Finder rating
★★★★★
Expert analysis
Customer rating
★★★★★
Satisfaction survey
Big bank benefits like branches and 24/7 customer assistance
No saving pots or round-up spare change feature
Barclays current accounts for March 2023
With Barclays, you can choose among a wide range of current accounts while enjoying the benefits that come with a major bank.
No matter which point of your life you are at, Barclays probably has a current account option that can fit nicely into your lifestyle.
If you’re a loyal customer and also have other financial products with Barclays, you can get extra rewards – so it’s a fitting choice if you like to manage all your finances with the same institution.
Compare Barclays current accounts
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Types of current accounts from Barclays
In order to be able to compare current accounts properly, first, you’ll have to clear your mind on which kind of account you’re after. Barclays offers the following:
Premium accounts
Premium accounts have strict income criteria, so not everyone can get one, but they come with great perks and rewards. With Barclays you can enjoy a dedicated rewards programme and exclusive financial products (mortgages, loans and savings accounts) in return for no monthly fee. If you meet the requirements, it’s really worth looking around and comparing premium accounts to get the perks that work best for you.
Learn more about premium current accountsStudent accounts
Barclays makes your on-a-budget student life easier with a fee-free overdraft of up to £1,500, and also offers a free 12-month subscription to e-book service Perlego.
Learn more about student accountsGraduate accounts
Barclays’ ‘higher education’ account is similar to its student account, allowing you to hang on to the benefits a bit longer while you’re getting used to your adult life.
Learn more about graduate accountsChildren’s accounts
Barclays is one of the few financial institutions that offer two different children’s accounts – one for 11 to 15 year-olds and another one for 16 to 19 year-olds.
Learn more about children’s accountsBusiness accounts
Barclays offers bank accounts for businesses of all shapes and sizes. Customers can choose from the start-up business account for small businesses, an account for businesses with a turnover of up to £400,000, an account for businesses with a turnover of between £400,000 and £6.5 million, and a community account for small not-for-profit organisations. Each account is tailored towards each particular business’ requirements.
Learn more about business accounts
What is Barclays Blue Rewards?
Barclays Blue Rewards is a paid-for-add-on which you can select to add to your Barclays current account. It costs £5 a month but in return, you’ll receive a monthly reward plus cashback if you have or open other products with the bank.
You’ll need to pay in at least £800 a month into your current account and register for the Barclays app or online banking. To receive the £5 monthly cash reward you’ll also need to pay 2 or more direct debits from your nominated account.
Learn more about what rewards and benefits you can get in our Barclays Blue Rewards guide.
Barclays customer reviews
Barclays was ranked 8th out of 18 current account providers in our independent 2023 customer satisfaction survey. Its users gave the brand 4.5 out of 5 stars and 81% said they’d recommend the current account service. Users highlighted the bank’s customer service and straight-forward mobile app. Here’s what some of those Barclays customers had to say in our survey:
“Everyday bank, easy enough to use mobile app and good online customer service.”
“Never any problems managing my finances and great customer service.”
“Able to manage finances from mobile app. Reliable and trustworthy.”
On the Apple App Store, Barclays’ mobile banking app scored 4.8 out of 5 stars, based on over 1.6 million user reviews. On the Google Play Store, it scores 4.5 out of 5 stars, from a total of 475,000 reviews (last updated, January 2023).
Pros and cons of banking with Barclays
- Cashback. You can get cashback at selected retailers with various Barclays accounts – you can choose among 150 retailers, so there should be something in it for all tastes.
- Multiple ways to bank. You can pop into a branch, or sort out your banking on the phone, online or using the mobile app.
- Mobile banking app. For a traditional bank, Barclays has a pretty decent banking app – nothing too fancy, but it does allow you to tag and categorise your spending and also see balances and transactions in accounts you have with other banks.
- Global acceptance. Barclays’ debit cards are on the Visa network, so card acceptance won’t really be an issue – you can use them to make purchases pretty much anywhere in the world.
- Round the clock assistance. If you’re dealing with an emergency, for example because your card has been stolen while travelling, you can call Barclays 24/7 and someone will be able to assist you.
- A wide range of related products. One of the advantages of banking with a major institution like Barclays is that you can have all your money in one place, from your everyday current account to your mortgage.
- No in-credit interest.None of Barclays main current accounts pay interest on in-credit balances.
Opening an account with Barclays
To open an account with Barclays, you’ll have to provide the following information:
- How much you expect to pay in each month
- Your employment status and employer’s address
- Your salary details and any assets you have
- Your nationality/citizenship
- Your residency status/tax residence status
- Proof of identity (passport, driver’s licence, EEA or Swiss national identity card)
- Proof of address (utility bill, bank statement, tenancy agreement)
You can open a Barclays account online or by visiting a branch.
Our verdict
Barclays offers some great current accounts if you want to stay in credit and earn rewards for doing so. If Barclays’ current accounts are not for you, you can also compare other current accounts here.
Frequently asked questions
Banking ratings
★★★★★ — Excellent
★★★★★ — Good
★★★★★ — Average
★★★★★ — Subpar
★★★★★ — Poor
The customer satisfaction score ("Customers say") is based on a survey of 2,944 customers carried out in December 2022.
We show offers we can track - that's not every product on the market...yet. Unless we've said otherwise, products are in no particular order. The terms "best", "top", "cheap" (and variations of these) aren't ratings, though we always explain what's great about a product when we highlight it. This is subject to our terms of use. When you make major financial decisions, consider getting independent financial advice. Always consider your own circumstances when you compare products so you get what's right for you.
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