Student account

Get more from NatWest

Information & details about your benefits
Mobile app features to manage your money and plan ahead
View your full terms and conditions
Change your account
Frequently asked questions

Our current account terms and conditions are changing from 01 October. Find out more.

Tools to help you on your student journey

Account benefits

Manage your money

Travel

Graduate account

Important information

FAQs

Your account benefits

tastecard

With a tastecard, you can enjoy 2 for 1 meals, 50% off your food bill or 25% off your entire bill, as well as the newest addition, 25% off barista-made drinks, available at thousands of restaurants and coffee shops across the UK.

And the perks don’t stop there – there are plenty of other tastecard offers too:

Cinema tickets discounted
Discounted days out at the UK's best attractions
Exclusive membership perks.

Plus keep an eye out for tastecard competitions where you can win exciting and exclusive prizes.

Information Message

Exclusions on offers and available days may apply, check with participating restaurants.

Valid for 4 years. T&Cs apply.

Use your tastecard Open in new window

tastecard

And the perks don’t stop there – there are plenty of other tastecard offers too:

Cinema tickets discounted
Discounted days out at the UK's best attractions
Exclusive membership perks.

Plus keep an eye out for tastecard competitions where you can win exciting and exclusive prizes.

Information Message

Exclusions on offers and available days may apply, check with participating restaurants.

Valid for 4 years. T&Cs apply.

Use your tastecard Open in new window

Interest-free overdraft

Our Student bank account comes with an interest-free overdraft:

Initial limit: You can apply for an overdraft of up to £500 when you first open your student account.

Increasing your limit: You may be able to apply to increase your overdraft over time, up to:

£2,000 from your second term in the first year of your course
£3,250 from Year 3 onwards (including after you graduate)

If approved, your overdraft limit could be lower than the maximum limits shown

Apply for an overdraft Open in new window

Interest-free overdraft

Our Student bank account comes with an interest-free overdraft:

Initial limit: You can apply for an overdraft of up to £500 when you first open your student account.

Increasing your limit: You may be able to apply to increase your overdraft over time, up to:

£2,000 from your second term in the first year of your course
£3,250 from Year 3 onwards (including after you graduate)

If approved, your overdraft limit could be lower than the maximum limits shown

Apply for an overdraft Open in new window

Explore overdrafts in more detail

How do overdrafts work?

There are two different types of overdraft:

An arranged overdraft, which allows you to go overdrawn up to an agreed limit. This is the type of overdraft you could apply for here. During your application for an arranged overdraft, we'll run a full credit check to determine how much we can offer you.
An unarranged overdraft. This is when you spend more money than you have in your current account without already having an arranged overdraft, or when you exceed your current arranged overdraft limit.

Arranged overdrafts are interest-free on our Student accounts. You won’t have to worry about paying interest, so long as you stay within your overdraft limit. Going in to an unarranged overdraft limit can lead to payments being rejected.

How much will an Overdraft cost?

Our Student bank account offers an overdraft facility (subject to eligibility). You can check if you’re likely to be accepted for an overdraft using our eligibility tool.

Looking to understand the costs of an overdraft less than or above £500 over different periods? Try our handy overdraft cost calculator.

More about Overdrafts

Manage your money

Stay on top of your finances

Discover the mobile app features that can help you manage your money and understand your finances.

Click on a feature to learn more...

Budgeting and spending

We know it can be difficult to budget whilst at university. Planning your budget isn't always easy, but it's an important part of student life. Luckily we have a range of budgeting tools which can help you throughout your journey

Our mobile app can help you stay on top of your finances:

View your statements and available balance quickly and easily
Set monthly budgets on spending categories
Track your spending categories and highlights
Get tips on making the most of your money on the insights tab
Book a Financial Health Check to review your finances and help you make better and more informed decisions on your spending

Savings and round ups

If you're looking to build your savings habits our Digital Regular Saver could be right for you. Join over 1.5 million customers* and open a Digital Regular Saver today.

Check out our range of savings accounts

You can also save as you spend with round-ups. Pay with your debit card and we'll round up the amount to the nearest pound, then send the spare change to your saving account.

Eligibility criteria and limits apply.

*As of Jan 2026.

Split bills

Get paid back without the faff of sharing bank details. Ask someone for money you're owed through the mobile app.

Send a payment link via your device sharing options.
Show your QR code to get paid by someone nearby.
Or use Split the bill to share the cost of a transaction with friends.

Go to 'Payments' then 'Request money' to find these handy features.

Eligibility criteria and limits apply.

Find out more about requesting money

Credit score

Everyone should take time to understand their credit score. Banks and other lenders use a credit score to decide how likely you are to pay them back. Your score is based on how well you manage your finances. A bit like a financial footprint that shows if you’ve missed any bills for example. The higher your credit score the better your chances of getting a loan, credit card or mortgage. A higher score might also make it easier to borrow more money and maybe get a better interest rate.

You can use the credit score features in the app to:

Track changes to your score to keep on top of your financial health
See personal insights for tips on managing your credit score
Use the Score Predictor to see how future financial decisions might affect your score

Available once opted in through the app to customers aged 18+ with a UK address and is provided by TransUnion.

Check your score now

Get set up for travelling

Whether going on holiday or planning to travel long-term, we may be able to support you with your finances while abroad. We offer a range of travel products and support that could help you prepare for your next trip.

Our mobile app could simplify getting set up for travelling and staying in control of your funds while spending abroad:

Quickly and easily order travel money
If you have a Travel account, you can separate your holiday pot, top up with euros or US dollars and spend in your currency abroad without transaction fees from us. We won't charge you a fee for the first 200 euro or US dollars in cash you withdraw from ATMs every 30 days. Local ATM fees may apply
Register your trip in the app to notify our fraud systems that you are going abroad

Find out more about travel services Open in new window

Get set up for travelling

Our mobile app could simplify getting set up for travelling and staying in control of your funds while spending abroad:

Quickly and easily order travel money
If you have a Travel account, you can separate your holiday pot, top up with euros or US dollars and spend in your currency abroad without transaction fees from us. We won't charge you a fee for the first 200 euro or US dollars in cash you withdraw from ATMs every 30 days. Local ATM fees may apply
Register your trip in the app to notify our fraud systems that you are going abroad

Find out more about travel services Open in new window

Important information

Take some time to review the important documents.

Your Current Account Terms (PDF, 295 KB)

Student Fee Information Document (PDF, 132 KB)

Graduating soon?

You don’t need to do anything. If you've just graduated, or are about to, your account graduates with you. Your Student account will automatically change to a Graduate account later in the year, based on the graduation year you gave us when you opened your account. You can continue to use your card, online banking and mobile app as usual.

Before your account officially changes we will send you an email or letter detailing:

the changes to your account
the date your account will change

View our Graduate account Open in new window

Graduating soon?

Before your account officially changes we will send you an email or letter detailing:

the changes to your account
the date your account will change

View our Graduate account Open in new window

Frequently asked questions

What happens when I graduate?

When you graduate, your account will automatically be changed to a Graduate account around October of the graduation year that you provided when you applied for the Student account.

You will remain on the Graduate account for 3 years until you are automatically moved to our Select account around October, unless you choose to change to another account before then.

What happens if my graduation date changes or I leave university early?

You must advise us as soon as possible of any changes to graduation date and provide confirmation from the university. If you don’t you will be moved to a Graduate account around October of the year you originally provided when you opened your account. Then after one year on the Graduate account, you may start to pay interest on your overdraft.

You can advise us of any changes by contacting us on 03457 888 444 (Relay UK 18001 03457 888 444).

If you leave university early, you should convert your account from a Student account as soon as possible.

I'm worried about my finances, what can I do?

We understand that sometimes people struggle financially. It feels scary and you’re tempted to ignore the situation, hoping things will improve. If you're worried about paying money back or struggling to pay your rent or bills, it's time to ask for help.

How can I apply for/change my overdraft limit?

You can apply to increase or decrease your existing overdraft limit or apply for a new overdraft in the app.

With your Student account you may be eligible for:

Up to £2,000 interest free from year one (£500 on account opening)
Up to £3,250 in your third year (from October)

To apply for an overdraft, you need to be 18+. You can apply for an overdraft of up to £500 when you first open the account.