Compare Current Accounts

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Compare current accounts

	Account	Interest (AER) The account's Annual Equivalent Rate: the interest rate that is paid on in-credit balances over a year. Hover over the red asterisks for more details.	Overdraft Rate The interest or fee that is charged for using the account's overdraft facility.Hover over the red asterisks for more details.	Max Overdraft The maximum authorised overdraft amount permitted on the account.	Min Monthly Payment Some accounts require customers to pay in a certain amount each month. Failure to pay in the agreed amount can result in penalties or loss of account benefits.	Monthly Fee The amount that the bank charges customers each month to use the account – usually deducted from the account balance every month.
	Barclays Basic Bank Account Straightforward account with access to telephone and online banking	0%	19.3% Representative Example: Up to £5,000 19.3% interest p.a (variable) Subject to status and application.	£5,000	None	Free	MORE INFO Read this before you proceed. To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria. Minimum Age 18 Permanent UK Resident Yes
	Representative Example: If you use an overdraft limit of £5,000 a 19.3% EAR (variable) charge will apply
	NatWest Select Account Includes free app for your iPhone and overdraft (subject to eligibility)	0%	19.89%	Not stated	None	Free	MORE INFO Read this before you proceed. To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria. Minimum Age 18 Permanent UK Resident Yes
	Representative Example: If you use an overdraft limit of £100 a 19.89% EAR (variable) charge will apply
	Nationwide Flex Account Free European travel insurance, discounted personal loans and special mortgage deals - all with no monthly account fee.	0%	18.90%	Not stated	None	Free	MORE INFO Read this before you proceed. To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria. Minimum Age 16 Permanent UK Resident Yes
	Representative Example: If you use an overdraft limit of £1,200 a 18.9% EAR (variable) charge will apply
	NatWest Select Silver Account Includes free hmvdigital music downloads and LOVEFiLM DVD rentals, insurance for European travel and mobile phones, Withdraw up to £300 if you lose your card. £8 monthly fee.	0%	19.49%	Not stated	None	£8.00	MORE INFO Read this before you proceed. To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria. Minimum Age 18 Permanent UK Resident Yes Monthly Fee £8.00
	Representative Example: If you use an overdraft limit of £100 a 19.49% EAR (variable) charge will apply
	Barclays Current Account Plus A range of benefits including mobile phone insurance and interest free overdraft up to £300.00	0%	0% Representative Example: Up to £300 0% interest p.a (variable) £301 -£5000 18.3% interest p.a (variable) Subject to Status and application.	£5,000	None	£6.50	MORE INFO Read this before you proceed. To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria. Minimum Age 18 Permanent UK Resident Yes Monthly Fee £5.00
	Representative Example: If you use an overdraft limit of £5,000 a 18.3% EAR (variable) charge will apply
	NatWest Advantage Gold Brings a host of great benefits together for you. Includes insurance for world wide travel and Mobile phone (including iPhone) and Green Flag car breakdown cover. £12.95 monthly fee.	0%	0% 0% EAR up to £100; 19.49% EAR over £100	Not stated	None	£12.95	MORE INFO Read this before you proceed. To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria. Minimum Age 18 Permanent UK Resident Yes Monthly Fee £12.95
	Representative Example: If you use an overdraft limit of £100 a 19.49% EAR (variable) charge will apply
	Halifax Current Account	0%	£1 per day Tiered overdraft fee system: arranged overdraft up to and including £2,500 - £1 per day; Arranged overdraft over £2,500 - £2 per day; unarranged overdraft - £5 per day.	Not stated	None	Free	MORE INFO Read this before you proceed. To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria. Minimum Age 18 Permanent UK Resident Yes
	Representative Example: If you use an overdraft limit of £2,500 a 0% EAR (variable) charge will apply but you will pay £1 a day
	First Direct 1st Account £100 cashback when you switch to a First Direct Current Account today!	0%	0% 0% EAR up to £250; 15.9% EAR over £250	No Limit	£1,500	Free	MORE INFO Read this before you proceed. To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria. Minimum Age 18 Permanent UK Resident Yes Minimum Monthly credit £1,500
	Representative Example: If you use an overdraft limit of £250 a 15.9% EAR (variable) charge will apply
	Halifax Reward Current Account Pay in £1,000 per month, whether you're in credit or overdrawn and receive £5 per month from the Halifax!	£5 per month Earn £5 each month you pay in £1,000, whether you're in credit or overdrawn.	0% Tiered overdraft fee system: arranged overdraft up to and including £2,500 - £1 per day; Arranged overdraft over £2,500 - £2 per day; unarranged overdraft - £5 per day.	Not stated	£1,000	Free	MORE INFO Read this before you proceed. To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria. Minimum Age 18 Permanent UK Resident Yes Minimum Monthly credit £1,000
	Representative Example: If you use an overdraft limit of £2,500 a 0% EAR (variable) charge will apply but you will pay £1 a day
	RBS Select Account Includes free app for your iPhone and overdraft (subject to eligibility)	0%	19.89%	Not stated	None	Free	MORE INFO Read this before you proceed. To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria. Minimum Age 18 Permanent UK Resident Yes
	Representative Example: If you use an overdraft limit of £100 a 19.89% EAR (variable) charge will apply
	Barclays Additions Active A range of benefits, includes worldwide multi-trip family travel insurance, RAC breakdown membership, mobile phone insurance and more.	0%	0% Representative Example: Up to £300 0% interest p.a (variable) £301 -£5000 18.3% interest p.a (variable) Subject to Status and application.	£5,000	£15.00	£15.00	MORE INFO
	Representative Example: If you use an overdraft limit of £5,000 a 18.3% EAR (variable) charge will apply
	thinkbanking Account An innovative way to manage your finances with a two-account system - never miss a payment again.	0%	n/a	n/a	None	£14.50 single / £19.50 joint	MORE INFO
	Santander 123 Current Account Includes cashback on monthly bills.	3% AER dependent on balance: £1k+ = 1% £2k+ = 2% £3k+ = 3%	0% A Daily Arranged Overdraft Fee of £1 per day capped at 20 days each monthly statement period applies.	Not stated	£500	£2	MORE INFO Read this before you proceed. To qualify for this product you need to meet the following criteria. Minimum Age 18 Permanent UK Resident yes Minimum Monthly credit £500 Monthly Fee £2
	Representative Example: 0% EAR (variable) Arranged Overdraft. A Daily Arranged Overdraft Fee of £1 per day capped at 20 days each monthly statement period applies. Assumed Arranged Overdraft credit limit: £1,200. Actual amount may differ.

Accounts with an asterisk next to the AER interest have a bonus applied to the interest rate, place your mouse cursor over the asterisk to view the bonus.

More about current accounts

A current account is what you might call an everyday bank account. It's best used to hold the money that you spend on a regular basis - either on day-to-day living costs or usual household bills.

Your common-or-garden current account will provide you with a debit card which you can use with cash machines and in the shops, the ability to automatically pay out direct debits and standing orders and the option to administer your account in branch, over the Internet or via telephone. To credit the account you either pay in cash, transfer from another account or receive regular income like wages and pensions.

Some current accounts offer cheque books, others overdraft facilities which you can use to borrow a small amount in the short term. How much depends on your credit rating, as will the interest rate that you'll pay while in the red.

You do get interest paid to you when you've got a positive balance but this is usually very low; much lower, in fact, than the rate of inflation so it's not advisable to keep any more money than you need in it.

Some current accounts are free and won't cost you a penny as long as you don't go overdrawn. Other, more advanced accounts - those offering things like travel insurance thrown in - include a small monthly fee. There's a wide range of different benefits available so you should shop around.

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