Page last updated Tuesday, 01 June 2010
| Bank name and any special name for the account | Minimum age | Free buffer zone | Direct Debits and standing orders (1) | Charge for unpaid Direct Debit or standing order (2) |
Debit card (Solo, Electron, Maestro or Visa debit) |
Bank branch counter access (balances, deposits and withdrawals) | Post Office® branch access (balances, deposits and withdrawals) | Free access to bank cash machines (ATMs) in the UK | If any of the following apply to you, your application may be declined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance & Leicester: Basic Cash Account |
16 | No | Direct Debits only | £25 | No | Yes (withdrawals over £250 only) | Yes | Yes | Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud |
| Bank of Ireland: Basic Cash Account (only available in Northern Ireland) |
16 | No | Yes | £42 (4) | No | Yes | Yes | No (own ATMs only) |
Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud |
| Bank of Scotland: Easycash |
16 | No | Yes | £15 (max 3 per day) |
Electron | Yes (withdrawals over £300 only | Yes | Yes | Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud |
| Barclays: Cash Card Account |
18 (3) | No | Yes | £8 | Visa debit | Yes | Withdrawals only | Yes | Record of fraud |
| Clydesdale: Readycash |
16 | No | Yes | £35 | Maestro | Yes | Yes | Yes | Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud |
| Co-operative Bank: Cashminder |
16 | No | Yes | £19.50 (4) | Visa debit | Yes | Yes | Yes | Record of fraud |
| First Trust Bank: Basic Bank Account |
16 | £10 | Direct Debits only | £35 | No | No | Yes (except deposits) |
No (own ATMs only) |
Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud, record of bad debts |
| Halifax: Easycash | 16 | No | Yes | £15 (max 3 per day) |
Electron | Yes (withdrawals over £300 only) |
Yes (except deposits) |
Yes | Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud |
| HSBC: Basic Bank Account |
18 | £10 | Yes | No (4) | No | Yes (except withdrawals) |
Withdrawals only | Yes | Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud |
| Lloyds TSB: Cash Account |
18 (3) | £10 | Yes | £20 (max 3 per day) |
Visa debit | Yes | Yes | No (own ATMs only) |
Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud |
| Nationwide Building Society: Flex Cash Card |
16 | No | Yes | £30 | No | Yes (withdrawals over £30) (5) |
Yes (except deposits) |
Yes | Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud |
| NatWest: Step Account |
16 | No | Yes | £38 (4) | Solo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud |
| Northern Bank: Northern Personal Access |
14 | No | Yes | No | Maestro | Yes | Withdrawals only | Yes | Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud, record of bad debts |
| Santander: Basic Bank Account |
16 | No | Yes | £5 – £35 (check with bank) | No | Yes (except withdrawals) |
Yes (except deposits) |
Yes | Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud |
| The Royal Bank of Scotland: Key Account |
16 | No | Yes | £38 (4) | Solo | Yes | Yes | Yes | Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud |
| Ulster Bank: Step Account |
16 | No | Yes | £10 | Visa debit | Yes | Yes | Yes | Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud |
| Yorkshire Bank: Readycash |
16 | No | Yes | £35 | Maestro | Yes | Yes (except deposits) |
Yes | Undischarged bankrupt, record of fraud |
Explanatory notes