The best UK bank accounts for international students in 2025

Heading to the UK to study? If you’ve been offered a place at a UK college or university, you’ll have a number of things to arrange before you arrive. This includes your visa, travel, accommodation, packing and much more.

One of the most important tasks will be to organise your finances. You might want to open a UK bank account, as it’ll come in handy for paying your tuition fees and receiving income to support your studies.

But how easy is it to open an account as an international student, and which one should you choose? Read on, as we’ll cover the best international student bank account in the UK.

And, if you’re juggling multiple currencies and travelling a lot, you might want to check out an alternative to a bank account - like Wise. With a Wise account, you can send, hold and convert money in , and spend in using your own Wise card. For extra convenience, everything is done online, or in the handy Wise app.

Table of contents

Do you need a bank account when studying in the UK? Can you get rejected for a student account? Best UK bank accounts for international students HSBC International Student Bank Account Barclays Bank Account Santander Basic Current Account Lloyds Bank Classic Account TSB Spend & Save Account Nationwide FlexAccount Halifax Current Account Can you have multiple UK accounts as an international student?

Do you need a bank account when studying in the UK?

Opening a UK bank account can be useful for a number of reasons.

Firstly, it makes it much easier to provide the required financial evidence when applying for your UK student visa and can significantly reduce the visa processing time.

As part of your application, you’ll need to be able to show that you have enough funds to support yourself during your time in the UK. You can see the full requirements here. A UK bank account allows you to provide this evidence quickly and easily.

Your new UK bank account can also be useful if you earn income from a part-time job, or need to access funds from a student loan or grant quickly.

You can also use it to pay your regular bills (e.g. mobile phone contract, gym membership etc.), and send and receive money in pounds when needed.

And if you’d rather manage your student finances with an alternative to a bank account, you might want to consider the Wise account, a multi-currency account with access to the mid-market rate, to help you to avoid high currency conversion fees. Unlike many banks or providers, Wise only charges just a small, transparent fee*.

Can you get rejected for a student account?

UK banks carry out credit checks on new applicants, which includes students. This means that there’s always the possibility of being rejected.

As a new arrival in the UK, you’re not likely to have a credit score, and you can’t transfer over your credit history from abroad.¹ This means that there is a chance that the bank will see you as high risk, and reject your application.

Some banks may not accept applications from people who haven’t been living in the UK for the three years prior to starting their studies.² If you’ve just arrived, you may need to get hold of some proof of your UK address.

📚 Read more: Best online accounts in the UK

Best UK bank accounts for international students

So, which student bank account should you choose? There are a few key things to look for as an international student. Firstly, how easy the account is to open and whether you can do it online.

UK student accounts often come with benefits, such as overdrafts, discounts and cashback. You should think about which would be the most useful for you during your studies.

Most banks will offer a number of easy ways to manage your account, including mobile banking. But it could also be a good idea to choose a bank which has local branches near to your campus. If you need any in-person help, you’ll be able to pop in and speak to someone.

Lastly, you’ll want to check out the fees, particularly for things like international transfers. If you want to send or receive money between the UK and your home country, you’ll want to make sure it won’t be prohibitively expensive.

Now, here’s your at-a-glance guide to the best UK bank accounts for international students, with more detail on each below.

Bank and account	Fees	Key features
HSBC International Student Bank Account	£5 for international transfers 2.75% for foreign currency card payments3	Mobile banking Contactless debit card home&Away offers and discounts Offers from accommodation partners
Barclays Bank Account	No fee to send international payments (although some charges may apply) £6 for receiving international payments (over £100) 2.99% for foreign currency card payments4	Optional arranged overdraft Mobile banking Money management tools Travel wallet for converting currency Personalised debit card Optional insurance packs
Santander Basic Current Account	£25 for international payments 2.95% for foreign currency card payments5	Online and mobile banking Cashback, vouchers and offers with Santander Boosts Contactless debit card Fee-free withdrawals at Santander ATMs worldwide5
Lloyds Bank Classic Account	£9.50 for international payments (+ additional fees) £2-£7 to receive international payments 2.99% + additional fees for foreign currency card payments6	No account fees if you stay in credit Contactless debit card Online and mobile banking Earn up to 15% cashback on spending with Everyday Offers
TSB Spend & Save Account	£10-£17.50 for international payments £2-£7 to receive international payments 2.99% for foreign currency card payments7	Contactless debit card £5 cashback/month (if you meet conditions)8 Arranged overdraft Mobile banking Earn interest in savings pots
Nationwide FlexAccount	£20 for international payments 2.99% for foreign currency card payments9	Access to Nationwide savings account Arranged overdraft Mobile banking Contactless debit card
Halifax Current Account	£9.50 for international payments (+ additional fees) £2-£7 to receive international payments 2.99% + additional fees for foreign currency card payments10	Up to 15% cashback on spending Arranged overdraft Mobile banking Contactless debit card Save the Change feature

As a student coming from another country, it’s likely that you’ll want access to international payment services. As you can see from the table above, these services tend to be very expensive when you use a bank.

The good news is that there’s a cheaper alternative available – the Wise account. You can open an account online, and send and receive money worldwide, in 40+, for low fees* and at mid-market exchange rates.

You can even get a linked Wise card for spending in the local currency in 150+.

Learn more about the Wise card 💳

HSBC International Student Bank Account

The HSBC Student Bank Account is designed for people aged 18+ who’ve moved to the UK to study. You can apply for the account online, and it’s free to open.

The account is a basic current account, offering both mobile and online banking. You’ll get a contactless debit card, which works with mobile wallets such as Google Pay, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay.

You won’t have access to any credit, although an arranged overdraft may be possible in certain circumstances.¹¹

Perks include the HSBC International home&Away programme, which gives you access to offers on fashion, food and drink, and more. There are also exclusive offers available from accommodation partners like CBRE and Novel Student - which could help you secure somewhere to live while studying.¹¹

Barclays Bank Account

There is a dedicated Barclays student account, the Barclays Student Additions account. But to be eligible for this, you must have lived in the UK for at least 3 years previously.¹²

So if you’ve only just arrived in the UK to study, you’ll only be able to open a standard Barclays Bank Account instead. This account is available to UK residents aged 18+.

This is an everyday current account offering a debit card that can be personalised. You can manage your money via mobile banking in the Barclays app, including features like spending notifications and money management tools.

This account also offers the option to set up an arranged overdraft if you need it. And if you want, you can add travel insurance, gadget insurance and/or breakdown cover to your account.

Santander Basic Current Account

Like Barclays, Santander has a student account, but it requires permanent UK residency. This means that the only option available if you’re an international applicant is the Santander Basic Current Account.

However, this everyday current account still gives you most of what you’ll need. This includes access to mobile banking and a debit card, although unfortunately you can’t use it to make mobile payments.

There’s also Santander Boosts, a rewards scheme offering cashback, vouchers and prizes. What’s more, you can use Santander cash machines in selected countries worldwide for no charge.

Lloyds Bank Classic Account

The only option available for international students is the Lloyds Classic Account. This is because the standard Lloyds student account is only for people who’ve lived in the UK for 3+ years.¹³

This offers free everyday banking, although you’ll need to watch out for fees when making/receiving international payments.

You can manage your money using mobile banking, via the Lloyds Bank app. And as an extra perk, you can get up to 15% cashback on everyday spending with selected retailers using your Visa debit card.

To apply for the Lloyds Classic Account online, you’ll need to be 18+ and resident in the UK, and provide proof of ID.

TSB Spend & Save Account

The TSB Spend & Save Account is available to UK residents aged 18+. You can apply using the TSB mobile app or online.

There is a dedicated TSB student account, but this is only available to applicants who have been a UK resident for at least 3 years.¹⁴ So, the Spend & Save Account is the next best option for international students.

The account is bursting with great features, including the chance to set up savings pots and earn interest on your money. You can also earn £5 cashback a month for the first 6 months, as long as you make 20+ card payments a month.⁸ And there’s the option for an overdraft, subject to approval.

You can manage your money on the go with the TSB mobile banking app.

Nationwide FlexAccount

Like some of the other banks on our list, the Nationwide FlexStudent account is only for applicants who’ve been living in the UK for 3+ years.¹⁵

But its everyday current account - the FlexAccount - is suitable for international students, and you can apply online if you’re 18+ and already living in the UK.

The Nationwide FlexAccount is a fee-free everyday current account, although it does charge some high fees for international and foreign currency payments.⁹

You can get an arranged overdraft (if eligible) and access to other Nationwide products such as savings accounts. Plus, you can manage your money via mobile and online banking.

Halifax Current Account

The Halifax Current Account is open to all UK residents aged 18+, so it’s suitable for international students. There is a dedicated Halifax student account, but it’s only available for people who’ve been living in the UK for at least 3 years.¹⁶

But the good news is that the Halifax Current Account offers all the everyday banking services a student may need. This includes a contactless debit card and mobile banking.

It also comes with benefits such as 15% cashback on spending at selected retailers, and a ‘Save the Change’ feature to round up card payments and automatically move the funds to a linked savings account. Plus, the option to get an arranged overdraft if you need it.

Read more: Best debit card to use abroad 💳

Can you have multiple UK accounts as an international student?

There’s nothing to stop you from having more than one UK bank account as an international student. However, you’ll need to check which accounts you’re eligible for, and make sure you can meet the minimum requirements.

For example, some accounts may require a minimum number of monthly payments, so this could be hard to meet if you have more than one account.

If you plan on sending or receiving money in currencies other than British pounds, it’s a smart idea to get a Wise account. It’ll let you send money worldwide for transparent fees* and mid-market exchange rates on all currency conversions.

Check out our video guide below to learn more about the Wise multi-currency account:

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Sources used:

1. Experian - Your address, credit score and fraud
2. Times Higher Education - student advice on international student bank accounts in the UK
3. HSBC - HSBC fee information document
4. Barclays - Barclays fee information document
5. Santander - Santander fee information document
6. Lloyds Bank - Lloyds personal banking terms and conditions
7. TSB - TSB fee information document
8. TSB - TSB Spend & Save Account details
9. Nationwide - Nationwide fee information document
10. Halifax - Halifax Bank Account getting started guide
11. HSBC - HSBC Bank Account for international students
12. Barclays - Barclays Student Additions Account
13. Lloyds Bank - Lloyds Student Account
14. TSB - TSB Student Bank Account
15. Nationwide - Nationwide FlexStudent
16. Halifax - Halifax Student Account

Sources last checked on date: 14-Jan-2025