HSBC scholar account evaluation: Get £100

HSBC’s scholar account can get you £100 in money and a yr of Headspace

You’ve bought your self a set of A-Stage outcomes and a proposal at college – what’s subsequent? It’s time to consider a scholar checking account. HSBC’s account can get you an interest-free overdraft of as much as £3,000 and £100 in money. Plus, for these irritating occasions forward, you get a free Headspace subscription.

Right here’s every part it’s essential know in regards to the HSBC Scholar Financial institution Account.

Some articles on the weblog include affiliate hyperlinks, which offer a small fee to assist fund the weblog. Nevertheless, they gained’t have an effect on the worth you pay or the weblog’s independence. Learn extra right here.

What’s the HSBC Scholar Account?

The HSBC Scholar Account is a present account for college students – that’s, these finding out full-time at a UK college or school. As with different scholar accounts, you get entry to an interest-free overdraft. HSBC has additionally jumped on the bandwagon, providing a freebie to college students. That is £100 in money and a free annual Headspace subscription. 

The HSBC Scholar Account affords an interest-free overdraft of as much as £1,000 in your first yr, probably growing by £1,000 per yr till your third yr. Extra on this later.

Options of the account

With the HSBC Scholar Account you possibly can handle your account on-line, in a department and on its app. Its cellular app permits you to view your stability, make funds, handle your overdraft and set a finances. You may get notifications once you spend, perception into the place your cash’s going and set targets.  

You should use the cardboard with contactless, in addition to arrange Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay.

You’ll additionally get entry to the HSBC Common Saver, which is first rate however might be overwhelmed by different banks. 

HSBC Scholar Account welcome provide

Do you get an overdraft with the HSBC Scholar Account?

With all scholar financial institution accounts, you’d normally count on to get an interest-free overdraft of no less than £1,000 in your first yr, with the choice to extend it as you research.

An overdraft permits you to run right into a unfavorable stability as much as your overdraft restrict — a £1,500 restrict will will let you go overdrawn by £1,500, exhibiting as -£1,500 in your account. This isn’t free cash, you’ll should pay it again, and it’s cumulative, so any additional will increase to your overdraft restrict will embody the cash you already owe. 

HSBC affords an organized interest-free overdraft of £1,000 in your first yr, with the choice to extend it by as much as £1,000 every year till your third yr.  

What overdraft might I get with the HSBC Scholar Account?

Yr	Overdraft restrict
Yr 1	As much as £1,000
Yr 2	As much as £2,000
Yr 3 (and later years)	As much as £3,000

While you graduate, you’ll be mechanically moved to an HSBC Graduate Account. With this account, you’ll get an preliminary overdraft restrict of as much as £3,000. This can cut back in later years, supplying you with time to pay the cash again. 

HSBC Graduate Account overdraft limits

You’ll be mechanically moved to the graduate account after you graduate. This account nonetheless has an interest-free overdraft, however this may steadily cut back over time, which we’ve detailed beneath. 

Years after commencement	Overdraft restrict and particulars
First yr after commencement	As much as £3,000 restrict
Second yr after commencement	£2,000 at 0%

Easy methods to open an HSBC Scholar Account

Am I eligible for an HSBC Scholar Account?

To get the HSBC Scholar Account it’s essential:

• Be 18 or over
• Dwell within the UK and have lived within the UK for the previous 3 years
• Have been accepted onto a full-time (or part-time if you happen to’ll be receiving a Disabled College students’ Allowance) course at a UK college or school
• Not have one other scholar account elsewhere

Sadly, worldwide college students aren’t eligible for this account however there’s a HSBC Worldwide Scholar Financial institution Account you possibly can apply for. 

Easy methods to apply for the HSBC Scholar Account

Opening a scholar account with Santander is very easy. Earlier than you start, you’ll have to have the next useful:

• Your tackle historical past for the final 3 years
• Particulars of your earnings and the way you’ll cowl your bills 
• Proof of your id and tackle
• Particulars of your course and the place you’re finding out
• Your 16-digit UCAS standing code. 

Right here’s what it’s essential do to get an HSBC Scholar Account:

1. Go to the HSBC web site and choose “Apply now” – if you happen to’re already with HSBC, you possibly can apply on-line and your current account will probably be upgraded. 
2. Verify on the subsequent display that you just meet all the standards and that you’ve every part you’ll want handy, each listed above.
3. Fill within the kind – you’ll have to reply questions on your course, your earnings and tax standing. That is the place you’ll be capable of ask for an organized overdraft and organise a swap.
4. Submit your software.
5. Keep in mind to vary your financial institution particulars on the Scholar Loans Firm web site and make 5 transactions utilizing your HSBC Scholar Account debit card.

Is there a credit score examine for the HSBC Scholar Account?

There’s a credit score examine for the HSBC Scholar Account. This can embody a tough credit score examine once you open the account and anytime you ask for credit score, similar to once you request an overdraft.

There’s no want to fret about this! In the event you’ve by no means borrowed cash earlier than, you’ll doubtless 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 decide you. So long as you don’t have a working historical past of missed funds on a bank card or mortgage, you ought to be okay.

When are you able to open an HSBC Scholar Account? 

You may join the HSBC Scholar Account straight away, although if you happen to’re ready on your outcomes, it’s possible you’ll want to attend for them if you happen to don’t have an unconditional provide. 

This provide could also be withdrawn, so that you’ll need to get in as quickly as you possibly can if you happen to’re .

Can my scholar mortgage be paid into my HSBC Scholar Account?

Sure. Your scholar mortgage might be paid into no matter account you need.  You’ll have put your outdated account into your software on your scholar mortgage so that you’ll have to log into your Scholar Mortgage Firm (SLC) account and alter your financial institution particulars. You’ll want your new HSBC type code and account quantity handy.

How a lot does the HSBC Scholar Account value?

As you’d count on, the HSBC Scholar Account is free. Which means that you pay no month-to-month charge and no overdraft charges.

There are charges to make use of the account abroad, which we element beneath. 

You gained’t be charged if you happen to go over your organized overdraft – although funds will probably be stopped till you add cash to the account.

Can I exploit my HSBC Scholar Account abroad?

You’ll have to pay a 2.75% charge if you happen to withdraw money overseas, with a minimal charge of £1.75 and a most charge of £5. 

In the event you’re searching for an account that’s fee-free overseas, Nationwide is an effective selection, as you should use the debit card overseas and withdraw money overseas totally free. Or you can take a look at an additional account from a specialist financial institution and use it only for going overseas.  

What are the professionals and cons of an HSBC Scholar Account?

Execs

• Overdraft of as much as £3,000 by your third yr
• £100 in money once you enroll
• Swap to HSBC anytime throughout your diploma

Cons

• Overdraft restrict isn’t assured
• Not for worldwide college students
• Charges to make use of the account overseas

Is the HSBC Scholar Account any good?

The HSBC Scholar account is a very sensible choice for college students, it doesn’t matter what yr you’re in. 

The overdraft isn’t assured, however it might probably enhance year-by-year, which is fairly good. In order for you a assured overdraft, the Santander Scholar Account could also be a greater choice. 

You may get a £1,000 interest-free overdraft with the account in your first yr, with the choice to extend it by as much as £1,000 every year till your third yr. This is similar as you’d get with the Nationwide scholar account and greater than you’d get with Santander’s, which caps at £1,500 in your third yr.   

In fact, it’s good to get £100 in money once you open the account. This may get you your first time period’s books and the necessities to get began.

Are there higher scholar accounts?

The HSBC Scholar Account is tied with Nationwide on its overdraft providing, with each providing £1,000 within the first yr, growing by £1,000 every year. Each accounts additionally provide £100 in money, though HSBC does have the Headspace subscription thrown in, too.

If you wish to use your card overseas, the HSBC Scholar Account isn’t your best option, you’d be higher set with Nationwide. 

One of the simplest ways to check scholar accounts is to have a look at the dimensions of the overdraft, each within the first yr and in later years. In a tie, you possibly can contemplate a signup bonus or freebie.

In the event you choose banking in-branch fairly than on-line or utilizing an app, you can analysis which banks nonetheless have branches within the city or metropolis you’ll be finding out in and select between these. 

You need to be capable of do most issues on-line these days, however might end up stumped if you happen to’re given a cheque, for instance. 

You may learn our round-up information on scholar financial institution accounts, or learn particular person critiques through the hyperlinks beneath. 

HSBC Scholar Account vs Santander scholar account 

	HSBC Scholar Account	Santander 1|2|3 Scholar
Apply	Anytime throughout research	Anytime throughout research
0% overdraft years 1-3	As much as £1,000 in yr 1Up to £2,000 in yr 2Up to £3,000 in yr 3	Assured £1,500
Abroad use	2.75% charge for withdrawals overseas – min £1.75 / max £5.	Free withdrawals overseas from Santander money machines
Perks	£100 money and a 1-year Headspace subscription	Free 4-year Santander 16-25 railcard

Santander has a decrease overdraft general, however it’s assured so long as you register for on-line banking and pay in £500 each 4 months. You may join each Santander and HSBC anytime throughout your diploma, although you’ll want to change after yr 1. Theoretically, you can get the HSBC cashback then swap to Santander and nab your self a four-year railcard after the primary yr, or do it the opposite approach round.