Online Banking
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Student Account
Our Student account features all you need for everyday banking as an undergraduate
- Mobile Banking app for iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry and Android – get cash without your debit card and make payments to friends and family
- Interest free overdraft - up to £1,000 in your first year
- Big savings online and on the high street - mobiles, music downloads, fashion and much more
To use the mobile banking app you must be registered for Online banking.
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Why choose a NatWest Student current account?
Mobile Banking
- Manage your money wherever you are - no need to take your bank card with you.
- Check your balance, transfer money or find an ATM
- Sign up for text alerts and manage your spending whilst on the move. (Standard network charge applies)
- Apps available for iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry and Android
Overdraft
- Extra breathing space for your finances – you can apply for an interest-free overdraft of up to £1,000 in your first year.
- We normally offer an overdraft limit of £500 in your first term, £750 in your second term and £1,000 in your third term.
- You can then apply for an overdraft up to £1,250 in your second year, £1,500 in your third, £1,750 in your fourth and £2,000 in your fifth.
Free day-to-day banking
- We don't charge you for managing your money
- You get a Visa debit card for making payments and a standing order and Direct Debit facilities, 24-hour phone, online and mobile banking, emergency cash, fraud alerts - the list goes on.
Student discount card
- Big discounts online and on the high street
Online banking
Quick, easy and secure - Relax and do more with your money from university or home. Paperless statements, online support 24/7, and our online security promise means your money's in safe hands.
Fraud and suspicious activity alerts
- We'll keep an eye out for fraudsters so your savings stay in place - We keep watch for suspicious activity on your Student accounts to keep your finances secure.
- If we notice anything unusual, we will telephone you or send you an email or text to let you know.
Emergency cash
In the event of a lost or stolen card, NatWest will be there to help - If you lose your card you can still get cash, as long as you've at least £25 available in your account, we'll give you an emergency code to withdraw up to £300 of your money if you're an online or telephone banking customer and up to £60 if you're not.
What else does the Student Account feature?
Student tools and guides
- Budget calculator
- How to get funding
- Manage your money
Easy mobile top-ups
- It's completely free of charge
- Works with all the major mobile networks
- You can top-up a friend or relative's phone
Visa debit card
- Withdraw cash (charges apply abroad)
- Pay for goods at over 29 million outlets
- Secure online purchases with NatWest secure
Student Credit card & other products
We have a range of products designed especially for the way you live your life.
Common Questions
Find the answer you are looking for with our helpful question and answer guide.
Rates and important info
Information about overdrafts, interest charges and other services.
Ready to apply?
Want more from your account
Navigation menu
How to apply
It's easy to apply for a Student account. There are two ways to apply:
Apply online for a Student current account
At your nearest NatWest branch
How to upgrade
It's easy to upgrade to a Student account. There are two ways to upgrade:
Upgrade online to a Student current account
At your nearest NatWest branch
Mobile Banking
'Get Cash', make payments and more - all from the palm of your hand
There’s an easy way to stay in touch with your finances even when you’re out and about – using your mobile.
Mobile Banking is available for iPhone, Android, iPad and BlackBerry. It's free, secure and easy to use and includes the following features:
Get Cash – you can choose an amount from £10 to £100 cash you would like to withdraw from within the app. We will then provide you with a secure cash code that will be valid for 3 hours and can be used at any NatWest, RBS or Tesco cash machine to withdraw your cash. You can use this cash code yourself or text it to someone else. You can also request more than one cash code a day but only have one cash code at any one time
To use this service:
- You must have at least £25 available funds to withdraw from your account (including any overdraft facility)
- The amount requested must be within your daily withdrawal limit for your debit card
Get Cash is available on iPhone Android and BlackBerry. Get Cash is available for NatWest customers whose accounts are held in England or Wales.
- Send money to NatWest Mobile Banking customers that use the app – all you need is their mobile number
- Pay your friends, family, credit card or utility bills – just set up and make your first payment to each new payee in Online Banking beforehand
- Move money between your accounts – view an up-to-the-minute account balance and recent transactions for all your accounts that you manage using Online Banking
- Check balances and statements – view an up-to-the-minute account balance and recent transactions for all your accounts that you manage using Online Banking
- Near me – Find your nearest NatWest branch or cash machine
- Mobile phone top-up – if you have a pay-as-you-go-mobile you can top it up and up to four others too
To use mobile banking you must:
- be aged 11 or over
- be a NatWest personal current account customer with a debit card
- be registered for Online Banking
- have a mainland UK mobile number starting 07
NatWest will not charge you for any mobile banking services, however, your mobile network provider may charge depending on your tariff.
Standard data download charges may apply. Please contact your network operator for details.
Student overdrafts
From 12 July 2013 we are making some changes to overdraft charges.
Find out more about these changes
You must use your Student Account as your main current account by depositing at least £750 every 6 months and making at least 3 debit transactions every month. If you stop using your account as your main current account then the interest rate you pay on your arranged overdraft will revert to the standard rate which applies to the Select Account. For details of our rates of interest see our leaflet Personal & Private Current Account Fees & Interest Rates (PDF, 159KB)
Your interest-free overdraft facility is only available after your A-level results, provided you are over 18. Simply pop into your local branch with confirmation of your university place.
Overdraft repayable on demand.
Paperless statements
Why go paperless?
If you bank online you can choose to go paperless and receive online statements.
- Prove your identity - need paper statements to prove your identity or income? Get three months of statements, free of charge
- Search back up to seven years - track down transactions in a hurry, and keep tabs on your finances
- Added security - fraudsters like paper statements. Without them, it's more difficult to steal your identity
- Cut the clutter - we do the filing for you, as your online statements are stored on our secure servers
- Simple - online statements are easy to set-up and use
- Your choice - decide which accounts you'd like to switch to online statements. You can always switch back if you need to
Online banking
Our award winning service is simple and secure
We’re the 2012 Your Money Best Online Banking Provider.
Our online banking service helps you:
- Stay in control - online banking with your Select account makes looking after your money even easier
- Bank when it suits you - day and night, you can do your banking whenever it suits you
- Transfer money - make instant transfers to any NatWest account - and transfer money other UK bank accounts
- Pay bills - it's quicker and safer to send money online. You can even set up standing orders for regular payments and manage your Direct Debits
- Manage your account - check balances and statements, searching through up to seven years of transactions. It's easy to find what you're looking for.
- Stay safe - with free security software, card readers and secure servers, we're working hard to beat the fraudsters
To sign up for online banking you need to have a NatWest account and be aged 11 or over.
Please note that system updates will mean that online banking is unavailable for short periods in the early hours of the morning.
Making everyday banking easier
Everyday banking features
- Visa debit card - lets you make purchases and withdraw money from any cash machine in the UK and overseas. Fees and charges apply to overseas withdrawals
- Overdraft- Extra flexibility if you need it, up to £1,000 overdraft interest-free in your first year (conditions apply)
- Standing orders and Direct Debits - making it easy for you to pay your bills
- Cheque book - Apply for a chequebook if you need one, subject to eligibility.
- Regular statements - check them online or receive a paper copy
Manage your account the way that suits you best
- UK only call centres - open 24 hours a day, seven days a week - and more than 1,500 branches
- Online banking - Easy and secure to use, available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week
- Mobile banking and text alerts - keep you up to date with your finances when you're out and about. Network call and data charges may apply.
And enjoy other great support from NatWest
- Fraud alerts - we'll call you if we identify unusual activity on your account
- Emergency cash - if you lose your debit card you could withdraw up to £300 of your money if you're an online or telephone banking customer, or up to £60 if you're not, from any NatWest, RBS or Ulster Bank cash machine. You must have enough money in your account and a minimum of £25 available.
- Our commitment to you - we aim to become the UK's most Helpful bank
On hand in an emergency
Need emergency cash? Don't worry
Call us and we'll give you a code to withdraw up to £300 of your money from any NatWest, RBS or Ulster Bank cash machine in the UK or Ireland.
- Withdraw up to £300 - of your money if you are an internet or telephone banking customer. Or up to £60 if you're not. You must have enough money available to cover what you have taken out and at least £25 available in your account.
- 24/7 support - call us any time to report your missing card and ask for your emergency cash code
- No extra cost - we don't charge you any extra for this service
Fraud and activity alerts
Keeping you safe, and up to date
Alerts to keep you safe, and up to date
- Fraud alert - We'll call you if we identify unusual activity on your account - could be a warning that someone is using your information
- Activity Alerts - get a text message when you carry out certain activities on your account - you stay informed and secure
- Act Now Alerts - get a text or email if you are about to become overdrawn, or are already using an unarranged overdraft - helps you minimise or even avoid overdraft and returned item fees
- Balance Alerts - get a text with your updated balance each week whenever it suits you - helps you stay in control of your accounts anytime, anywhere
- Limit alerts - we'll check your balance every day and aim to send you a text at 8am if your account balance hits limits set by you
- On demand balance or mini statement - we'll send your current balance and most recent transactions to your mobile
NatWest will not charge you for any mobile phone banking services, received via text or by accessing the application. However, your mobile phone network operator may charge for certain services and there may be additional charges if you are overseas. Please check with your network provider.
Mobile phone top-ups
Mobile phone top-ups
Use one of our many cash machines across the UK to top-up your pre-pay mobile phone without the need to visit a shop, buy a voucher, or make a long phone call:
How does it work?
- It's completely free of charge
- Works with all the major mobile networks
- You can top-up a friend or relative's phone
- You can do it 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Will it work with my network?
All major UK mobile networks are covered. So if you have an O2, Orange, T-Mobile, Vodafone, Virgin Mobile or Tesco Mobile pre-pay phone, you'll be able to top-up using this new service.
Will it work with my card?
If you have a NatWest account with a Cashcard or Servicecard, you'll be able to use the service. E-top up cards are not required.
Which cash machines can I use?
You can top-up your phone at The Royal Bank of Scotland, NatWest or Tesco Personal Finance cash machines. Use our Branch Locator to find your nearest RBS branch.
What's the maximum top-up amount?
The maximum in any one transaction is £50. However, you can use the top-up service more than once in a day, as long as you stay within your daily cash withdrawal limit and have enough money in your bank account.
Some mobile network operators may also apply a limit to the number/value of top-ups you can undertake. For details please contact your mobile network operator.
Whenever you use the cash machine top-up service your bank account will be debited with the top-up amount requested and your daily cash withdrawal limit will be reduced accordingly. If, for any reason, the top-up amount is not credited to your phone, please contact the Customer Services Department of your mobile network operator.
Visa debit card
Your Visa debit card is the easy way to pay - whether you're popping down to the shops, dashing off abroad, making online purchases or just need some cash.
- Withdraw cash - you can use your NatWest Visa card at any cash machine in the UK and at overseas cash machines that display the Visa symbol. Fees and charges apply to overseas withdrawals.
- Pay for purchases - your Visa card is accepted at over 29 million retailers and outlets worldwide
- Online security - make secure online purchases with your Visa card using NatWest secure. This extra layer of security gives you greater peace of mind.
- Top up your mobile - top up your pay-as-you-go mobile at any of our UK cash machines. There's no charge for this service and it works with all the major mobile networks.
Charges apply for using your debit card abroad and for certain transactions in the UK.
Other Student products
Student Credit Card
- Student Credit Card – main benefits
- Control your spending – with a £500 maximum credit limit
- Direct Debit – never miss a credit card payment, and avoid late fees
- No annual fee
- Over 18's only
Representative 18.9% APR (variable)
Find out more about Student credit cards
Savings Account
Earn interest on the money you put away
Even if you don’t have much spare money, it's still a good idea to set some aside.
The e-Savings gives you instant access to your money online, with no penalties when you need to make a withdrawal.
Start saving from just £1 - and earn the same rate of interest, no matter how much you save
Find out more about Student savings accounts
Essential Content Insurance
If you live in rented or shared accommodation (such as a student living in halls of residence) then Essentials Contents Insurance is tailored specifically for you.
Rates & important information
From 12 July 2013 we are making some changes to overdraft charges.
Find out more about these changes
This is a summary of the rates and charges that apply to NatWest current accounts.
For full information, download:
Latest information on unarranged overdraft charges.
You may need Adobe Reader to view some of these documents. Get Adobe Reader. Visit access.adobe.com.
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.
- Effective Annual Rate of Interest (EAR)- this is the real annual cost of an overdraft, stated as an annual rate, which takes into account how often interest is charged to the account. All other charges, such as arrangement fees, must be shown separately from the EAR.
- 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 due on arranged overdrafts
Your overdraft is available at a preferential rate while you hold a Student Account. If at any time you cease to be a Student customer for any reason, then the interest rate you pay on your overdraft will revert to the standard rate which applies to Select Account customers.
Student Account arranged overdrafts are interest free and available subject to status. If you request an arranged overdraft with a limit which exceeds the thresholds set out below, you will need to provide additional information to support your application.
You must use your Student Account as your main current account by depositing at least £750 every 6 months and making at least 3 debit transactions every month. If at any time you stop using your account as your main current account then the interest rate you pay on your arranged overdraft will revert to the standard rate which applies to the Select Account. For details of our rates of interest see our leaflet Personal & Private Current Account Fees & Interest Rates (PDF, 159KB).
All Student Account customers entering their fourth or fifth year of university will have the following thresholds applied:
| Interest free thresholds | Nominal monthly rate% | Nominal annual rate % | EAR % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 4 - £1,800 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Year 5 - £2,000 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
From 2010 all Student Account customers starting their first year of university will have the following thresholds applied:
| Interest free thresholds | Nominal monthly rate% | Nominal annual rate % | EAR % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 (1,000) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Year 2 (1,250) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Year 3 (1,500) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Year 4 (1,750) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Year 5 (2,000) | 0.00 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
Unarranged overdrafts
With effect from 01 February 2011, we do not charge debit interest on unarranged overdrafts.
Previous Rates
The following previous rates were effective from 5 June 2000.
| Type of current account | Previous Nominal monthly rate% | Previous Nominal annual rate % | Previous EAR % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Account | 1.38 | 16.50 | 17.81 |
Arranged Overdrafts, Unarranged Overdrafts and Returned 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 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 funds in the account. If this happens, the charges listed below in the sub-section "Unarranged overdrafts and returned items - charges" will apply.
Arranged overdrafts arrangement and renewal fees
| Fee payable | |
|---|---|
| Student Account and Graduate Accounts | |
| Overdrafts up to the arranged limit | No fee |
| Temporary or increased facilities for all customers | |
| If you wish to increase an existing facility at any time contact your Private Banking Manager or your branch. Any fees payable will be advised to you at that time. | |
Returned Item Fee
A Returned Item Fee will be charged if:
- you informally request an unarranged overdraft by issuing instructions for a withdrawal or other payment; and
- the payment cannot be met from the funds in your account or any unused arranged overdraft facility; and
- we decide in our discretion not to make the payment.
When charged
21 days after the end of the charging period in which we decide not to make the payment (or the next business day if this is a Saturday, Sunday or Bank Holiday). The charging period normally ends on the date that we issue your statement to you.
Fee amount
£6 for each returned item (subject to a maximum of £60 in any charging period).
Making an informal request for an unarranged overdraft means you will normally have to pay a Returned Item Fee and/or an Unarranged Overdraft Fee. Please note that it is possible to incur both a Returned Item Fee and an Unarranged Overdraft Fee on your account on the same day or as a result of a single transaction (for example, where we take a Returned Item Fee from your account and this creates an unarranged overdraft of greater than £6 on your account).
For examples showing how our charges work, please see the section headed Unarranged Overdrafts and Returned Items in our leaflet NatWest Personal & Private Current Account Terms; Personal & Private Current Account Fees & Interest Rates; Helping you get the most from your Personal & Private NatWest Current Account (PDF) ( PDF, 159KB)
Additional services
| 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 |
| Emergency Cash Service | You can access up to £300 of your money from your account if you are an online or telephone banking customer and if you aren't, we'll still give you up to £60 to tide you over - these amounts are providing you have the money available in your account. As a minimum you must have £25 available in your account to use this service. |
| Safe Custody | |
|---|---|
| Annual Holding Charges (payable annually in arrears) | |
|
|
| Initial and subsequent re-deposit(s) | £10 |
Annual Holding Charges are applied in arrears so any withdrawal made prior to the anniversary of the deposit will incur a pro-rated amount of the annual charge. In addition, a £10 fee will be charged for initial deposits and any re-deposits following item inspection or temporary release. The charges set out above are inclusive of VAT.
Please note that we only accept new items into Safe Custody for our Private Banking customers. Items already held by us in safe custody will continue to be held.
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
Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Your eligible deposits with National Westminster Bank Plc are protected up to a total of £85,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, the UK’s deposit protection scheme.
Any deposits you hold above the £85,000 limit are not covered.
View further information (PDF, 515KB) or visit www.fscs.org.uk
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.
Credit facilities: Over 18s only. Calls may be recorded. Details correct at the time of publication. Security may be required.
Mobile phone top-up facility
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
- An arranged overdraft of up to £1,000 is available for students in year one
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.
Credit facilities: Over 18s only. Overdrafts repayable on demand.
The Railcard offer is only available to existing customers of NatWest who will be 1st year undergraduates commencing their first year Higher Education course in 2012 who have held their account prior to 15 April 2012 and upgrade this account to a Student Account between 2 July 2012 and 30 September 2012.
Discount card and laptop offers are available to new and existing customers of NatWest who will be 1st year undergraduates commencing their first year Higher Education course in 2012 who open an account between 16 August and 30 September 2012.
Existing Customers: If you apply for the NatWest Railcard, the 4-year 16-25 Railcard will be dispatched to you only after you have registered for Online Banking and online statements.
You must use your Student Account as your main current account by depositing at least £750 every 6 months and making at least 3 debit transactions every month. If you stop using your account as your main current account then the interest rate you pay on your arranged overdraft will revert to the standard rate which applies to the Select Account. For details of our rates of interest see our leaflet Personal & Private Current Account Fees & Interest Rates (PDF, 159KB) .
All account openings are subject to acceptance.
Mobile Phone Banking
If you're on the Orange, Virgin or Vodafone networks, you may need to pay standard tariff rates for the data you download as part of the mobile phone banking service. Contact your network operator to find out more.
Please also read our website terms and conditions which cover your use of this website.
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