This comparison simply includes all savings accounts.
RBS Current Account
Why we like it: SPECIAL OFFER - Get £150 when you switch to a First Direct 1st Account, or if you're not ready to switch £20 welcome when you open a current account. You also get access to a 3.5% AER/gross fixed for 12 months Regular Saver Account 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. For the £150 switching cash offer you need to open a 1st Account, switch your everyday banking to us using the Current Account Switch Service and pay in at least £1,000 within three months of opening the account. To get the £20 welcome cash offer you need to open a 1st Account and log into our app / online banking within three months of opening the account. This offer can’t be added to any other joiner or switcher offer
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 - Get £170 when you switch to an HSBC Advance Bank 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+. For £170 Switch Offer: Switch using Current Account Switching Service with 2+ Direct Debits/standing orders within 30 days and pay £1,500k+ into account within 60 days. Once eligible, HSBC will pay £170 into your account within 30 days. Offer excludes customers who’ve held an HSBC/opened a first direct current account since 1/1/19
Why we like it: Earn 0.75% AER (variable) interest on balances up to a maximum of £20,000. Up to 3% cashback on household bills - 1% on council tax bills, Mobile and home phone bills, broadband and paid-for TV packages, and Santander monthly mortgage payments. 2% on Gas and electricity bills, Santander Home Insurance premiums and Santander Life Insurance premiums, and 3% on water bills. Monthly fee of £4. 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: An everyday current account. Great money management tools with our mobile banking app. ‘Criteria Apply’. Multiple ways to pay: Apple Pay, Google Pay™ and Contactless Visa Debit Card. Limits apply. Arranged overdraft available (subject to eligibility). No monthly fee. Defaqto 5* rated. Must be 18 or older and UK resident. Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200 you’ll be charged interest at 39.49% EAR variable
Why we like it: Up to 3% cashback on selected household bills, capped at £5 for each cashback tier each month. Earn up to 15% cashback with Retailer Offers. Easy to manage online or on mobile app. Get access to a range of 123 offers. Arranged Overdraft facility (subject to status) - 39.94% APR / EAR (variable). Must be 18 or older and UK resident. Customers must pay a minimum of £500 into account each month, have 2 active Direct Debits, log onto Online or Mobile Banking at least once every 3 months. Must not currently hold 2 Reward accounts. £2 monthly fee.
Why we like it: Earn £4 a month back in Rewards by making a minimum of 2 direct debit payments of at least £2 each, or earn £1 a month in rewards with 1 mobile app login. Earn Rewards that you can redeem as cash back, gift cards or e-codes with our retail partners. Great money management tools with our mobile banking app. ‘Criteria Apply’. Arranged overdraft available (subject to eligibility). Multiple ways to pay: Apple Pay, Google Pay™ and Contactless Visa Debit. Must be 18 or older and UK resident. Customers need to pay at least £1,250 into any eligible personal current account every month (excludes transfers between your own accounts). Must not currently hold 2 Reward accounts. £2 monthly fee. Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200 you’ll be charged interest at 39.49% EAR variable
Why we like it: Free current account. Pays 0.05% AER interest on balances up to £85,000. Get set up in minutes.
Why we like it: An everyday current account. Great money management tools with our mobile banking app. ‘Criteria Apply’. Multiple ways to pay: Apple Pay, Google Pay™ and Contactless Visa Debit Card. Limits apply. Arranged overdraft available (subject to eligibility). No monthly fee. Defaqto 5* rated. Must be 18 or older and UK resident. Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200 you’ll be charged interest at 39.49% EAR variable
Why we like it: Earn £4 a month back in Rewards by making a minimum of 2 direct debit payments of at least £2 each, or earn £1 a month in rewards with 1 mobile app login. Earn Rewards that you can redeem as cash back, gift cards or e-codes with our retail partners. Great money management tools with our mobile banking app. ‘Criteria Apply’. Arranged overdraft available (subject to eligibility). Multiple ways to pay: Apple Pay, Google Pay™ and Contactless Visa Debit. Must be 18 or older and UK resident. Customers need to pay at least £1,250 into any eligible personal current account every month (excludes transfers between your own accounts). Must not currently hold 2 Reward accounts. £2 monthly fee. Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200 you’ll be charged interest at 39.49% EAR variable
Why we like it: Open a GBP and EUR current account using your mobile in minutes, with no credit checks and no proof of address required. Track your account activity in real-time, get an overview of your monthly outgoings, set budgets and set your savings aside from your day-to-day spending. Get instant updates on your mobile whenever you receive or spend money. Add money to your account instantly by debit card or bank transfer. Spend on your Monese card and make ATM withdrawals worldwide with fee-free allowances and money-saving exchange rates. Send money to your contacts and request payments from them. You can also save when you transfer money abroad at the wholesale currency exchange rate. Transfers between Monese accounts are also free and instant. You can use your Monese app in any one of 12 languages
Why we like it: Can be opened by or on behalf of any child up to the age of 17. Debit or cash card available for those aged between 13 and 17. 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 17 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
RBS Current Account
RBS offer a selection of accounts from a basic everyday account to make life easier to paid monthly reward accounts.
Their Basic Account offers the following features:
- 24-hour telephone banking and online banking.
- Emergency money available from ATMs if you forget or lose your card.
- Access to your account at any time with 24 hour call centres, using the mobile app, online banking or by visiting one of 600 branches.
- Apple Pay, a secure way to pay using your Royal Bank of Scotland debit or credit card and Apple device.
- An arranged overdraft with a ten pound buffer.
Rewards and Offers
- 3% cashback on household bills
RBS also offer a reward account. It’s worth noting that this account is not available to customers in England and Wales but as NatWest is part of the RBS group they offer the same account to English and Welsh residents.
There are no monthly payments for this account, which makes it a great option for those who are unable to meet the high minimum payment requests of some other accounts. There is, however, a charge per month of £3.
The rewards you can earn on this account are similar to the Santander 123 account in that you can earn cashback on your household bills. As this account is a cheaper option than the Santander account, it’s a great choice for those who pay a lot of household bills out of one account and would like to see some return on that. Although, in order to see any profit on this, you would need to spend over £100 on bills per month in household bills.
The scheme is quite simple, you can automatically earn 3% on seven kinds of household bills, including council tax. As soon as you reach £5 in rewards you can exchange it for £5, which you can convert to money and transfer in to your current account or even use towards your RBS credit card balance.
RBS state that there will be no limits to the rewards you can earn and on average customers can earn around £120 per year in rewards.
- You are also able to exchange the rewards for gift cards or codes to spend at selected UK retailers or donate to one of four charities.
You can earn your ‘rewards’ on the following bills when you pay by Direct Debit from your Reward Bank Account; council tax, mobile, landline, TV package, gas, electricity and broadband.
However, they don’t allow you to earn rewards on payments to organisations such as insurance providers, repairs or home maintenance.
Other Useful Information
- If you go overdrawn without having an arranged overdraft (or if you go over your agreed limit), then you may be charged an unarranged overdraft Usage Fee of £6 per day if you go past the £10 buffer and an unpaid Transaction Fee of £6 for each transaction not paid.
- It’s worth noting that no interest is paid on either of these accounts for in-credit balances.
Overall the basic bank account is a very good option for those who want a standard bank account.
The Reward Account is a great account for cashback and with no minimum monthly pay-in, it is a cheaper option than other current accounts. The £3 a month charge would be covered by your rewards if you take full advantage of the offer.
