This comparison simply includes all savings accounts.
Santander Everyday Current Account
Why we like it: 5.00% interest for 12 months on balances up to £2,500 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. Recommend a friend - If you're a Nationwide member you can earn up to £500 per tax year by recommending five friends (£100 each). Access to Flexclusives - Select Credit Card and low personal loan rate. 3.0% APR Representative. Must be aged 18 or older
Why we like it: Earn 1.50% AER (variable) interest on balances up to a maximum of £20,000. Up to 3% CASHBACK on various household bills. Monthly fee of £5. Must pay in £500 pm.
Why we like it: 0.50% AER (variable) payable on your entire balance up to £2,000. Linked to instant access savings account currently paying 1.00% AER, paid quarterly. Apple Pay & Google Pay enabled contactless debit card. Rated ‘outstanding’ by Moneyfacts. Must be 18 or older and a UK resident. No account fee. No minimum funding required to open account or requirement to pay in regularly
Why we like it: Get £125 when you switch a current account held elsewhere to this account. Earn 2% in Rewards on 7 types of household bills paid by Direct Debit. On average Reward customers earn £83 a year in Rewards (not incl. monthly fee) based on monthly bills of £345. Also includes family worldwide travel and mobile phone insurance. £20 monthly fee
Disclaimer: To apply for this account you must be aged 18 or over and a UK resident
Why we like it: Get £125 when you switch a current account held elsewhere to this account. Earn 2% in Rewards on 7 types of household bills paid by Direct Debit. On average Reward customers earn £83 a year in Rewards (not incl. monthly fee) based on monthly bills of £345. Also includes personal European travel and mobile phone insurance. £10 monthly fee
Disclaimer: To apply for this account you must be aged 18 or over and a UK resident
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. Recommend a friend - If you're a Nationwide member you can earn up to £500 per tax year by recommending five friends (£100 each). Access to Flexclusives - Select Credit Card and low personal loan rate. £13 monthly account fee
Why we like it: Everyday current accout. No monthly account fee. Recommend a friend - If you're a Nationwide member you can earn up to £500 per tax year by recommending five friends (£100 each). Access to Flexclusives - Select Credit Card and low personal loan rate. 3.0% APR Representative (terms and conditions apply)
Why we like it: Everyday current account. No monthly account fee. Get a contactless Visa Debit Card. Pay with your phone with Apple Pay and Google Pay™ and bank on the go with our easy to use Mobile Banking app. Must be 18 or older and UK resident
Disclaimer: To apply for this account you must be aged 18 or over and a UK resident
Why we like it: Everyday current account. No monthly account fee. Get a contactless Visa Debit Card. Pay with your phone with Apple Pay and Google Pay™ and bank on the go with our easy to use Mobile Banking app. Must be 18 or older and UK resident
Disclaimer: To apply for this account you must be aged 18 or over and a UK resident
Santander Current Accounts
Santander offer a range of current accounts and are a very attractive option right now due to their cashback reward scheme on their 123 accounts.
As standard, Santander offer:
- Access to your account anytime, anywhere with online, mobile and telephone Banking. Plus you can bank at any of our branches.
- Visa debit card
- A quick and secure method of buying goods and services at home and abroad.
- Apple Pay and Android Pay
- Contactless payments with your mobile by linking your Santander debit or credit card to your Apple or Android device.
- A £75,000 UK savings safety guarantee (shared with Cahoot).
- Withdraw up to £300 a day from any Santander or Link cash machine.
As extra incentive, Santander offer a four month fee-free arranged overdraft when you switch and if you use their Switch Service to move your current account then you will receive a Defaqto 5 star rated service.
Santander offer several types of account, including:
Everyday Current Account
If you're just after the essentials, then this a great account to start with. There’s no monthly account fee but you benefit from the range of benefits of being a Santander customer.
It's simply a regular bank account you can pay into, make payments, set up direct debits and withdraw from as and when you need to. You don’t earn interest on your balance.
Santander 123
The Santander 123 wins for those with savings above £10,000 - or will once the others banks' rate cuts have come into effect. Currently, you can get 1.5% on balances from £3,000 to £20,000.
You are also able to have two accounts in your name, but one must be joint – meaning couples can save £60,000 between them.
This account does have a £5/month fee which is automatically taken from the account each month but for most users that's more than covered by the 3% cashback this account gives on utility bills paid by Direct Debit from the account. Cashback is paid directly in to your account.
The cashback you can receive on your household bills includes:
- 1% cashback on water and council tax bills and on your Santander monthly mortgage payments (up to a maximum of £1,000)
- 2% cashback on gas bills and electricity bills.
- 3% cashback on mobile, home phone, broadband and paid-for TV packages
Overdrafts with Santander are charged at £1 per day for amounts under £2000 and then rise to £2 and then £3 for amounts of £3000 and over. The first four months of overdraft are charged at 0% interest thanks to the switch reward.
1|2|3 Lite Current Account
This account is very similar to the 123 current account but is only charged at £1 per month. You will benefit from the cashback on household bills but it does not offer any interest on your balance. To qualify you must have two Direct Debits going out of the account and pay in £500 per month.
