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Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

Just been reading this on BBC news about banks launching new basic accounts. I have basics with some of these banks already. It says that all these accounts will have a debit card, which the Santander basic account I already have does not. It just comes with a cash card to get money from the ATM.

Banks offering fee-free accounts

Bank/building society Account name

Barclays Barclays Basic Current Account
Santander Basic Current Account
NatWest Foundation Account
Ulster Bank Foundation Account
Royal Bank of Scotland (Scotland) Foundation Account
RBS England and Wales Basic Account
HSBC Basic Bank Account
Nationwide FlexBasic
Co-operative Bank Cashminder
Lloyds/ Halifax/ Bank of Scotland Basic Account
TSB Cash Account
Yorkshire and Clydesdale Banks Readycash Account
source: HM Treasury

BBC Link :

Might help those struggling to find suitable banks and accounts.

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

Great list!

Only bank there to avoid would be Lloyds. Rest are really solid banks

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

I still wouldn't go near Halifax if I were you

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

Always makes me 'LOL' when you and steviebills say this. Think you should look at your methods rather than have a bitch at Halifax as I think you will find they were the source of your troubles. Although I understand why an account seller would rather blame a bank than admit to their own faults and mistakes. :d

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

I remember this argument sometimes ago and cause of it, I had to ask around before adding Halifax. Truth to what @steviebills and @callidus said though, I got pulled by Halifax after my second or third withdrawal, it was a big withdrawal from PP and it was instantly cancelled and returned to PayPal. I called halifax and they said we should not withdraw money like this into the savings account that it will be fine with the current account. I changed the account to halifax current and withdrew the fund again, same day and everything was fine. Its been more than 3 months now with no issue with the mis matched halifax current account.

Till today, I still have this thought ringing in my head, every time I want to withdraw

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

This is why I said you should look at your methods rather than blame halifax. You shouldn't be making 'big' withdrawals and certainly not in just the second or third time of use. Of course it all depends on what you call big, but I much prefer 'little' and often.

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

I have just been having a look at the Santander basic account they have on their website now. It says that it comes with a top-up visa debit card and a cash card. You would need to top-up the card from your basic account to use it. Could be useful for use on AMA?
You can use the cash card to just get money out from the ATM.

I am having some doubts about Halifax savers. I have been going through all my EB/PP accounts both good and bad to see if there is any link between them staying open or closed and can see that the Halifax savers have not been very successful. It may be coincidence as I need further investigation into it to see if there has been anything else that could have triggered the suspension/limitation of these accounts.

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

I have just applied online for the Santander basic account and it has been accepted. I have to wait a week for the two letters with the temporary password and temporary security number before I can use the online banking. All I have at the moment is the ID ready to log in. No account number either.

When I use Natwest, everything is supplied straightaway apart from the debit card and PIN.

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

Problems with Halifax? I had a problem with one account once but i think that was paypal more than halifax they just rejected it. I can't remember specifically what it was, maybe because it was a fixed online saver. But I have an instant saver with halifax and it has served me brilliant *** touch wood***

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

Realdeals - the whole account seller admitting something is their fault and to look at my methods bullsh1t you seem to keep coming out with is very boring.

My methods are more than fine, thanks. If only you knew half of them you may be more successful. Merry Christmas. ;)

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

Obviously not. :rolleyes:

Automatically presuming you know more than me is also amusing, when no evidence to back it up. Still, keep going. ;)

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

Does any of the bank support for NON UK people ?

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

On the applications I have made online it does ask for your Nationality and your country of residence. You will need to either go into a branch or send them some docs if you don't already have an account with them though.

My wife is Chinese and she has had no problem opening accounts with Barclays, Natwest, Santander, TSB, Nationwide, Halifax, HSBC and Lloyds. You do have to visit the branch with your passport and proof of address.

So, as long as you are a UK resident, you should be ok.

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

Very useful info, thanks.

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

I have had a look at the Natwest site and it says that the basic account will only be offered IF you do not qualify for any of their other accounts. Maybe they are tightening things up. I have not tried to open another yet as I need to wait a couple of more months.

The new Santander Basic account I applied for online and was accepted for comes with a cash card AND a top up debit card. When checking the online banking the top up card has a different account number to the basic account. It only says that money can be transferred to it from your Santander account.

Has anybody tried to top up from different account? I have not tried as I have not had the card yet, only the cash card. When it arrives, I will try a small payment to it from a different bank.

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

I've just opened one right now online and they gave me sort code and account number straight after registration

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

RE the Santander Basic Account.

I have everything now. The top-up debit card arrived.

Just to recap. The basic account has a sort code and account number and comes with a cash card to use at the ATM. It also has a top-up debit card. This top-up card has a sort code and a DIFFERENT account number. The Santander website says you transfer money to it from your account and you can also transfer money back. My thought was that if it has a different account number can I make a payment into it from a different account. So I tried making a small payment from Natwest directly into the top-up card account number. It worked perfectly and shows immediately on the online banking.

I have not added this to a paypal yet, but see no reason why it will not work.

So by opening ONE basic bank account, you get TWO account numbers that will both accept payments!

Next step is to try it with PP. I will try later tonight and report back.

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

I have Santander current account and it works perfectly with mismatched names etc., also online transfer from other banks with no hassles transfers instantly.

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

I had a Santander on a stealth account when I first started out and had no problems with mismatching names.

The thing with this new basic account they are doing is it gives you an account number for the basic account, but when I went to the online banking I saw that the top-up debit card that comes with it has a different account number. This is why I have made a bank payment direct to the top-up card from a different bank to see if it would accept it. It worked instantly. So this account MIGHT be able to be utilised for use with two different PP accounts. If this the case, then it's good news.

I shall try it with a new PP tonight when I get home.

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

Finally, UK banking system coming kicking and screaming into the 21st century. I remember years ago when the bank wouldn't give me a Visa card because of my credit rating, yet I opened an account overseas and had no such problems.

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

I am happy to report that the new Santander basic bank account works well. I have opened and verified two new PP accounts, one using the top-up debit card account number and the other using the basic bank account number.

So, open one account and it gives you two account numbers and they can both be used.

:dance:

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

so all you needed was ID document?

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

I didn't as I already had an account with them. No docs needed to open online for me, but if you don't have an account with them, you will have to provide photo ID and proof of address.

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

METROBANK Basic Bank Account as well

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

nothing up love, keep up the good work <3

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

I looked into them before but my nearest branch is 100 miles away so needs to be a special trip.

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One slightly curious thing for me is after opening a BoS basic and getting a card and pin, next time I log onto Halifax online I find the details of my BoS listed there with all my Halifax accounts?

Is this standard with all banks in the group?

Makes me wonder whether I will still be able to go ahead with my plan of opening 5 BoS savers as I am already maxed out on Halifax.

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

My online banking with Halifax shows the BOS basic account and the 2 savers I have with them too along with my Halifax current account, basic account and savers. So far it's ok.

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

How many Halifax online savers do you have though?

I have 5 and really don't want to go over that limit, as it seems to be the 'max' from the general consencus.

Are you concluding that even though BoS accounts, in particular savers, are showing on Halifax online banking they do not contribute to the Halifax limit?

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

Good point raised.

I have looked back and I have only ever had a total of 5 savers active at any one time. Right now, I only have 2 each of Halifax and BOS. I have 1 BOS basic, 1 Halifax basic and 1 Halifax full current account too.

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

Guess we need some further input from those who have more than 5 savers combined Halifax and BoS then:en:

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

It doesn't contribute. Regardless of the fact that the banks are part of the same group and they do show on the online banking, you can still have 3-5 savers + 3-5 basic accounts at each bank. Personally, even though I haven't been around for a while I have still run it as the same with 6 on each when I have used Halifax and BoS.

Never an issue

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

Issue with savers is if paypal kicks them.

Means paypal has sniffed around without need.

Basic accounts are preferqble.

:juggle:

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

But when you opened it, you went in branch right?

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

Originally, no.

It's a long story but I had just split up with my, now, ex-wife and needed an account quickly to get my wages paid into. My passport was at my mothers house 120 miles away and I had no car, no money, nothing! I used a phone box to call her and she and my sister went to what was then, Abbey National (now Santander) as they had accounts there and explained the situation to them. They offered a basic account and it was opened. This was maybe 17 years ago though. Over the years I had opened a savings account and ISA's etc with them. I closed the old basic account as it had no debit card with it.

So, when I applied to open this new basic account online, they had a record of me so did not need supply anything to them. My online banking with them shows my savings account and ISA's even though I did not enter their details on applying.

These days, you usually have to go into the branch with your ID and address proof to open an account if you are not a customer. Or in some cases, you can apply through the post but you need to send a certified copy of your ID. I had a passport copy certified by a solicitor to send to Ulster Bank. They photocopied it, added their stamp and signed it. Only cost me £5 though. I had my utility bill done too as a precaution.

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

Generally speaking photo ID and POA are only needed if their electronic ID checks fail.

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

£5 is good for a Solicitor. You can also get documents certified at participating UK post offices;

Document Certification Service | Post Office

Fee is £8.75, so your lawyer was cheaper than the Post Office!

Re: Nine UK banks launch fee-free accounts
 

So just opened a online saver with BoS and after I notice it says I can have only have a max of 1 online saver with them. This kind of surprised me as I know how easy it is to get many at Halifax.

Should I put this down to fact that it is a brand new account, and expect them to offer me more in months to come? Or is it set in stone?

Also it is worth noting that despite all the info Santander give you about having to send in I.D etc, I was able to open online without ever having to send any or go in branch. Didn't expect it as easy since I have never had a product with them. BoS also just let me set up online without sending I.D though not so surprised since I have multiple halifax accounts.