Student bank accounts

Advice about opening a student bank account and getting an interest-free overdraft.

Welcome Week support

Visit Senate House (upper ground floor) for in-person bank account support, 10 am to 4 pm, from:

  • Lloyds Bank: Tuesday 16 and Wednesday 17 September
  • HSBC: Wednesday 17 to Friday 19 September.

International students: opening a bank account in the UK

Read our advice and guidance on how to open a bank account in the UK.

You might find that your student loan doesn't cover your living costs. One option for extra funding is a bank account with overdraft facilities.

What to think about

Use bank accounts responsibly. Make sure you understand the terms and conditions and stick to them. This helps avoid unnecessary charges, freezing of accounts and poor future credit ratings.

Look for accounts where:

  • the overdraft is interest-free.
  • you don't have to make an arrangement to use the overdraft to avoid charges.
  • you meet all eligibility requirements. Normal requirements are that you must be on a full-time course and have been a UK resident for the last three years.
  • there's an online banking service or mobile app.

Choosing a bank account

We recommend you get external advice when choosing a bank. You can get advice from these impartial sources: