This comparison simply includes all savings accounts.
Post Office Current Account
Why we like it: No minimum monthly funding or monthly fee to maintain the account. Earn up to 15% cashback with Retailer Offers. Stress-free account switching in 7 days with the Current Account Switch Service. £300 ATM withdrawal per day, Arranged Overdraft facility (subject to status). Online and Mobile Banking with text and email alerts. Must be 18 or older and live in the UK permanently. 39.94% EAR overdraft charge. Bank is registered with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), so any money you keep will be fully protected, up to £85,000
Why we like it: SPECIAL OFFER - £125 for SWITCHING to an HSBC Advance Account. Earn 1.00% AER/gross when you save between £25 and £250 per month. Arranged overdraft limit of at least £1,000 on account opening. Money banking app. No monthly account fee. Easy switching with the Current Account Switch Service. Must be 18 or older and be UK resident. Must pay in £1,750 per month or £10,500 over 6 months. Must be approved for an arranged overdraft of £1,000+. Get the £125 when switching to an HSBC Advance Account as a new customer with at least 2 Direct Debits or standing orders. Eligibility criteria and T&C’s apply. Offer may be withdrawn anytime
Why we like it: SPECIAL OFFER - £100 for SWITCHING to a First Direct 1st Account. Access to Regular Saver Account paying 1.00% AER/Gross fixed for 12 months if saving between £25 and £300 a month (up to £3,600 per year). £250 interest-free overdraft (subject to status). No minimum monthly funding and no monthly account fee. Mobile banking app. UK based contact centre. Easy switching with the Current Account Switch Service. Must be 18 or older and UK resident. Get the £100 when switching as a new customer and paying in at least £1,000 within three months of the account opening
Why we like it: Earn 0.60% AER (variable) interest on balances up to a maximum of £20,000. Up to 3% CASHBACK on various household bills. Monthly fee of £5. Cashback capped at £5 for each cashback tier each month. Must pay in £500 pm. Bank is registered with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), so any money you keep will be fully protected, up to £85,000
Why we like it: *2.00% interest for 12 months on balances up to £1,500 for the first year. You must pay in £1,000 or more each month to receive interest (excluding transfers from any Nationwide account held by you or anyone else). 12 month fee-free arranged overdraft available. No monthly fee. Access to Flexclusives - Select Credit Card and low personal loan rate. Must be aged 18 or older. Bank is registered with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), so any money you keep will be fully protected, up to £85,000
Why we like it: Free current account. Pays 0.05% AER interest on balances up to £85,000. Get set up in minutes. Send money abroad: Fast and secure money transfers to bank accounts in 38 countries worldwide. No fees when you pay with your card abroad or withdraw money. Get a spotlight on your spending: See what you’ve spent instantly with real-time payment notifications. 3 month interest holiday on the first £500 of an arranged overdraft. Best British Bank and Best Current Account in 2020 at the British Bank Awards. Awarded 5 stars by Defaqto. Bank is registered with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), so any money you keep will be fully protected, up to £85,000
Why we like it: Everyday current accout. No monthly account fee. Access to Flexclusives - Select Credit Card and low personal loan rate. Bank is registered with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), so any money you keep will be fully protected, up to £85,000
Why we like it: UK & Europe Breakdown Cover, Worldwide family travel and mobile phone insurance, and commission-free cash withdrawals and card payments abroad. Free mobile banking app, text alerts and secure online banking. Access to Flexclusives - Select Credit Card and low personal loan rate. £13 monthly account fee. Bank is registered with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), so any money you keep will be fully protected, up to £85,000
Why we like it: Can be opened by or on behalf of any child up to the age of 18. Debit or cash card available for those aged between 13 and 18. Monthly interest. No monthly fee. For children under age 13, the account must be opened in trust and managed by an adult (trustee). If you’re aged between 13 and 18 years old and live permanently in the UK you can apply online by telephone or in branch. No overdraft facility. 1% interest on the entire balance once the balance is £100, 2.00% AER/1.98% gross (variable) on the entire balance once the balance is £1,500, 3.00% AER/2.96% gross (variable) on the entire balance once the balance is £1,500 or over (up to a maximum of £2,000). Bank is registered with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), so any money you keep will be fully protected, up to £85,000
Post Office Account
The Standard Account is a straightforward current account that offers free everyday banking with no hidden charges. The Post Office offers the usual necessities of a current account, such as:
- Visa debit card with contactless payments and a cheque book
- A competitive overdraft 14.6% EAR
- Management of your account online, in-branch, over the phone and by mobile
- Setting up Direct Debits and payments
The Post Office is also offering a basic account, called Control which is aimed at people who have previously had trouble with hefty overdraft charges or are trying to stay in control of their finances. It comes with a full banking service, including a debit card.
Control can protect account holders from unexpected bank charges and from accidentally going overdrawn but costs £5 a month. Some other banks offer this service for free so it's worth checking if there might be a better option.
The standard account is for those who want something straightforward and free, provided you stay in credit. You get a debit card and can request a chequebook and apply for an overdraft. You can bank in the standard ways, such as: online, at cashpoints ,on the phone or over the counter.
Overdraft
The Post Office overdraft has a great overdraft option. They maintain that their accounts have a simple overdraft structure with a competitive overdraft interest rate. Rather than having a range of overdraft fees and charges the Post Office has chosen to launch a simple charging structure, with authorised overdrafts costing 14.9% EAR. They don’t have any unauthorised overdraft charges and only charge a £15 fee for payments that are rejected.
On their website they give the representative example: ‘Based on an overdraft limit of £1,200 used in full for a one month period where the variable rate of interest is currently 13.72% per annum, the total charge for credit would be £13.72.’
The Post Office account is has the advantage of a huge network of more than 11,500 branches which is more than all the main UK banks combined. This means you should always be able to find a branch local to you which is very convenient especially for those living in more rural areas.
Overall this is a great standard account with an attractive overdraft rate and plenty of branches. It does not provide interest on your money however, which could be an issue for savers.
