Debit card
Brand new plastic
Shop online or pay in-store with a new student debit card.
Overlay
£50 cash and a free 4 year tastecard
Open a Student bank account
Why apply for our Student bank account?
Open a student bank account for £50 cash and a free tastecard for 4 years (worth £39.99 per year)*
Whether you’re already enjoying university life or planning ahead and thinking about your first year on campus, you could apply to open a Student account with NatWest today.
What else could you get?
- Interest-free overdraft - get an overdraft of up to £2,000 (£500 in the first term), with an instant online decision
- No monthly Student current account fees
* T&Cs apply. Tastecard value based on lowest price offer available direct from tastecard. Correct as at 5th September 2022.
Am I eligible for a Student bank account?
To apply, you must be:
- aged 17+
- living in the UK for at least 3 years
- a full time undergraduate student (on at least a 2-year course at a UK University/College) or you need to be completing a full time postgraduate or nursing course lasting a year or more.
Online applications only. You can apply within 6 months of your course start date.
To apply for an overdraft, you need to be:
- aged 18+
- using your Student account as your main account by depositing regular income into it.
You can add an overdraft to your account once your course has started.
Contactless
Shop, tap and go
Tap-and-bleep your debit card to checkout up to £100 in shops, restaurants, and more.
Apple or Google Pay
Banking for any device
Paying for items on your iPhone or Android is simple. You can use it to pay for things online or in-store with a tap. Criteria and retailer limits apply.
Direct Debit
Bills, bills, bills
Got a regular bill that needs paid via Direct Debit? You can set that up on a NatWest Student account. Or if you need to split your household bills, check out our Housemate app.
Make use of a student overdraft
Our Student bank account comes with an interest-free overdraft. A quarter of students budget and monitor their spending. But around one in three are still short of money by the end of the month, says our Student Living Index 2022.
That's when your overdraft may come in handy as a short-term option. And because it’s interest-free, you won’t pay any interest on what you’ve spent.
You could get an overdraft of up to £2,000 (£500 in the first term), with an instant online decision.
Manage your student account with our app
See how much you have in your Student current account and transfer money between accounts from your smartphone. Students save on average £109 per month, according to our Student Living Index 2022. Easily move money into your savings account with our app.
App available to customers aged 11+ with compatible iOS and Android devices and a UK or international mobile number in specific countries.
Student FAQs
Switch to NatWest
The Current Account Switch Service will do all the work when it comes to switching, moving everything across from your old account to your new account all within 7 working days, including Direct Debits and standing orders. All you need to do is tell us the details of your old bank account and when you want the Switch to start.
We can not switch savings accounts or ISAs through this service. Any other products you have with your old bank will not be moved at the same time.
Current Account Switch Guarantee (PDF, 39KB)
Get ready to apply
Before you apply, we need to check you're happy with a few things. And ask you a few questions up front. Then we can make your application as quick and simple as it can be.
First things first. You can apply if you are:
aged 17 or over and have been living in the UK for at least 3 years
completing a full-time undergraduate course that lasts at least 2 years or completing a full-time postgraduate course, or
training as a nurse at a UK university or college of higher education
completing a course that has already started, or is starting within the next 6 months.
Now please take a look at the important legal stuff
If you carry on applying, it means you're happy with what's in these documents, including the FSCS information sheet. And happy to view your statements in Online Banking - not posted. Please take some time to review, print and/or save the important information.
How your information might be used
It's important for you to understand how we use and share your information. Please read this short summary before you continue with your application.
Other ways we could help
How much will I spend as a student?
When you’re setting out on your student life, it can be tricky to know how much day-to-day living will cost. Our guide can help you there.
Compare current accounts
If you’re still thinking about which type of account is right for you, don’t worry. We could help you make the right choice.
Build your budget
Not sure where your money goes each month? Want to save a little more? We can help you with our budget calculator.