Student account freebies galore, including £100 cash

Rachel Springall, Press Officer / Finance Expert 01603 476210 Email Rachel

Student account freebies galore, including £100 cash

Numerous student account packages have been unveiled, which include a variety of freebies and up to £100 in cash. The latest analysis by Moneyfactscompare.co.uk dissects the latest cost-saving perks and provides expert tips.

Student account freebies galore, including £100 cash

Lloyds Bank’s student account freebies have intensified compared to a year ago, as students can now get £100 from the start of August until the end of October. In addition, it is offering six months of Deliveroo vouchers, worth £90, subject to meeting a set number of eligible account transactions each month.
Nationwide Building Society is once again offering Just Eat vouchers worth £120 and £100 free cash, as it did this time last year.
Barclays Bank is not offering any specific free upfront sweeteners for students right now, but students can sign up to Blue Rewards for £5pm, and get an Apple TV subscription as part of the perks.
The package from HSBC hasn’t been enhanced, but it still offers discounts and exclusive offers through HSBC Home & Away.
NatWest’s student account bundles in a free tastecard, as it did last year, but its cashback of £85 is lower than the £100 given a year ago.
Santander has once again renewed its Railcard offer (worth £30 for one year or £70 for three years) and customers can sign up to Santander Boosts to earn cashback.
TSB continues to offer a generous credit interest rate of 5% AER/4.89% gross.
The most generous overdraft tariffs are with NatWest, HSBC and Nationwide Building Society, which were also on offer a year ago.

Lloyds Bank’s student account freebies have intensified compared to a year ago, as students can now get £100 from the start of August until the end of October. In addition, it is offering six months of Deliveroo vouchers, worth £90, subject to meeting a set number of eligible account transactions each month.
Nationwide Building Society is once again offering Just Eat vouchers worth £120 and £100 free cash, as it did this time last year.
Barclays Bank is not offering any specific free upfront sweeteners for students right now, but students can sign up to Blue Rewards for £5pm, and get an Apple TV subscription as part of the perks.
The package from HSBC hasn’t been enhanced, but it still offers discounts and exclusive offers through HSBC Home & Away.
NatWest’s student account bundles in a free tastecard, as it did last year, but its cashback of £85 is lower than the £100 given a year ago.
Santander has once again renewed its Railcard offer (worth £30 for one year or £70 for three years) and customers can sign up to Santander Boosts to earn cashback.
TSB continues to offer a generous credit interest rate of 5% AER/4.89% gross.
The most generous overdraft tariffs are with NatWest, HSBC and Nationwide Building Society, which were also on offer a year ago.

Rachel Springall, Finance Expert at Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, said:

“Students may be enticed by the free perks on a student account, but it is essential they compare the whole bundle alongside the 0% overdraft in the first instance. The most generous overdrafts come from NatWest, HSBC and Nationwide Building Society, which could be a lifeline for students who need to borrow during their years of study. However, taking on some part-time work in between their studies to have a bit of disposable income is wise, because an overdraft will need to be paid back.

“The upfront freebies include a mixture of upfront cash and cost-saving vouchers, discount cards for travel and eating out. Those students who will travel far from home to study might find the free Railcard from Santander a great choice, and could save them a decent sum over the years, but customers can earn cashback through Santander Boosts. If students are hoping to save some money on eating out or through takeaways, then NatWest’s tastecard could be a handy perk, along with its generous overdraft, plus they will give students £85 in free cash. Battling it out this year to entice students are the new free perks from Lloyds Bank, offering not only £100 in free cash, but also Deliveroo vouchers, worth £90. Not to go unnoticed, Nationwide Building Society has a generous overdraft and offers Just Eat vouchers worth £120 and £100 in free cash. It is worth pointing out with all these perks that they are only really good value if used frequently.

“It can seem daunting to sign up to years of study, and this might be the first time students have been far away from home. Money management is then essential to get right, as it can be a little too easy to build up debts to cover necessities. Using a mobile banking app and any budgeting tools is a great way to keep on top of the finances, as is taking advantage of any cost-saving perks or student exclusive offers. Students do not need to suffer in silence over money stresses, they could book a call with their bank or approach their university for support and tips. These avenues could make all the difference to students who might drop out of university, with Experian reporting last year that 78% of students said money worries were causing them significant stress and 46% were too anxious to check their bank balance altogether. Students need ongoing support to help them thrive during their education.”

Rachel Springall, Finance Expert at Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, said:

Student account selection table
Provider and account	Interest-free overdraft	Incentives
Bank of Scotland – Student Account	0-6 months - £500 7-9 months - £1,000 10-36 months - £1,500 37-72 months - £2,000	Free to register for Everyday Offers. Earn up to 15% cashback from selected retailers.
Barclays Bank - Student Additions	0-3 months £500 4-12 months £1,000 Year 2+ - up to £1,500	Blue Rewards is available as an add-on for £5 per month.
Halifax - Student	Year 1+ - up to £1,500	Cashback Extras - Earn up to 15% cashback from selected retailers. Credit interest of 0.50% AER/gross.
HSBC - Student Bank Account	Year 1 - at least £1,000 Year 2 - up to £2,000 Year 3 - up to £3,000	Discounts and exclusive offers for dining experiences, leisure activities and shopping available through HSBC Home & Away.
Lloyds Bank - Student	0-6 months - £500 7-9 months - £1,000 10-36 months - £1,500 37-72 months - £2,000	Free to register for Everyday Offers. Earn up to 15% cashback from selected retailers. 20% discount on student union events at universities. Receive £100 for accounts opened and paying in £500 between 1.8.25 and 31.10.25. Receive 6 months of Deliveroo vouchers when making 20 qualifying transactions each month (worth £90).
Nationwide Building Society - FlexStudent	Year 1 - up to £1,000 Year 2 - up to £2,000 Year 3+ - up to £3,000	No charges for using debit card abroad. 12 months of Just Eat vouchers worth £120 and £100 cashback when opening and paying in £500 before 12.12.25
NatWest - Student	Year 1 to 2 - up to £2,000 (1-4 months £500, 5 months+ £2,000) Year 3 to 5 - up to £3,250	Receive a tastecard, valid for 4 years giving 50% off food or 2 for 1 meals, plus offers on entertainment and shopping. Free 24/7 Emergency Cash Service. Receive £85 cashback when opening the account online or via the app.
Royal Bank of Scotland - Student	Year 1 to 2 - up to £2,000 (1-4 months £500, 5 months+ £2,000) Year 3 to 5 - up to £3,250	Receive a tastecard, valid for 4 years giving 50% off food or 2 for 1 meals, plus offers on entertainment and shopping. Free 24/7 Emergency Cash Service. Receive £85 cashback when opening the account online or via the app.
Santander – Edge Student Current Account	Year 1 to 3 - up to £1,500 Year 4 - up to £1,800 Year 5 - up to £2,000	Free 16-25 Railcard for new customers. Valid for four years, with students saving up to one third on most rail fares. Sign up for Santander Boosts to receive cashback, vouchers, offers and prize draws from selected retailers.
TSB - Student	Year 1 - up to £1,500 (0-6 months £500 7-9 months £1,000 and 10-12 months £1,500) Year 2 to 6 - up to £1,500	Credit interest of up to 5% AER (4.89% gross).
The list of student accounts is only a selection. All overdrafts are subject to the applicant’s status. Source: Moneyfactscompare.co.uk

Student account selection table
Provider and account	Interest-free overdraft	Incentives
Bank of Scotland – Student Account	0-6 months - £500 7-9 months - £1,000 10-36 months - £1,500 37-72 months - £2,000	Free to register for Everyday Offers. Earn up to 15% cashback from selected retailers.
Barclays Bank - Student Additions	0-3 months £500 4-12 months £1,000 Year 2+ - up to £1,500	Blue Rewards is available as an add-on for £5 per month.
Halifax - Student	Year 1+ - up to £1,500	Cashback Extras - Earn up to 15% cashback from selected retailers. Credit interest of 0.50% AER/gross.
HSBC - Student Bank Account	Year 1 - at least £1,000 Year 2 - up to £2,000 Year 3 - up to £3,000	Discounts and exclusive offers for dining experiences, leisure activities and shopping available through HSBC Home & Away.
Lloyds Bank - Student	0-6 months - £500 7-9 months - £1,000 10-36 months - £1,500 37-72 months - £2,000	Free to register for Everyday Offers. Earn up to 15% cashback from selected retailers. 20% discount on student union events at universities. Receive £100 for accounts opened and paying in £500 between 1.8.25 and 31.10.25. Receive 6 months of Deliveroo vouchers when making 20 qualifying transactions each month (worth £90).
Nationwide Building Society - FlexStudent	Year 1 - up to £1,000 Year 2 - up to £2,000 Year 3+ - up to £3,000	No charges for using debit card abroad. 12 months of Just Eat vouchers worth £120 and £100 cashback when opening and paying in £500 before 12.12.25
NatWest - Student	Year 1 to 2 - up to £2,000 (1-4 months £500, 5 months+ £2,000) Year 3 to 5 - up to £3,250	Receive a tastecard, valid for 4 years giving 50% off food or 2 for 1 meals, plus offers on entertainment and shopping. Free 24/7 Emergency Cash Service. Receive £85 cashback when opening the account online or via the app.
Royal Bank of Scotland - Student	Year 1 to 2 - up to £2,000 (1-4 months £500, 5 months+ £2,000) Year 3 to 5 - up to £3,250	Receive a tastecard, valid for 4 years giving 50% off food or 2 for 1 meals, plus offers on entertainment and shopping. Free 24/7 Emergency Cash Service. Receive £85 cashback when opening the account online or via the app.
Santander – Edge Student Current Account	Year 1 to 3 - up to £1,500 Year 4 - up to £1,800 Year 5 - up to £2,000	Free 16-25 Railcard for new customers. Valid for four years, with students saving up to one third on most rail fares. Sign up for Santander Boosts to receive cashback, vouchers, offers and prize draws from selected retailers.
TSB - Student	Year 1 - up to £1,500 (0-6 months £500 7-9 months £1,000 and 10-12 months £1,500) Year 2 to 6 - up to £1,500	Credit interest of up to 5% AER (4.89% gross).
The list of student accounts is only a selection. All overdrafts are subject to the applicant’s status. Source: Moneyfactscompare.co.uk

Notes to editors

You are welcome to use part or all of this press release, so long as we are sufficiently sourced. We would appreciate a link back to Moneyfactscompare.co.uk.

Pioneering financial comparison technology for over 35 years, Moneyfacts Group plc is the UK’s leading provider of retail financial product data. Used by virtually every bank and building society in the UK, and supplied to the Bank of England, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Ombudsman Service, HM Treasury, Prudential Regulatory Authority and UK Finance.

Our expert research team monitors the thousands of mortgages, savings, credit card, personal loan, banking, life, pension and investment products in the UK.

Moneyfactscompare.co.uk is the financial product price comparison site, launched as Moneyfacts.co.uk in 2000 and rebranded to Moneyfactscompare.co.uk in 2023, which helps consumers compare thousands of financial products, including credit cards, savings, mortgages and many more. Unlike other comparison sites, Moneyfactscompare.co.uk shows whole of market data regardless of commercial bias, showing consumers a true picture of the best products based on the criteria they select.

For more information about us please see our key facts.

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Our broadcast suite enables our finance experts to appear in-vision for television, and we regularly comment live on national and regional radio.

To arrange an interview for radio or television, please contact our press department. We have an in-house broadcast room.

Notes to editors

You are welcome to use part or all of this press release, so long as we are sufficiently sourced. We would appreciate a link back to Moneyfactscompare.co.uk.

Our expert research team monitors the thousands of mortgages, savings, credit card, personal loan, banking, life, pension and investment products in the UK.

For more information about us please see our key facts.

Broadcast

Our broadcast suite enables our finance experts to appear in-vision for television, and we regularly comment live on national and regional radio.

To arrange an interview for radio or television, please contact our press department. We have an in-house broadcast room.

If you're looking for extra comment, a chart or more information, then please give us a call. We are always more than happy to help.

Adam French Head of News & Communications

01603 476154

Email Adam

Rachel Springall Press Officer / Finance Expert

01603 476210

Email Rachel

Caitlyn Eastell Press & PR Executive