Step account
A simple bank account with no arranged overdraft facility
Prefer a bank account where you can’t borrow or become overdrawn? With no overdraft or chequebook, our Step Account could be the answer.
Day-to-Day
- Free day-to-day banking without subscription charges
- No borrowing facilities mean that you can’t go overdrawn
- Monthly statements with all your transactions and your balance – by post or online. Or pick up a mini-statement from our cash machines
Ways to bank
- Around 1650 branches make it easy to stay close to your finances
- Online banking makes it easy to stay on top of your bank account, any time of day or night
- Telephone banking with UK call centres, open for you 24 hours a day
- Free mobile phone banking – until December 2008, then pay a monthly fee to get mini statements, weekly balances and more sent to your mobile. More on mobile phone banking
Payments and withdrawals
- Payments made easy with your Solo debit card
- Withdraw your money at almost every UK cash machine
- Overseas cash wherever you see the Maestro logo. You can also use your card to pay for goods in overseas shops
Extras
- Mobile phone top-ups at NatWest cash machines
- Get extra benefits – travel insurance, mobile phone cover and lots more besides. Upgrade your Step Account with Advantage Blue - a great package of extras for just £6.95 a month
Cash Account
Looking for a bank account that cannot incur fees and does not offer standing orders or Direct Debits? Ask your local branch about our Cash Account.
This page provides a summary of the rates and charges that apply to NatWest current accounts.
Full copies of the fees and interest rates, and terms and conditions that apply to our personal accounts can be downloaded from our terms and conditions page.
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We also have a separate page providing an update on unarranged overdraft charges.
Common definitions
Throughout this page, you'll see various terms being used. Here's what they mean:
Annual Equivalent Rate (AER). This is a notional rate used for interest bearing accounts which illustrates what the gross credit interest rate (excluding any bonus interest payable) would be if paid and compounded on an annual basis. It helps you to compare the effective rates of credit interest on different accounts.
Gross Rate. This means the interest rate you are paid before the deduction of income tax.
Net Rate. This means the interest rate you are paid after the deduction of income tax.
Nominal Rate. The rate charged excluding compounding of interest and other charges associated with a borrowing, e.g. arrangement and security fees.
p.a. per annum (per year).
Interest we pay you
The annual rates of interest paid on credit balances:
| Type of current account | Amount | Gross Rate % | Net Rate % | AER % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Step account | Any amount | 0.10 | 0.08 | 0.10 |
Calculation and application of interest.
Interest is calculated on a daily basis and paid into the account once a month. Please see Section 8 of our leaflet: Personal and Private Banking - A Guide to Fees and Interest (PDF File 225KB) for further details.
Charges - Unpaid Items
The charges shown in this section do not normally apply to the other accounts we offer to Personal and Private Banking customers. However, we sometimes allow other accounts (including savings accounts) to be operated in a way which enables the customer to give instructions for a withdrawal or other payment which cannot be met from the funs in the account. If this happens, the charges listed below in the sub-section "Unarranged overdrafts and unpaid items – charges" will apply.
Unpaid items - charges
| Fee type | When charged | Fee amount |
|---|---|---|
| Unpaid item fee | ||
An Unpaid Item Fee will be payable if:
| At the time we decide not to make the payment | £38 for each item (subject to a maximum of £114 per day) |
| For examples showing how our charges work, please see the section headed Unarranged Overdrafts and Unpaid Items in our leaflet Our Commitment to You. | ||
Additional Services
The following rates were effective from 28 April 2008
| Stopping payment instructions | |
|---|---|
| Stopping a cheque (unless it has been lost or stolen) | £10 |
| Payments | |
|---|---|
| Obtaining a banker's draft | £12 |
| Obtain a special cheque clearance | £15 |
| CHAPS payments | £23 - between banks £21 - between our branches |
| Obtaining copies of statements | £5 per request |
| Arrangement fee for Advantage Private FlexiLoans | Any fees payable will be advised to you at the time |
| FlexiLoan arrangement fee | 2% of amount borrowed (minimum fee £100) |
| Emergency Cash Service | Any fees payable will be advised at the time |
If the service you are looking for is not shown in the table above, please ask at any branch or call the number on your statement summary sheet.
Important information
Credit facilities: Over 18s only. Calls may be recorded. Details correct at the time of publication. Security may be required.
Full copies of the fees and interest rates, and terms and conditions that apply to our personal accounts can be downloaded from our terms and conditions page.
Mobile phone top-up facility available at all NatWest cash machines and those displaying the top-up logo, including those operated by Royal Bank of Scotland and Tesco Personal Finance. Top-up amounts are subject to your debit card daily withdrawal limit and the availability of sufficient funds. Network operator top-up limits may also apply.
Overdrafts
- You have to repay any overdraft upon our request. Overdraft and interest rates may change
Sometimes we have to update our systems so our 24-hour telephone and OnLine Banking services may not be available for short periods in the early hours of the morning.
Please also read our website terms and conditions which cover your use of this website.
Apply now
Call us on
0800 200 400
Minicom
0800 917 0526
Lines are open: Mon to Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 9am-6pm
(excl. public holidays).
Calls may be recorded