Instant Saver?

orwen

xylophone wrote: »

Why do you want a supermarket bank?

It would appear that current accounts as here would meet your requirements?

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/compare-best-bank-accounts

You don't have to switch, you can simply apply to open a current account.

Thanks, I already have a current account - a 123 Santander, but I only have one card, a debit / bank card. I'd like to create a second bank account giving me a choice of cards, in case one card suddenly decides not to go through - this does happen from time to time, it causes a lot of embarrassment and inconvenience. So I'd like a standby card / account as 'belt & braces' when I'm out and about. The second account doesn't need to have a lot in it, it just needs to be on hand, just in case.

orwen

Alternatively, I could ask Santander for a credit card? I don't really know why they only issued a bank/debit card when I created the account?

There is one of their credit card accounts here:-

http://www.santander.co.uk/uk/credit-cards/zero-credit-card

AnotherJoe

orwen wrote: »

Thanks, I already have a current account - a 123 Santander, but I only have one card, a debit / bank card. I'd like to create a second bank account giving me a choice of cards, in case one card suddenly decides not to go through - this does happen from time to time, it causes a lot of embarrassment and inconvenience. So I'd like a standby card / account as 'belt & braces' when I'm out and about. The second account doesn't need to have a lot in it, it just needs to be on hand, just in case.

Why not a credit card (as suggested earlier)

Then you've got no money in it that's lying there "just in case". nor do you need to guess the amount of money you need to leave in it ........ your supermarket bill is £103 and you left £100 in your emergency account for example.

So,what exactly is your objection to the obvious and easy answer ?

Sceptic001

orwen wrote: »

Alternatively, I could ask Santander for a credit card?

The obvious flaw in this plan is that it doesn't meet OP's original objective of providing an alternative means of payment if your bank's system goes down. You clearly need a payment card from a different bank.

OP seems to have over-analysed this to the point of paralysis. Decide whether you want a credit card or a debit card then pick one from the appropriate link supplied above. Simples.

jimjames

Sceptic001 wrote: »

The obvious flaw in this plan is that it doesn't meet OP's original objective of providing an alternative means of payment if your bank's system goes down. You clearly need a payment card from a different bank..

I would say it does meet the objective. Generally current account systems are independent of credit cards so when Natwest was down for example I believe credit cards were still working ok. However for a complete belt and braces solution yes it would make sense to use a different bank.

orwen

Thanks to all,

No, I wasn't necessarily thinking of the armgeddon effect when the entire bank goes down - like Northern Rock, just a choice of cards in case one won't go through. What was meant by I can't use the new credit card because 'there's no money in it'? Surely I will be given a credit amount, several K or so forth, which I then pay off at the end of the month?

AnotherJoe

orwen wrote: »

Thanks to all,

What was meant by I can't use the new credit card because 'there's no money in it'? Surely I will be given a credit amount, several K or so forth, which I then pay off at the end of the month?

That's a CREDIT card. You were talking about getting a DEBIT card.
"I'd like to create a second bank account giving me a choice of cards" .

(Yes, some banks do also give out credit cards but if you just want a credit card there's no need to open a bank account.)

orwen

Thanks. So the credit card gets me my second card, in which case both credit and debit card will be Santander. I will visit my branch later this week and ask if I can open a credit card account.

orwen

Apparently retired people are a bad credit risk, so plan 2: I'd like to create a secondary bank account with debit card, so I have two cards. Santander is already my current account with 'awards' factored in so I am not necessarily looking for an 'award card' account, just a 'belt & braces' secondary debit card account with a different bank.

TSB gets me a Visa debit card http://www.tsb.co.uk/current-accounts/classic-account/