We did some research and discovered how you can open a bank account without going through a credit check, so that even if your credit score is poor, it doesn’t turn into a stressful experience. If you are looking for a business account, we have written a guide on opening a business account with bad or no credit.
Latest reviews of bank accounts with no credit check
Get a £20 welcome bonus when you spend your first £20 (T&Cs apply).
As well as the free Standard plan, Revolut has 4 other pricing tiers for its e-money account, so you can choose the one that suits you best. Applying for an account is straightforward - all you need to do is download the app and provide your phone number, email address, home address and date of birth. You'll then need to verify your identity through the app with a passport or ID card and once approved, you'll be up and running. There's no overdraft on the account, so you won't need to worry about applying for credit. Instead, if a purchase exceeds the amount in your account, it should be declined. Or if your balance falls below zero, you will be notified and given up to 7 business days to add money. The account allows users to set up recurring payments, withdraw cash at ATMs, make contactless payments, and transfer money in 30 currencies, fee-free.
Pros
Low overseas fees
Quick sign-up
Earn cashback on spending
Set budgets for financial goals
Virtual cards for online purchases
Easy to transfer money internationally
Linked Revolut <18 account available for one child
Cons
1% currency conversion charge on weekend spending abroad
Free cash withdrawals in the UK and abroad both limited to £200 per month
Cannot deposit cash or cheques into the account
Charged a fee to receive your bank card
Minimum opening balance
£0
Account fees
£0
Overseas card transactions
0% Mon-Fri (max. £1,000 per month)
Overseas cash withdrawals
0% Mon-Fri (max. £1,000 per month) conversion fee plus cash fee of £0 up to £200 per month
You can open a bank account with Monzo without requiring a full credit check, making it a good option for those with bad credit. When you apply for an account, a soft credit check will be carried out which won't affect your credit score. A soft credit check will also be carried out if you want to apply for an overdraft to determine whether Monzo can offer you one. If it can, a hard check is then carried out. As well as the free plan, there are 3 other Monzo pricing structures to choose from, so you can pick which best suits you. To sign up for an account, you will need to download the app, provide your personal details and verify your identity by taking a video of yourself and a picture of your ID, but no proof of address will be required. The account allows users to set spending budgets by category, establish savings pots, divvy up their salary into spending, savings and bills, and benefit from fee-free transactions abroad.
Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39% EAR variable.
Pros
Easy to set up
Good for budgeting and categorising spending
Automatic saving feature
Fee-free spending abroad
Slick app with face login
Overdrafts and loans available
Cons
Free ATM withdrawals outside the EEA limited to £200,
£1 fee for depositing cash at PayPoints,
Maximum cash deposit of £1,000 every 6 months
No rewards program
Minimum opening balance
£0
Switch service guarantee
Yes
Account fees
£0
Overseas card transactions
0%
Overseas cash withdrawals
0% conversion fee plus cash fee of 0% on up to £400 per 30 days (3% thereafter)
Earn cashback of up to 3.5% at more than 35 major high street retailers when using CardOneMoney card.
No credit check is carried out for the Card One Money account and you won't be charged a fee for any bounced payments, making it ideal if your credit score isn't up to scratch. You just need to have your identity and residency verified. All you need to do is fill in a short form and you could have your new sort code and account number in a matter of minutes. The account comes with a prepaid debit card which you can use in-store or online free of charge. However, a fee applies to ATM cash withdrawals and the account also has a monthly fee. You can have your wages or benefits paid directly into the account and then set aside what's needed to cover your bills and other outgoings.
You don't need to have a good credit score to open this account from Suits Me as there's no credit check involved when you apply. To be eligible you need to be at least 18 years old and have a UK address. You don't necessarily need a photo ID as Suits Me accepts lots of alternatives. This e-money account has no monthly fee but transaction charges for things like electronic payments in or ATM withdrawals. Your account comes with a free contactless prepaid debit card and you can manage your account via the app.
Pros
Accepts range of ID documents, ideal if you’ve recently moved to the UK
It's quick and easy to apply for a bank account with Monese via the app. No credit checks are required and all you'll need is an email address, phone number and ID document such as a passport. Your account can be up and running in a matter of minutes and you'll be sent a contactless Mastercard debit card that can be used online and in-store all around the globe. There are no fees for spending or withdrawing cash on your card, provided you don't exceed your monthly limit. You can also choose from 3 different account plans, including a free option.
Pros
UK current account that does all you can expect, including direct debits and standing orders.
Fast and easy set-up (no credit check or proof of local address needed).
Colourful app that is easy to use, allows you to categorise your transactions and freeze the card if you lose it.
Free card payments and ATM withdrawals abroad.
You can load cash into the account for free.
Can open both a UK and European account and switch instantly.
Cons
With a free plan, fee-free ATM withdrawals and cash loads are limited to £200 per month.
You can’t put your savings in a separate account or earn interest on them.
It doesn’t offer anything more than a current account.
Applying for a Starling bank account only requires a soft credit check (unless you want an overdraft), which means it won't affect your credit file and makes it a good option if you have a poor credit score. The bank offers a full current account that can be opened and managed directly via the app and there is no monthly fee. To open an account, you'll need to download the app, provide your name, date of birth, email address and home address, and verify your identity through the app using a selfie video and photo of your ID. Once approved, you can link the account to Apple Pay or your Google Wallet and start spending immediately. The account allows users to set savings goals, use an overdraft facility, track spending, and send and receive payments. There are no fees for spending abroad either.
Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 15% EAR variable.
Yes, you can. There are UK banking providers who specialise in offering personal accounts that you can open without a credit check, such as Zempler and thinkmoney. But be aware that this type of account often comes with a monthly charge and other fees attached.
Your other possibilities include digital-only accounts with the newer challenger banks, some of which are free to open and don’t involve credit checks unless an overdraft is applied for. Then there are basic bank accounts, free current accounts with fewer features that are operated by the more traditional banks. We look at both of these latter 2 options in more detail below.
How to open a current account if you have bad credit
The main reason why you are credit checked when applying for current accounts is that most will come with an overdraft facility. If you want to avoid a credit check at all costs because you think you may be refused, you have 2 main options:
Challenger banks. Most digital-only banks allow you to open a full current account directly from their app. You’ll have to prove your identity, but they won’t check your credit score if you don’t apply for an overdraft on the account.
Basic accounts. Most traditional banks offer them, although they aren’t heavily advertised. They are full UK bank accounts, but they’re missing some features (namely, you guessed it, an overdraft).
They’re both suitable options, but depending on your banking style and preferences, you may be better off with one or the other.
Challenger banks
New digital-only banks that promise slick apps and an effortless banking experience are proliferating in the UK, so you’re spoilt for choice. Monzo and Starling are among the most popular ones and they’re both fully licensed banks, while Revolut is really competitive if you also have to send money abroad fairly often. Aside from allowing you to open a bank account without worrying about your credit score, these banks also offer a few other features that can be useful to keep your personal finances in good order.
Great mobile apps. No more having to power up your computer to access all the features of your current account. We list our favourite mobile apps here.
Budgeting features. Many of these apps automatically categorise your spending for you, telling you how much you’re spending and what for. Learn more about budgeting apps.
Saving features. You can set money aside in separate sub-accounts, set saving goals for them and have your banking app round up and set aside your spare change.
The downside, as you might have guessed, is that they don’t have physical branches, so you can’t go and discuss your circumstances in person. However, many of them allow you to carry out some tasks, like depositing cash, in Post Office branches. Providers like Zempler, Starling and thinkmoney offer this service. Check the Post Office website for a full list of banks that permit cash and cheque deposits via the Post Office network.
Monzo and Starling also offer an overdraft facility with their accounts, but your credit history will only be checked if you actively apply for one.
Basic current accounts
If you’re more into old school banking and don’t particularly like the idea of trusting your phone with your current account access, basic accounts are the second best option to open a current account with bad credit.
Banks don’t advertise them too much because they prefer customers to which they can offer an overdraft (that they can make money out of). However, if you look for them, you should be able to find them easily, and some banks will offer one to you if you don’t pass the checks for a standard account.
Basic current accounts aren’t that different from standard ones: you’ll still get a debit card and will be able to receive your salary, make and receive payments and deposit and withdraw cash.
However, you usually won’t be able to access the best current account deals, such as switching incentives or interest paid on your balance. While this is less than ideal, a basic current account will do the job. Compare basic bank accounts here.
How much does it cost?
Nothing! Most digital accounts offer a free plan and basic accounts have no monthly fees at all. In some cases you may still be charged for some features, for example, using your debit card abroad, but with many challenger banks that’s free too.
You’ll also find some dedicated current accounts for people with bad credit that charge a monthly fee and offer some extra features to help you keep your finances under control. They are an option and in some cases those features can be useful, but be aware that they are not your only choice, even if you can’t pass the standard credit check.
Dos and don’ts for banking if you have bad credit
Do
Get a no-credit-check current account. It’s a first step to get back on track.
Keep an eye on your spending. Whether you get instant notifications on your phone or simply check your bank statements regularly, it’s a good idea to know exactly how much you’re spending each month.
Draft a budget and stick to it. Digital banking apps’ budgeting features can help with that.
Check your credit score regularly. You can get a free copy of your credit report from the credit reference agencies. Once you know what’s wrong, you can work on fixing it.
Don’t
Rely on an overdraft. Even if you pass the credit checks, it’s an expensive way of borrowing money.
Go into an unarranged overdraft. This can negatively affect your credit score.
Forget to repay your overdraft. The longer you take to repay it, the more it will cost you.
Opening a bank account with no credit and how it differs to bad credit
There’s a difference between having no credit and having bad credit. If you have bad credit, it’s usually because you haven’t managed credit well in the past – whether that’s through missing payments or failing to clear your debt on time.
However, if you have no credit, that usually means you’ve never borrowed before, so lenders have no way of knowing how likely you are to make repayments on time. You might have no credit history because you’re young or because you’ve recently moved to the UK and any credit history from your home country hasn’t come with you.
For this reason, lenders are likely to view you as higher risk and may be more reluctant to offer you an account – particularly if it has an overdraft.
Bottom line
If you have a poor credit history you’ll have less choice when it comes to opening a bank account. But don’t worry, there are still plenty of options available to you. Some of the traditional high street banks offer basic current accounts, which you’ll usually be able to access. These function like regular current accounts in many respects, but you won’t usually be able to benefit from an overdraft facility or any switching incentives.
Many digital-only challenger banks will also allow you to open a full current account directly from their app without a credit check, as long as you don’t have an overdraft.
So while things may be difficult while you try to rebuild your finances or start from scratch, you can rest assured that you’ll still be able to access basic banking services. You can also read our guide on how to improve your credit score.
Frequently asked questions
It’s possible, but you’ll find it much harder to get one. Some companies specialise in offering accounts to people with bad credit. In return for a monthly fee, they may also allow you to borrow money based on certain conditions, but be aware that it won’t come cheap. Have a look at Zempler if that’s the kind of account you’re after.
Challenger banks will usually only ask for your ID (your passport will do). To open a basic account, you’ll usually need an ID and in some cases also a proof of address.
To open a joint account, both account holders must be eligible for that account, which means that if you don’t pass the credit check, you may not be able to open a standard joint account. However, you can still open a joint basic account. Among the challengers, both Monzo and Starling offer joint accounts. You won’t be credit checked, but you’ll both have to open personal current accounts with the same bank first.
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Valentina Cipriani was a writer at Finder UK. She wrote news, features and guides about banking and credit cards, helping people to improve their financial lives. She holds an MA in International Journalism. See full bio
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