The Halifax Pupil checking account can get you an interest-free overdraft of as much as £1,500 and £100 money
You’ll want a scholar checking account for those who’re heading to college within the autumn.
The Halifax scholar account can get you an interest-free overdraft of as much as £1,500 within the first three years of your diploma and as much as £2,000 in any additional years that you simply attend. You can even get £100 in money and £90 in Deliveroo vouchers if you join.
Listed here are a few of the particulars of the Halifax Pupil account, together with the professionals, the cons and a few options.
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What’s the Halifax Pupil account?
The Halifax Pupil account is just like an grownup present account that’s for college kids heading off to college. The distinction is that you could get an interest-free overdraft restrict and a few additional perks.
The Halifax Pupil account can get you an interest-free overdraft of as much as £1,500 for the primary three years of your diploma. We cowl this in additional element later.
A number of banks are providing freebies for college kids who join their financial institution accounts. This 12 months, Halifax is providing £100 and £90 in Deliveroo vouchers for brand new sign-ups. In the meantime, Santander will get you a 4-year railcard.
For this one, you don’t should be in your first 12 months, so even for those who’ve already been a Brisker, you possibly can nonetheless nab this deal.
Options of the account
The Halifax banking app allows you to view your stability and newest transactions, change direct debits and switch cash.
On prime of that, you possibly can view your PIN and card particulars from inside the app. This isn’t one thing we’ve seen with a whole lot of scholar accounts we’ve reviewed.
As well as, you possibly can cancel subscriptions and test your TransUnion credit score with the Halifax banking app (although you possibly can simply do that without spending a dime within the Credit score Karma app).
When you favor in-person banking, you may as well handle your account in a Halifax department.
You should utilize the cardboard with contactless, in addition to arrange Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.
Halifax Pupil account welcome provide
Halifax Pupil Account: get £100 money and as much as £90 in Deliveroo vouchers – coming 1 August
Like Lloyds, Halifax is providing £100 in money and £90 in Deliveroo vouchers for college kids who join its scholar account this 12 months between 1 August and 31 October 2025.
How one can get the £100
As soon as once more, particulars haven’t been introduced on how you can get it but, these will come when the provide formally launches on 1 August. Previously, to get the money and any additional gives, that you must open a Halifax Pupil Account and deposit at the least £500 by 31 October.
As well as, previously, you couldn’t get it for those who already had a Halifax Pupil Account, however you possibly can improve your account for those who had a Halifax Present Account.
When will I get the £100?
Previously, so long as you’re eligible, you bought the money by 30 November.
Do you get an overdraft with the Halifax Pupil account?
A scholar account will usually provide a big interest-free overdraft — you need to hope for an providing of as much as £1,000 in your first 12 months, with the choice to extend it over the period of your diploma.
Needless to say “as much as” means you received’t essentially get the total quantity, except for the Santander student account, the place you’re assured a £1,500 overdraft for the primary three years of your diploma.
Halifax gives an overdraft of as much as £1,500 for the primary three years of your diploma and £2,000 for any additional years.
Curiosity-free overdrafts allow you to spend right into a detrimental stability with out being charged any charges. It’s a method of borrowing cash, so that you’ll should pay it again.
For instance, a £1,500 interest-free overdraft restrict will can help you go overdrawn by £1,500, displaying as -£1,500 in your account. That is cumulative, so any will increase to your overdraft restrict will embrace the cash you already owe.
What overdraft may I get with the Halifax Pupil account?
| 12 months | Overdraft restrict |
| Years 1-3 of research | As much as £1,500 |
| Years 4-6 of research | As much as £2,000 (from 1 August 2025 — £1,500 till then) |
When you’ve graduated, you’ll nonetheless be capable to preserve the identical advantages of your account for one more three years. After this, you’ll be moved to a Halifax Present Account.
Is there a Halifax Graduate account?
There isn’t a selected account for graduates at Halifax. This doesn’t imply that you simply’ll lose all the advantages of your account as quickly as you’ve donned your cap and robe. You’ll be capable to preserve the advantages, together with your overdraft for 3 years – though as of 1 August, this can lower over time.
| 12 months | Overdraft restrict |
| 12 months 1 after you graduate | As much as £2,000 |
| 12 months 2 after you graduate | As much as £1,500 |
| 12 months 3 after you graduate | As much as £1,000 |
Do you want a scholar overdraft?
You would possibly marvel for those who even want an overdraft, in spite of everything, that mortgage you’re getting looks as if an terrible lot of cash. Don’t communicate too quickly
College students don’t all the time have the funds for to cowl fundamental dwelling bills.
As well as, you’ve got a whole lot of totally different streams of earnings. This contains your scholar mortgage, any cash out of your dad and mom, grants, for those who get any, plus earnings from any part-time work that you simply do.
Your overdraft will get you somewhat little bit of leeway. An opportunity to breathe (and nonetheless eat) earlier than your subsequent scholar mortgage is available in.
Don’t be tempted to go on a procuring spree – you shouldn’t spend greater than you possibly can afford to pay again.
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How one can open a Halifax Pupil account
Am I eligible for a Halifax Pupil account?
Earlier than you begin to apply, ensure you’re eligible. To get the Halifax Pupil Account, that you must:
- Be 17 or over – you possibly can solely have an overdraft for those who’re over 18
- Dwell within the UK and have lived within the UK for the previous 3 years
- Have been accepted onto a full-time course of at the least two years period, or a one-year full-time entry course resulting in a level
- Not have one other scholar account elsewhere – or be keen to switch to Halifax for those who do
How one can apply for the Halifax Pupil account
Opening a scholar account with Halifax is very easy. Earlier than you start, you’ll must have the next prepared:
- Your 4-digit UCAS code confirming your home on your course
- Proof of identification, akin to a driving licence or passport
- Proof of your present handle
- Your handle historical past for the final 3 years
- Particulars of your earnings and the way you’ll cowl your bills – these don’t should be in depth, you’re not anticipated to be incomes six figures and have an in depth monetary plan
- Particulars of your course and the place you’re learning
Right here’s what that you must do to get a Halifax Pupil Account:
- Go to the Halifax web site and choose “Apply as a brand new buyer”, or “I’m an present buyer”, for those who already financial institution with Halifax
- You might must scan a QR code to proceed in your cellphone
- Reply the questions on display and choose “Proceed”
- Reply the questions on your private particulars – you’ll must reply questions on your course, your earnings and tax standing.
- Submit your utility.
- Bear in mind to vary your financial institution particulars on the Pupil Loans Firm web site to get your scholar mortgage paid into your new account.
When are you able to open a Halifax Pupil account?
You’ll be able to join the Halifax Pupil Account as quickly as your home is confirmed – for those who’re nonetheless ready on your outcomes or making use of by way of clearing, chances are you’ll want to attend to have every little thing by way of.
This provide could also be withdrawn, so that you’ll need to get in as quickly as you possibly can for those who’re .
Can my scholar mortgage be paid into my Halifax Pupil account?
Sure – although this isn’t a requirement of the account, so you possibly can pay into whichever account you want.
You’ll have used your previous financial institution particulars when organising your mortgage, so that you simply must log into your Pupil Mortgage Firm (SLC) account and alter your financial institution particulars. You’ll want your new Halifax type code and account quantity.
How a lot does the Halifax Pupil account price?
The Halifax Pupil account is totally free!
You don’t should pay any month-to-month charges or overdraft charges to make use of the Halifax Pupil account. You’ll have to pay charges for those who use the account abroad, which we element under.
As well as, you received’t be charged for those who go over your organized overdraft and there’s no charge if Halifax refuses a fee attributable to lack of funds or if it permits a fee regardless of lack of funds.
This successfully offers you a little bit of peace of thoughts if you end up in a tough state of affairs financially.
Can I take advantage of my Halifax scholar account abroad?
You should utilize the account abroad, however you be charged some charges if you do:
| Withdrawal of euros contained in the EEA / Spending in euros contained in the EEA | Free |
| Withdrawal of overseas foreign money outdoors the EEA, and overseas foreign money aside from euro contained in the EEA | £1.50 |
| Spending in overseas foreign money outdoors the EEA, and spending in overseas foreign money aside from euro contained in the EEA | £1.50 |
| Withdrawal of kilos outdoors the UK | £1.50 |
When you’re on the lookout for a scholar account that’s fee-free overseas, Nationwide is an effective alternative, as you should utilize the debit card overseas and withdraw money overseas without spending a dime. One other good possibility is to have one other non-student account to make use of overseas that received’t price you something.
Is there a credit score test for the Halifax Pupil account?
There can be a credit score test if you apply for the Halifax Pupil account.
It will embrace a tough credit score test if you open the account and one other anytime you ask for credit score, akin to for those who request an overdraft or any subsequent requests to increase your overdraft.
This isn’t something that you must fear about. When you’ve by no means borrowed cash earlier than, you’ll seemingly have a really skinny credit score report, which implies that you haven’t borrowed sufficient cash for the credit score bureaus to have the ability to choose you.
We spoke to Experian who stated that it’s unlikely that you simply’d be refused for having no credit score historical past – it’s regular for banks to think about a skinny file when making use of for scholar accounts.
If you wish to, you possibly can check your credit score for free. It’s additionally a good suggestion to ensure you’re registered to vote, which has a positive impact on your credit score. There could also be a small dip in your general rating if you open the account for round 3 months and when you construct up a great monitor document.
What are the professionals and cons of a Halifax Pupil Account?
Execs
- Change to Halifax anytime throughout your diploma
- Handle and cancel subscriptions within the Halifax app
- Can see all card particulars within the app
- £100 money and £90 in Deliveroo vouchers
Cons
- Overdraft restrict isn’t assured
- Overdraft isn’t as giant as other student bank accounts
- Not for worldwide college students
- Charges to make use of the account overseas
Is the Halifax Pupil account any good?
To be trustworthy, the Halifax Pupil account merely isn’t nearly as good as different scholar accounts. The overdraft isn’t assured, so that you is probably not accepted for the highest quantity. You will get the identical quantity assured from Santander, however the freebie is a 4-year railcard as an alternative of money.
The utmost interest-free overdraft you may get within the first three years is £1,500, which is lower than half of the potential overdraft you possibly can get from NatWest (£3,250, and a perk of £85 in money).
To match, the Nationwide and HSBC Pupil accounts each provide as much as £1,000 within the first 12 months and the choice to extend it by as much as £1,000 every year till your third 12 months.
In fact, it’s good to get a money perk if you open the account, however other (better!) accounts provide this too.
Halifax Pupil account
| 0% overdraft | As much as £2,000 |
| Eligibility | Have to be 17 or over, and over 18 if you need an overdraft |
| For college college students solely | |
| Not for worldwide college students | |
| Financial savings accounts | Save the Change – rounds up your purchases and outs the distinction right into a financial savings account Entry Halifax financial savings accounts – although you possibly can most likely get better rates elsewhere |
| Perks | £100 money and as much as £90 in Deliveroo vouchers |
Are there higher scholar accounts?
You’ll be able to positively get a greater scholar account elsewhere. The Halifax Pupil Account is okay, nevertheless it doesn’t have one of the best providing. The overdraft will solely improve for those who do an extended diploma.
To decide on between accounts, you need to examine the scale of the overdraft — each within the first 12 months and in later years — and the best way you prefer to financial institution, whether or not that’s in-branch, on-line or utilizing the app.
When you favor banking in-branch, check out which banks nonetheless have branches within the city or metropolis you’ll be learning in, and even on campus, and select between these. In a tie, you possibly can think about a signup bonus or freebie.
You’ll be able to learn our round-up guide on scholar financial institution accounts, or learn particular person evaluations by way of the hyperlinks under.
Halifax scholar account vs NatWest Pupil account
| Halifax Pupil account | NatWest Pupil account | |
| Apply | Anytime throughout research | Anytime throughout research |
| 0% overdraft years 1-3 | As much as £1,500 | As much as £2,000 in 12 months 1 As much as £3,250 in 12 months 3 |
| Abroad use | As much as £1.50 per transaction overseas | 2.75% charge for withdrawals overseas |
| Perks | £100 money and as much as £90 in Deliveroo vouchers | £85 money and a 4-year Tastecard |
The Halifax checking account gives an overdraft of as much as £2,000, nevertheless you possibly can be accepted for as much as £3,250 by your third 12 months with NatWest.
NatWest has introduced a money perk of £85, with a Tastecard. The Tastecard isn’t essentially an awesome perk alone, nevertheless it’s a pleasant addition that may get you a reduction on meals out.
