Student credit cards - do they exist?

WillPS

Student Credit Card | Credit Card | TSB Bank

Requires that the TSB Student Current Account has been held for at least 3 months

Student Credit Card | Visa Credit Cards - HSBC UK

Only available for HSBC Student Account customers

Alex9384

aris said:

I suppose having accounts in two banks could be another option - but really an unnecessary and unwanted one. 

Having at least 2 current accounts in 2 different banks (not in the same group) is highly recommended for everyone.

Ideally one account with Visa card and the other with MasterCard as payment networks can experience outages too. It's very unlikely but it can happen (like Visa in 2018).
Also, in a small hotel in Germany I was unable to pay with Visa, they only accepted MasterCard.

If you read about TSB IT meltdown in 2018, you'll understand why at least 2 different banks. Also if you read about accounts being frozen/closed out of the blue. Your bank can decide to close your account whenever they wish and they don't have to tell you why (and they surely won't tell you). It happened to me with NatWest and to many many other people with different banks.

Most current accounts in the UK have no monthly fee, so there's no reason to not have at least two. Do you have just one current account? If you do, open a second one ASAP. Doing it online is super easy nowadays (unless it's HSBC).

MalMonroe

Of course! Here's a link https://www.savethestudent.org/money/student-banking/best-credit-cards-students.html

But when I went to Uni (a few years ago now, I will admit) - one of the things that happened in Freshers week was that we all received information from a few banks offering us student credit cards. And when we applied, hey presto, we got one. I had a Barclays student account complete with Barclaycard.  

I know things are different now but there must be places that still offer student credit cards. They know that students don't have any income to speak of.

I don't think parents can sign for their children's bank accounts, unless things have changed drastically since my daughter went.

aris

MalMonroe said:

Of course! Here's a link https://www.savethestudent.org/money/student-banking/best-credit-cards-students.html

But when I went to Uni (a few years ago now, I will admit) - one of the things that happened in Freshers week was that we all received information from a few banks offering us student credit cards. And when we applied, hey presto, we got one. I had a Barclays student account complete with Barclaycard.  

I know things are different now but there must be places that still offer student credit cards. They know that students don't have any income to speak of.

I don't think parents can sign for their children's bank accounts, unless things have changed drastically since my daughter went.

Thanks - but all of the ones suggested there require moving to a new bank.  I'd prefer not to.

GrumpyDil

When you say I'd prefer not to surely that should be what your child prefers as if they are old enough to get a credit card then they are old enough to make their own decisions.

As an aside my daughter has her main bank account with nationwide and has just opened a student account and got a credit card from Natwest without having to move from Nationwide. 

aris

GrumpyDil said:

When you say I'd prefer not to surely that should be what your child prefers as if they are old enough to get a credit card then they are old enough to make their own decisions.

As an aside my daughter has her main bank account with nationwide and has just opened a student account and got a credit card from Natwest without having to move from Nationwide. 

Ok, we'd prefer. 

If it comes to that - he may well open a second account

WillPS

MalMonroe said:

Of course! Here's a link https://www.savethestudent.org/money/student-banking/best-credit-cards-students.html

But when I went to Uni (a few years ago now, I will admit) - one of the things that happened in Freshers week was that we all received information from a few banks offering us student credit cards. And when we applied, hey presto, we got one. I had a Barclays student account complete with Barclaycard.  

I know things are different now but there must be places that still offer student credit cards. They know that students don't have any income to speak of.

I don't think parents can sign for their children's bank accounts, unless things have changed drastically since my daughter went.

The RBS and Natwest options on there are no longer available. See my post further up for a complete list of options.

WillPS

aris said:

GrumpyDil said:

When you say I'd prefer not to surely that should be what your child prefers as if they are old enough to get a credit card then they are old enough to make their own decisions.

As an aside my daughter has her main bank account with nationwide and has just opened a student account and got a credit card from Natwest without having to move from Nationwide. 

Ok, we'd prefer. 

If it comes to that - he may well open a second account

Sounds like you're getting a little too involved in your adult child's finances.

You should present the options and allow them to decide or ask you or somebody else for further advice.

aris

WillPS said:

aris said:

GrumpyDil said:

When you say I'd prefer not to surely that should be what your child prefers as if they are old enough to get a credit card then they are old enough to make their own decisions.

As an aside my daughter has her main bank account with nationwide and has just opened a student account and got a credit card from Natwest without having to move from Nationwide. 

Ok, we'd prefer. 

If it comes to that - he may well open a second account

Sounds like you're getting a little too involved in your adult child's finances.

You should present the options and allow them to decide or ask you or somebody else for further advice.

Thanks for the unsolicited parenting advice 

I’ll present the options to him once I have them.  Finance is full of pitfalls - it is my job as a parent to guide him in the right direction.

sausage_time

I had an Access credit card when I was a student, issued by RBS (my bank).  That was in the 1980s though, so things may have changed since then. 
My student son has credit card, not issued by his main bank, so it is possible today.