student accounts - baffled

[Tangliss]

That's probably it. Although, I know people who were given student accounts for their second degree. Try Halifax, and see what they say.

[ira222]

This one might be obvious, but let me still suggest it: Did you try a branch close to the university? There seems to be a lot of variations based on the location of the branch.

My local Natwest branch refused opening an account for me on the basis that I have an EU passport, although in the UK since 98. The central London branch on the other hand said, this was rubbish, if as an EU passport holder you were in the UK for over 3 years you can have a student account.

I would only try with the university branches, as they deal with students all the time.

Sorry, if that was obvious.

[Little White Dragon]

Originally Posted by Pip

Are you a graduate mature, or do they perhaps think you are? Some places are really narky about giving you a student account for a second undergraduate degree. I've had some fun arguing with RBS about that, but I won

Pip

Pip, I'd be interested to know how you did this. I've had lots of fun and games with the RBS in the past because of the difficulty of explaining to them that a PhD is NOT the same as an MSc and it takes longer!

[LisaC1976]

I think it's the second undergrad thing they don't like!

[Pip]

Well, I've just (hopefully) managed to get them to agree that I can keep my student account for the 5 years of med I'm about to do. Best thing is to talk to yourr branch, not any head office type people - they insisted I couldn't have one and kept sending me graduate account forms. Go to your local branch, and point out that in the terms and conditions it doesn't specify that it has to be your first undergraduate degree, therefore they should let you have a student account/keep the one you've got! It only briefly mentions in another piece of bumpf that it should be your first undergrad degree, but I argued that as it wasn't in the terms and conditions it wasn't set in stone, and that it's extremely common nowadays for graduates to go on to take medicine/dentistry/law degrees. Apparently if you take in proof of your new course your branch will just alter your date of graduation to fit in with your new degree

Pip

[XML]

Have you tried barclays bank - they are very good with medical students and have a dedicated student advisors. They also give medical student loans of up to I think £15,000 over the course of 5 years.

I also have an account with halifax - they are great when you have money going in regularly and are more set up for people with a regular monthly income. I found them to be rubbish when I came back to studying and hence the move of my current account to barclays who are fantastic. HSBC also rejected my application for a student account.

[lucyfrombristol]

I have been an HSBC customer for about 10 years, since I was doing my first degree. Since then I have had a graduate account with them. They had no problems at all giving me another student account and also a professional studies loan.

I would echo what has been said in other posts on this thread - don't bother dealing with the banks centrally, but pick your branch carefully and try to book an appointment with someone who is actually allowed to make decisions, rather than relying on the computer to tell them what to do!!

[burto]

I agree with Lucy. I am with the HSBC and Lloyds and have had no problem in gaining a student account from the HSBC.

I think geographical location is important, as many local banks work within their own discretion, and sometimes do not implement directives given to them centrally.

Saying that, Lloyds, who I have been with for 15 years refused me a student account, for the reason that my last student account was with them. It could be that, you cannot have more than one student account with the same bank within a certain period. who knows.

[lucyfrombristol]

I expect they just make the rules up as they go!

[burto]

I never thought of that Lucy lol