Bank Account Advice

[cookiemonsterwallets]

Hi. I want to open a separate bank account to the main one I have to save small amounts of money every month.

I currently bank at Natwest. Could anyone recommend a bank where I could get a bank card and possibly any perks for opening another account with another bank?

I want to leave my Natwest account as it is with all my direct debits. I don't want to open another ISA. I just want an account for "treat money" I can save and dip into from time to time

Thanks

Look at Martin Lewis website he often recommends Chase. I opened one last year (really quick and easy). Get 1% cashback on most spends and can open linked savings accounts which I think is 5.1% for the first account. I use this account as my spending account, pop it all in the savings and move money into the current account each week.

Definitely Chase

You usually only get the perks for opening a new account if you switch your old account into it, rather than opening up an additional account.

Could you not just open a natwest regular saver account? Nice and simple, and you earn over 6% for up to £150 pcm.

You could see what savings accounts your current bank offers.

I'd suggest Nationwide - I wanted an account separate from my main current account (HSBC) but like you, I wanted to be able to keep money aside from day to day spending on food shopping etc but access it quite easily. I applied for a Flex Current account with a Visa debit/ATM card but ticked no to an overdraft (I think I would have been turned down because I don't have much of an income) and they said yes. I have a linked easy access savings account so I can earn a little interest on money not needed immediately (it's not the best rate though) and transfer it instantly to my current account when I want to.

Also, this month my sons and I all got a £100 Fairer Share payout - one of the boys got it last year. You do have to jump through a few hoops, particularly with an adult account, but they made it easier to meet those this year - you need to have a current account with some activity and a little money in savings, but if you look up the conditions for this year, they are not that hard to meet and it was definitely worth it for us.

I haven't switched my main current account and it doesn't really suit me to do so just now, but they were also offering a new switch bonus and a savings bond which I thought sounded like reasonably good deals for building society members who want to switch accounts/lock away savings.