Protect your income

Fee-free basic bank accounts

These accounts are for people who need to open a new bank account to manage their money and protect their income being taken, even if they have a poor credit rating. This can be because they don’t have a bank account or because they cannot use their current account, for example because they receive charges, are overdrawn or owe the bank money.

Fee-free basic accounts allow you to:

• pay in money (wages, welfare benefits, pensions and cheques)
• set up Direct Debits or standing orders to pay your regular bills
• use a debit card in shops and online
• withdraw cash from the bank or cash machines (fees apply to some cash machines)
• check your account balance at your bank, a cash machine, and online.

How to open a fee-free bank account

You can apply for a fee-free basic bank account in person, over the phone or online.

You must clearly ask to open a fee-free bank account – if you are not clear you may be assessed for a different account and you may be refused.

You must take one proof of your identity and you may have to prove your address.

Here are some examples of documents you can use to prove your identity and address.

• Proof of identity
  • passport
  • driving licence
  • benefit award letter (dated within the last 12 months)
  • HMRC tax notification or assessment letter (dated within the last 12 months)
  • current European Union member state identity card
• Proof of address
  • utility bills (dated within the last 3 months)
  • Council Tax bill issued with the current year
  • tenancy agreement
  • catalogue or mail order statement
  • UK photocard driving licence
  • motor insurance or home insurance certificate (issued within 12 months)

Banks required to offer fee-free basic bank accounts

All these accounts have online/phone banking and allow you to set up Direct Debits and standing orders.

Bank	Account	Withdrawals from UK cash machines (ATMs)
Barclays 0800 400100	Basic current account	Yes
HSBC 03457 404 4040	Basic bank account	Yes
Nationwide 0800 302 010 option 3	FlexBasic	Nationwide ATMs
*NatWest 0800 881177	Foundation Account	Yes
Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) 0345 7242424	Basic Account	Yes
Santander 0800 0686069	Basic current account	Yes (restrictions may apply)
The Co-operative Bank 0345 7212212	Cashminder	Yes
TSB 0345 9758758	Cash account	Link or Visa ATMs only
*Halifax 0345 7203040	Basic account	Yes
*Lloyds 0845 300 0000	Basic account	Yes

* You will have to apply for another account and be rejected to be allowed to open the non-fee charging basic bank account.