Can returning student open a new student account?

Beka21

I am hoping someone will be able to answer this, I went into the bank today and the lady I spoke to couldn't give me an answer and google hasn't been any help.


I was a student from 2014 - 2017 and had a santander student bank account which convereted to a graduate account and is now a normal 123 current account. I am now back at university for another 2 years and am trying to find out if I can open a student account again or whether this sort of account is only allowed once.



Thank you

eskbanker

Beka21 wrote: »

I am hoping someone will be able to answer this, I went into the bank today and the lady I spoke to couldn't give me an answer and google hasn't been any help.

Can't understand why it should be so difficult to locate the answer - a couple of minutes on the Santander website (the obvious place to look!) quickly unearths a clear statement at https://www.santander.co.uk/personal/current-accounts/123-student-current-account that "You can apply if [...] You’re about to begin or have started an undergraduate course, or degree-level apprenticeship (level 4-7) that is at least 2 years in length." so their account wouldn't appear suitable for postgraduate studies.

Having said that, I don't think there's a one-size-fits-all answer to your question so you should research other banks and their published eligibility criteria....

Beka21

First place I looked was Santander website and then asked in branch. I wouldn't be asking here if I hadn't tried to find the answer myself already.



I'm not doing post graduate studies, I'm doing another undergraduate course that my employee would like me to have proir to possible changes in future role.



If I just go by santanders website (and those of other banks) it would seem I am eligible as the course will take 2 years and its undergraduate level. However in branch they were not sure and both people I spoke to said they would be surprised if I would be allowed to open another stuudent account but couldn't find me an answer.

eskbanker

Seems my post was probably unduly harsh then, so apologies for that, although to be fair that was quite a lot of relevant information omitted from OP!

Anyway, I'd suggest contacting Santander via secure message, to get an answer in 'writing', or alternatively simply go through the application/transfer process to convert your existing account to a student one and see how far you get, ensuring that you carefully read all wording when making declarations, taking screenshots along the way.

Or stick to your existing account, or do you think you'll need the preferential overdraft facilities (and/or any other benefits that lead you to specifically desire a student account)?

born_again

I'm not doing post graduate studies, I'm doing another undergraduate course that my employee would like me to have prior to possible changes in future role.

Should that be employer ?

So will you be getting a wage from the company you work for while on the course? Which might be the crux of the matter as far as getting a new student acc goes.