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FlexStudent current account

The UK’s only fee-free student bank account.

Features and benefits

  • Completely fee-free, even overseas

    We don’t charge a monthly fee for maintaining the account or for anything else.

  • Up to £3,000 arranged overdraft limit while you study

    You can request up to £1,000 in each year of study, up to £3,000 in your third year.

  • Bank how you like

    Online, via the Internet Bank and Banking app, over the phone or in branch.

  • Access to other Nationwide products

    Opening a FlexStudent account is one way to become a member of Nationwide. Find out more about membership.

FlexStudent comes with everything you’d expect from a Nationwide current account, including:

  • Contactless card payments in the UK up to £100
  • Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay and Paym
  • Optional paperless statements
  • Text alerts – set your preferences to help you manage your money
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Note:

You need to pay in at least £500 each term from the date you open your FlexStudent account.

You’ll also need to keep a good credit record and show good account behaviour by keeping up with any payments and staying within your arranged overdraft limit.

If you don’t, we may remove your arranged overdraft or refuse to increase it. Eventually, we might have to close your account (with at least 2 months’ notice).

Please bear in mind that you cannot increase your arranged overdraft limit if you live outside the UK.

To apply for FlexStudent

You need to:

  • be 18 or over
  • have been a UK resident for 3 or more years
  • not have a student account with another provider (though you can switch it to Nationwide)
  • have been accepted onto a full-time UCAS course of at least 2 years, in the UK
  • have an unconditional offer (if you have a conditional offer, you’ll need to wait until your place has been confirmed)
  • apply no more than 5 months before your course start date, or within 2 months of your course starting. But if you’ve had a savings, mortgage or current account with us for 12 months or more, then you can apply up to 18 months after your course starts.

Fees, charges and important documents

Before you apply, make sure you read the:

We don’t charge a monthly fee for maintaining the account or for anything else.

Ready to apply?

If you've already researched FlexStudent and know it's the right bank account for you.

FlexStudent arranged overdraft

We know money can be tight in university, so we've designed the FlexStudent arranged overdraft to grow with you during your studies.

In your first year, you'll be given an arranged overdraft of up to £1,000 if you want one. You can ask us to increase your arranged overdraft limit by any amount up to £2,000 in your second year. And up to £3,000 in your third year. We won't increase your limit unless you ask us to.

If you decide not to have the arranged overdraft when you open the account, you're free to change your mind at any time. If you request an arranged overdraft at a later date, we'll look at your circumstances to see if we can offer you one.

An arranged overdraft is designed for short-term borrowing. It will need to be repaid after you graduate, but you'll be given time to do this.

Find out more about overdrafts using our:

Overdrafts page – to understand how it works

Overdraft calculator – to compare the cost of overdrafts for our different current accounts

FlexStudent Arranged Overdraft Representative Example:

0% APR Representative (variable). Based on an assumed arranged limit of £1,200 and an interest rate of 0% a year (variable).

How does our overdraft compare?

A good way to compare the cost of our overdraft with other overdrafts or other ways of borrowing is to look at the representative APR. The APR shows the cost of borrowing as an annual rate.

Information:

When choosing the right student account for you, it helps to check that the arranged overdraft amount available is suitable for the entire length of your course.

Other ways to borrow

Arranged overdrafts are designed for short-term borrowing. But there are other ways to borrow that may be better for you, depending on your needs. Learn about:

Switching to Nationwide

Fast — switch in just 7 working days. You choose the date, and we’ll let you know when it’s done.

Seamless — a dedicated team does it all for you. They’ll switch your payments, balance and even your list of payees.

Guaranteed — there shouldn't be any problems but if there are, you won't lose a penny.

Apply for FlexStudent

When you apply for FlexStudent, you can:

  • apply for a brand new bank account
  • switch your current account from another building society or a bank to us, or
  • change your existing Nationwide current account to FlexStudent
Apply for FlexStudent

After you graduate

Unless you make other arrangements, we’ll move your account to a FlexGraduate account.

Your FlexGraduate will:

  • Stay completely free of any Nationwide fees, even overseas.

  • Still have an interest-free arranged overdraft.

  • Help you to pay back your arranged overdraft by gradually reducing the limit each year.

  • Come with a new Visa debit card (but your account number, sort code and PIN will stay the same).

Our arranged student overdrafts page can help you understand how repaying your arranged overdraft will work.

You can have a FlexGraduate account for:

  • 3 years, if your course was 3 years long or more
  • 2 years, if your course was 2 years long

After that, we'll move you onto one of our everyday bank accounts.

If you don’t want a FlexGraduate account, just let us know.

If your circumstances change

Leaving university early

If you leave your studies early, you'll need to let us know. Call us on 03457 30 20 11 or visit us in branch to talk through your options. We may need to move your FlexStudent account to one of our adult accounts.

Extending your studies

If you're planning to continue your studies after you graduate, then please come to see us in branch. While you're studying, you can keep your FlexStudent account. We'll need your new course details and may ask for evidence of your change in studies. For example, a letter from your university.

Make banking easier with our secure app

  • Manage all your Nationwide accounts in one place
  • View and search your transactions
  • Freeze and unfreeze your Visa Debit card
  • Report your card lost or stolen and order a new card
Take a tour of our Banking app

Related links

I need help with my account

Our current account help section has the answers to our most commonly asked questions.

Protecting your money

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (opens in a new window) (FSCS) is a free, independent service that protects up to £85,000 of your eligible money at Nationwide.

Find out more about the FSCS (PDF, 936KB)

Nationwide adheres to The Standards of Lending Practice, which are monitored and enforced by the LSB: www.lendingstandardsboard.org.uk (opens in a new window).