Banking

Are you struggling to find a new Bank Account?

Here are a few suggestions!

Each will give you a ‘BASIC’ account – essentially the use of a cash card, standing orders and/or direct debits, and a place to receive your wages – but none of them will allow overdrafts.

List of banks

Alliance & Leicester (Now part of Santander) Basic Bank Account
Minimum age to open an account: 16
Free Buffer zone: No
Direct Debits and standing orders: Direct Debits only
Charge for unpaid Direct Debit or standing order: £25
Debit card (Solo, Electron, Maestro or Visa debit):
Bank branch counter access: No
Post Office branch access: Yes (withdrawals over £250 only)
Free access to bank cash machines (ATMs) in the UK: Yes
If any of the following apply to you, your application may be declined:
Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud

Bank of Ireland Basic Cash Account (only available in Northern Ireland)
Minimum age to open an account: 16
Free Buffer zone: No
Direct Debits and standing orders: Yes
Charge for unpaid Direct Debit or standing order: £42
Debit card (Solo, Electron, Maestro or Visa debit): No
Bank branch counter access: Yes
Post Office branch access: Yes
Free access to bank cash machines (ATMs) in the UK: No, own ATM’s only
If any of the following apply to you, your application may be declined:
Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud

Barclays Cash Card Account
Minimum age to open an account: 18
Free Buffer zone: No
Direct Debits and standing orders: Yes
Charge for unpaid Direct Debit or standing order: £8
Debit card (Solo, Electron, Maestro or Visa debit): Visa debit
Bank branch counter access: Yes
Post Office branch access: Withdrawals only
Free access to bank cash machines (ATMs) in the UK: Yes
If any of the following apply to you, your application may be declined:
Record of fraud

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Clydesdale Readycash
Minimum age to open an account: 16
Free Buffer zone: No
Direct Debits and standing orders: Yes
Charge for unpaid Direct Debit or standing order: £35
Debit card (Solo, Electron, Maestro or Visa debit): Maestro
Bank branch counter access: Yes
Post Office branch access: Yes
Free access to bank cash machines (ATMs) in the UK: Yes
If any of the following apply to you, your application may be declined:
Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud

Co-operative Bank Cashminder
Minimum age to open an account: 16
Free Buffer zone: No
Direct Debits and standing orders: Yes
Charge for unpaid Direct Debit or standing order: £19.50
Debit card (Solo, Electron, Maestro or Visa debit): Visa debit
Bank branch counter access: Yes
Post Office branch access: Yes
Free access to bank cash machines (ATMs) in the UK: Yes
If any of the following apply to you, your application may be declined:
Record of fraud

First Trust Bank Basic Bank Account
Minimum age to open an account: 16
Free Buffer zone: £10
Direct Debits and standing orders: Direct Debits only
Charge for unpaid Direct Debit or standing order: £35
Debit card (Solo, Electron, Maestro or Visa debit): No
Bank branch counter access: No
Post Office branch access: Yes (except deposits)
Free access to bank cash machines (ATMs) in the UK: No, own ATMs only
If any of the following apply to you, your application may be declined:
Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud, record of bad debts

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Halifax Easycash
Minimum age to open an account: 16
Free Buffer zone: No
Direct Debits and standing orders: Yes
Charge for unpaid Direct Debit or standing order: £15 (max 3 per day)
Debit card (Solo, Electron, Maestro or Visa debit): Electron
Bank branch counter access: Yes (withdrawals over £300 only)
Post Office branch access: Yes (except deposits)
Free access to bank cash machines (ATMs) in the UK: Yes
If any of the following apply to you, your application may be declined:
Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud

HSBC Basic Bank Account
Minimum age to open an account: 18
Free Buffer zone: £10
Direct Debits and standing orders: Yes
Charge for unpaid Direct Debit or standing order: No
Debit card (Solo, Electron, Maestro or Visa debit): No
Bank branch counter access: Yes (except withdrawals)
Post Office branch access: Withdrawals only
Free access to bank cash machines (ATMs) in the UK: Yes
If any of the following apply to you, your application may be declined:
Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud

Lloyds TSB Cash Account
Minimum age to open an account: 18
Free Buffer zone: £10
Direct Debits and standing orders: Yes
Charge for unpaid Direct Debit or standing order: £20 (max 3 per day)
Debit card (Solo, Electron, Maestro or Visa debit): Visa debit
Bank branch counter access: Yes
Post Office branch access: Yes
Free access to bank cash machines (ATMs) in the UK: No, own ATMs only
If any of the following apply to you, your application may be declined:
Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud.

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Nationwide Flex Cash Card
Minimum age to open an account: 16
Free Buffer zone: No
Direct Debits and standing orders: Yes
Charge for unpaid Direct Debit or standing order: £30
Debit card (Solo, Electron, Maestro or Visa debit): No
Bank branch counter access: Yes (withdrawals over £30)
Post Office branch access: Yes (except deposits)
Free access to bank cash machines (ATMs) in the UK: Yes
If any of the following apply to you, your application may be declined:
Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud

Natwest Step Account
Minimum age to open an account: 16 Free Buffer zone: No Direct Debits and standing orders: Yes
Charge for unpaid Direct Debit or standing order: £38
Debit card (Solo, Electron, Maestro or Visa debit): Solo
Bank branch counter access: Yes Post Office branch access: Yes Free access to bank cash machines (ATMs) in the UK: Yes
If any of the following apply to you, your application may be declined:
Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud

Northern Bank Northern Personal Access
Minimum age to open an account: 14
Free Buffer zone: No
Direct Debits and standing orders: Yes
Charge for unpaid Direct Debit or standing order: No
Debit card (Solo, Electron, Maestro or Visa debit): Maestro
Bank branch counter access: Yes
Post Office branch access: Withdrawals only
Free access to bank cash machines (ATMs) in the UK: Yes
If any of the following apply to you, your application may be declined:
Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud, record of bad debts

Santander Basic Bank Account
Minimum age to open an account: 16
Free Buffer zone: No
Direct Debits and standing orders: Yes
Charge for unpaid Direct Debit or standing order: £5–£35 (check with bank)
Debit card (Solo, Electron, Maestro or Visa debit): No
Bank branch counter access: Yes (except withdrawals)
Post Office branch access: Yes (except deposits)
Free access to bank cash machines (ATMs) in the UK: Yes
If any of the following apply to you, your application may be declined:
Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud

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The Royal Bank of Scotland Key Account
Minimum age to open an account: 16
Free Buffer zone: No
Direct Debits and standing orders: Yes
Charge for unpaid Direct Debit or standing order: £38
Debit card (Solo, Electron, Maestro or Visa debit): Solo
Bank branch counter access: Yes
Post Office branch access: Yes
Free access to bank cash machines (ATMs) in the UK: Yes
If any of the following apply to you, your application may be declined:
Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud

Ulster Bank Step Account
Minimum age to open an account: 16
Free Buffer zone: No
Direct Debits and standing orders: Yes
Charge for unpaid Direct Debit or standing order: £10
Debit card (Solo, Electron, Maestro or Visa debit): Visa debit
Bank branch counter access: Yes
Post Office branch access: Yes
Free access to bank cash machines (ATMs) in the UK: Yes
If any of the following apply to you, your application may be declined:
Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud

Yorkshire Bank Readycash
Minimum age to open an account: 16
Free Buffer zone: No
Direct Debits and standing orders: Yes
Charge for unpaid Direct Debit or standing order: £35
Debit card (Solo, Electron, Maestro or Visa debit): Maestro
Bank branch counter access: Yes
Post Office branch access: Yes (except deposits)
Free access to bank cash machines (ATMs) in the UK: Yes
If any of the following apply to you, your application may be declined:
Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud

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Most banks require 2 forms of I.D. generally one from each of the 2 sections below;

To confirm who you are

• Passport (Current valid signed passport)
• EU National Identity Card (Photographic)
• UK Photocard Full / Provisional Driving Licence (Photocard part)
• Current Full old-style UK Driving Licence (non Photocard type driving licence)
• Firearms Certificate
• Inland Revenue Card issued to self-employed people in Construction Sector
• Electoral ID Card(NI only)
• Trankslink Senior SmartPass (NI only)
• Student ID/Registration Card (student account only)
• UK Photocard Full / Provisional Driving Licence (Photocard part) (when not used for A)
• Current Full old-style UK Driving Licence (when not used for Box A)

To confirm where you live

• Utility Bill/Certificate (dated within the last 3 months) (excluding Mobile Phone Bill)
• Bank/Banking Society / Mortgage / Credit Union / Credit Card/ Post office account Statement dated within last 3 months
• Local Authority correspondence valid for the current year (rates/council tax dated within the last 12 months)
• Current Council/ Housing Association Rental Agreement
• Solicitors letter confirming recent house purchase or land registry confirmation (in such cases the previous address will be verified) dated within the last 3 months
• Original vehicle registration document
• Correspondence from DWP/ Benefits Agency (dated within the last 6 months)
• Current House / Motor Insurance Certificate dated within the last 12 months

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*The information contained herein is correct as of July 2010
National Money Helpline suggests you return to this page periodically, to read and view the most up to date banking requirements.