student bank account

[hedgehogqueen]

Does anyone know if level 6 diploma students qualify to have a student bank account and overdraft as my dd bank is telling her she can not. Thanks

[Robsmumma]

Dd was refused one. To open one you need a ucas number which of course they dont have. A real pain!

[afab]

Story if i'm being silly but what is the différence between a normal bank account and a student one?

[islandofsodor]

Lots of benefits. A student would not pass credit references for credit cards & overdrafts which are often necessary especially as funding often isn't in place for the very start if term. Also preferential interest rates.

[afab]

Thank you Islandofsodor, I'll keep that in mind for next year...

[hedgehogqueen]

Thanks for your responses, dd just wanted the overdraft to help her out if she is stuck, but its just another thing we have to fund, as students it seems they do not qualify for any student benefits, bank accounts, overdrafts, credit cards, discount cards, it is like they are just in limbo for the next three years, it is so very wrong.

[Caroline A-C]

When ds opened his student bank account three years ago, all he needed was the offer letter in order to open his account as a lot of these colleges are not connected to UCAS.

[hedgehogqueen]

Yes it does not have to be UCAS but has to be one of the following qualifying courses according to HSBC

Postgraduate degree (for example PHD, MBA, MSc, PGCE, MPhil, M.ED, M.ST, LL.M).Undergraduate degree (for example BA, BSc, BEd, BN).Diploma of Higher Education (DipHE). 
- Business & Technical Education Council (BTEC). The following BTEC courses qualify: 
- Higher National Diploma (HND) 
- Higher National Certificate (HNC)National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) levels 4 and 5.Foundation Degree - FDA (art based) or FDSc (science based) and/or subsequent one year full honours degree course.Pre-registration or First Level Nursing and Midwifery Diploma.

A foundation year which is an integral part of one of the courses listed above. We will need to see written proof of this, for example a letter from the college or university.

[2dancersmum]

The student bank accounts usually are for 18+ also and although they list suitable courses and ask for UCAS number, offer letter etc as proof that you are a student - what they are actually looking for I think is the student loan money. Student accounts always require the main student funding to be paid into that account and of course that means if you are not receiving a lump sum three times a year, the banks are not interested.

I think the main benefit of the student account is the overdraft and preferential rates on an overdraft once past the 'free' amount but some banks do offer a 'young persons account' up to the age of 19 which can be better than a normal adult account for rates etc. My DD has a debit card and cheque book with hers and manages fine.