September may be a month and a half away, but for those heading to university for the first time, now is the perfect time to start getting everything prepped for the new academic term. From buying all your kitchen supplies to treating yourself to a new piece of tech or two, there are plenty of things that need to be done before moving into your new accommodation. But one thing that is just as important as the more practical items is getting yourself a new bank account for all your university payments.
Student bank accounts are great as they come with a variety of perks, including overdrafts with no interest. Some even include incentives like a free railcard. But how do you know which is the best account for you? MoneySavingExpert has shared a guide of which accounts they thought were the best in 2023/24 along with all the perks each has to offer.
Santander Edge Student - service rating of 55% Offer a guaranteed 0% overdraft each year, plus a FREE four-year railcard (worth £100) Students get a 'definite £1,500 0% overdraft in years one to three, provided you pay in £500+ every four months' You also get a four-year railcard which gives you a third off of train ticket prices on many services - not valid in Northern Ireland. To get your railcard you need to open an account and register for online banking. First year students and those taking a level 4-7 apprenticeship can open one of these accounts.
NatWest Student and RBS Student - service rating 44% and 38% Offer a '0% overd.