner and now want to improve my rating as quickly as possible, but to be honest im a bit scared about being laughed at if i go into the high street branches and ask to open an account

so my question is are there any types of accounts or banks that specialise in helping people in nmy situation>? I dont want overdrafts etc, just a bog standard account so i can pay DD's and improve my record.

all help greatfully appreciated

cifpower

You would have to apply for a basic bank account. NatWest's Step account comes with a Solo debit card and Yorkshire Bank's Readycash account comes with a Maestro debit card. The Co-op's Cashminder comes with a Visa Electron. Other account comes with just a cashcard.

gt94sss2

I suggest you read this FSA leaflet about Basic Bank accounts - it also includes a list of providers.

Regards
Sunil

s1h

You have just bought a house? Got a mortgage?

Surely your credit rating cant be that bad. Unless you are paying a stupid rate.

book12

I would advise either Natwest, Co-operative Bank, or Halifax, as they are the only banks that have debit cards with their basic accounts. Natwest seems to be the most popular basic bank account for some reason. Most of the time, there are a lot of branches for those banks mentioned above. Clydesdale and Yorkshire bank branches are not everywhere, so that's why I don't recommend them. Please note that there won't be any cheque books.