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Student overdraft up to £2000

Open a Student bank account

Please note, due to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic it is taking us a little longer than we'd like to process new account applications.

We're working hard in the background to open your account as quickly as possible. Thank you for your patience.

Whatever Uni looks like this year, you've got this

Why choose us?

Who can apply

Pick your student offer

Understanding Overdrafts

Student FAQ's

Ready to apply

Why apply for our Student bank account?

Interest-free overdraft up to £2000 (£500 in first term) with an instant online decision

Choose 1 from 3 great offers; Amazon Prime Student membership, National Express Coachcard or a tastecard

Can't find your card? Temporarily lock it while you look, and if you find it, instantly unlock your card

Withdraw up to £130 without your card every 24 hours at our ATMs (as long as it’s within your daily withdrawal limit, criteria applies)

Britain's Best Online Student Banking Provider 'YourMoney.com Awards' 2019

No monthly fee

You need to be 17+ and live in the UK. Apply online only.

Study details: You need to be full time undergraduate student (on at least a 2 year course at a UK University/College) or you need to be completing a full time postgraduate or nursing course lasting a year or more. You can apply within 6 months of your course start date.

Overdraft details: You need to be 18+ and have lived in the UK for 3+ years to apply for an Overdraft. You can add an overdraft to your account once your course has started.

Are you an International Student?

If you've lived in the UK for less than 3 years you're recognised by us as an international student. If you've lived in the UK for more than 3 years, you can apply for our Student account that has no monthly fee.

Take a look at our International Student account

Pick one of three offers

Amazon Prime Student

1 year Prime membership including unlimited One-Day Delivery, streaming services and more. Offer for 18+ only. Prime Student T&C's apply.

tastecard

Get 2 for 1 or 50% off your food bill at thousands of UK restaurants and discounts at the cinema with tastecard membership. Valid for 4 years. Smartphone required. tastecard T&C's apply.

National Express Coachcard

Travel for less with 1/3 off fares, ideal for visiting friends and family. Plus 15% off travel to events and festivals. Valid for 4 years. Coachcard T&C's apply.

Offer details

To receive your offer you need to register for online banking and choose to receive paperless statements

Ready to apply

Hassle free banking with our mobile app

App available to customers aged 11+ with compatible iOS and Android devices and a UK or international mobile number in specific countries.

Understanding Overdrafts

An overdraft is a form of short term borrowing and is repayable on demand. If you don't repay what is owed, you could harm your credit score and borrowing capability. Understand the cost and impact of overdrafts and use our eligibility checker to find out if you’re likely to be approved below.

How overdrafts work

There are two different types of overdraft:

An arranged overdraft, which allows you to go overdrawn up to an agreed limit. This is the type of overdraft you could apply for here. During your application for an arranged overdraft, we'll run a full credit check to determine how much we can offer you.
An unarranged overdraft. This is when you spend more money than you have in your current account without already having an arranged overdraft, or when you exceed your current arranged overdraft limit.

We charge interest on both types of overdraft. Going in to an unarranged overdraft limit can lead to payments being rejected.

How much will an Overdraft cost?

This account offers an Overdraft facility (subject to eligibility). You can check if you're likely to be accepted for an overdraft using our eligibility tool.

Looking to understand the costs of an overdraft of more or less than £500 over different periods of time? Use our handy cost calculator.

More about Overdrafts

Student FAQ's

What ID's needed to open a Student account?

You'll need:

UK Passport or Drivers Licence (full or provisional)
Proof of address - Drivers Licence, Utility bill or Bank statement

You’ll also need to verify your UK Student status. Your 16 digital UCAS code is the fastest way to do this - we’ll ask for it in the application form. If you don’t have this, you can verify your Student status in many other ways (see question ‘what do we need to verify your Student status’ for more information).

How do I claim my Student offer?

After your account is open we’ll ask you to pick your favourite offer. You'll need to register for Online Banking and choose to receive paperless statements on your account. During your application you'll need to provide us with a valid email address as this is how we'll contact you about your student offer.

You'll have 6 months from opening your student account to choose your offer. Once chosen, you'll receive the offer within 5 working days and you can start using the offer right away. The offer will remain on your student account as per the benefit terms and conditions:

Amazon Prime - 1 year
tastecard - 4 years
Coachcard - 4 years

What do we need to verify your Student status?

Your UCAS code is the simplest way to show us you’re a student. It consists of 16 digits and is displayed in 4 x 4 blocks. Your UCAS code is used to electronically verify your student status and your account will be opened faster if you provide it in the application.

If you don’t have your UCAS code you can still apply for a Student account - you’ll just need to confirm your student status another way. We’ll accept any of the below documents as proof of your UK Student status:

Letter from UCAS
Letter from your University
Letter of acceptance
Enrolment offer
Enrolment certificate
Student loan or finance letter
Students Awards agency for Scotland (SAAS)
Local education authority award letter
Student ID card (stating current year of study)

If you don’t provide your UCAS number in the application form, you can manually upload one of the above documents after you submit your Student account application.

What happens to my Student account after I graduate?

How do I apply for an overdraft on my Student account?

You can choose to apply for an overdraft in your online Student application. You'll need to be 18+ years old and have lived in the UK for 3+ years.

If you're approved, the overdraft limit is £500 for the first term of your first year of study. You can apply to increase the overdraft up to £2,000 after the first term. You can add an overdraft to your account once your course has started.

Get ready to apply

Before you apply, we need to check you're happy with a few things. And ask you a few questions up front. Then we can make your application as quick and simple as it can be.

First things first. You can apply if you:

are aged 17 or over and living in the UK

completing a full-time undergraduate course that lasts at least 2 years or completing a full-time postgraduate course, or

training as a nurse at a UK university or college of higher education

are completing a course that has already started, or is starting within the next 6 months

Now please take a look at the important legal stuff

If you carry on applying, it means you're happy with what's in these documents, including the FSCS information sheet. And happy to view your statements in Online Banking - not posted. Please take some time to review, print and/or save the important information.

Your Current Account Terms (28 pages)

Financial Service Compensation Scheme Sheet (2 pages)

Fee Information Document (20 pages)

What You Need To Know (2 pages)

Our Lending Commitments (4 pages)

How your information might be used

It's important for you to understand how we use and share your information. Please read this short summary before you continue with your application.

All okay? You’re nearly ready to start.

To speed up your application for our Student account, we need to do a few final checks with you. They'll only take a minute.

Continue

Do we already know you?

I'm a completely new customer

I'm an existing customer

I used to be a NatWest customer

You’re all set

You’ll need a few bits of info for your application:

Photo ID, such as driving licence or Passport
Proof of your address, such as a utility bill, bank statement or driving licence
Proof of your UK student status, such as: UCAS 16 digit code, UCAS letter, letter from your University, and many more.

What would you like to do today?

Open a new Student account

Change your existing current account to a Student account

Do you know your Online Banking details?

If you log in to Online Banking we can pre-fill some of the application for you.

Yes

You’re all set

You’ll need a few bits of info for your application:

Photo ID, such as Drivers licence or Passport
Proof of your address, such as a utility bill or bank statement
Proof of your UK student status, such as: UCAS 16 digit code, UCAS letter, letter from your University, and many more.

You’re all set

You’ll need a few bits of info for your application:

Photo ID, such as Drivers licence or Passport
Proof of your address, such as a utility bill or bank statement
Proof of your UK student status, such as: UCAS 16 digit code, UCAS letter, letter from your University, and many more.

You're all set

During the application, you'll need:

The account number and sort code of the account you want to change
Proof of your UK student status, such as: UCAS 16 digit code, UCAS letter, letter from your University, and many more.

You’re all set

You’ll need a few bits of info for your application:

Photo ID, such as Drivers licence or Passport
Proof of your address, such as a utility bill or bank statement
Proof of your UK student status, such as: UCAS 16 digit code, UCAS letter, letter from your University, and many more.