Opening a bank account with someone else is not for the faint of heart. It may not be as romantic as a ring, but it’s still a pretty big commitment. We also have a guide on joint savings accounts if you are looking to save money for an extended period of time and earn interest on the balance.
| Bank | Best for | Finder score |
|---|---|---|
| Starling Bank | Best all rounder and for overseas spending | 9.6/10 |
| Monzo | Best for budgeting tools | 9.8/10 |
| TSB Spend & Save | Best for cashback | 7.1/10 |
| Lloyds Classic | Best for payment features | 8.9/10 |
| Revolut | Good for spending together in the app | 9.1/10 |
Starling Current Account - Age 18 and over
9.6 Excellent| Minimum opening balance | £0 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
Overall, Starling's current account is a strong choice. It has a lot to recommend it. As one of the largest digital-only banks, it has built a service which has a variety of payments and budgeting features which help couples or flatmates to manage their joint funds. These include spending insights and instant payment notifications, so you can see who has spent what, and where. Meanwhile, saving spaces help you both save towards a shared goal like a holiday or a new piece of furniture.
Then, once you hit that holiday savings goal, you can then take advantage of fee free spending abroad. With Starling Bank, you can both pay on card or withdraw cash abroad without being charged. Considering foreign transaction fees are usually around 2.99%, this can be quite a saving. On top of this, Starling passes on Mastercard's real exchange rates, so you can get more for your money.
Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 15% EAR variable.
| Minimum opening balance | £0 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
Monzo Free Account
9.8 ExcellentMonzo's joint account wants to help you manage your money better through a variety of budgeting tools. Automatic spending categories generate daily, weekly or monthly spending insights, which helps you set budgets. The app alerts you when payments go in and out of your account, and you'll be able to see who's made each transaction. Monzo will also tell you if your direct debits are going to be higher for the upcoming month, helping you to avoid nasty surprises. You can create a Joint Pot to ring-fence money for savings goals or to cover bills, keeping it separate from your main account to make sure they are paid. You'll both need a regular Monzo account to open a joint account together, but this will only take a few minutes in the app.
Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39% EAR variable.
TSB Spend & Save Account
7.1 GreatThis account from TSB has no monthly fee and you’ll earn £5 cashback each month you make at least 20 debit card payments, for the first 6 months. You can choose to have an overdraft on the account and you can set aside money in different savings pots for different purposes. In addition, the Save the Pennies feature rounds up all debit card payments to the nearest £1 and transfers the difference into your savings. You can open your account online in just 15 minutes and it can be managed online, via mobile banking or over the phone.
Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39.9% EAR variable.
Lloyds Bank Classic Account
8.9 Great| Minimum opening balance | £1 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
Making payments is one of the essential services we want from our current account. Lloyds' joint account does this and much more. It has a strong branch presence where both of you can make cash deposits and cheque deposits. It also allows you to make and receive international payments. Beyond these basic services, it also has its Everyday Offers cashback programme where you can earn up 15% cashback and you can set up a joint budget each month.
As they are also part of the Lloyds Banking Group, you'll find that Halifax and Bank of Scotland have much of the same payment features.
Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39.9% EAR variable.
| Minimum opening balance | £1 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
Revolut Standard Account
9.1 ExcellentRevolut’s joint account is a good option if you want to take advantage of all the banking app has to offer. If you both have a Revolut account, you can apply for a joint account in 3 easy steps. What features you have will depend on whether you have a Standard, Plus, Premium, Metal or Ultra plan. What’s definite is that you’ll be able to jointly manage your finances with Revolut’s budgeting tools, make payments with 2 separate cards for the account and hold various currencies in sub-accounts if you’ve both got the travel bug. As standard, Revolut lets you split bills easily to pay friends, view your spending habits with payment analytics and save money through its Savings Vaults.
first direct 1st Account
8.2 GreatThe 1st Account from First Direct can be opened in minutes and account holders can benefit from a £250 interest-free overdraft. You’ll also be able to spend on your debit card overseas fee-free and get access to the First Direct regular saver account. There are no monthly account fees either. You can apply for the account if you’re 18 or over and a UK resident. Applications are completed online as First Direct has no bank branches. Both applicants will need to provide their address history for the past 3 years, employment details and income details.
Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 0% EAR variable.
Royal Bank of Scotland Select Account
8.7 Great| Minimum opening balance | £0.01 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
The RBS everyday Select bank account has no monthly fee and you can choose to have an arranged overdraft on the account. Both applicants need to be at least 18 years old and a UK resident. You can apply for the account online, but if you’re a new customer, one of you will need to open the account and then add the second applicant. You can use the RBS mobile app to help you budget, categorise your transactions, regularly check your credit score and even view your balances and transactions from other bank accounts.
Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 39.49% EAR variable.
| Minimum opening balance | £0.01 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
HSBC Advance Bank Account
| Minimum opening balance | £0 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
This account from HSBC could be a good option for those looking to open a joint account thanks to its smart money tools to help you watch your spending and stay on top of your finances. Its handy app lets you check your balance and send money quickly and easily. Plus you can pay in cheques just by scanning them with your phone, get instant notifications when money goes in or out of your account, and budget more easily by seeing how much money you have left once the bills have been paid. You will also get a minimum arranged overdraft offer of £1,000 when you open an account, which could come in useful if an unexpected bill takes you into the red. What's more, account holders can also benefit from discounts at places like Costa and ASOS through the home&Away offers programme. Opening a joint account can easily be completed online.
Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 0% EAR variable.
| Minimum opening balance | £0 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
Bank of Scotland Basic Account
| Minimum opening balance | £0 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
The Classic Account from Bank of Scotland charges no monthly fee and pays interest on balances of up to £5,000 with the free Vantage add-on. What’s more, account holders can earn cashback of up to 15% when they use their debit card or pay by direct debit at certain retailers. The account’s Save the Change feature rounds up card payments to the nearest pound and transfers the difference into savings, while you can also have an arranged overdraft on the account. You can open a joint account via internet or mobile banking if you are both existing Bank of Scotland customers. Otherwise you will need to open the account in branch.
| Minimum opening balance | £0 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
Barclays Bank Account
8 Great| Minimum opening balance | £1 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
This everyday bank account from Barclays can be opened on a joint basis. There’s no monthly account fee, but you can pay to add travel insurance, breakdown cover and gadget insurance to the account if you wish. The account includes an optional overdraft as well as a travel wallet that lets you buy US dollars and euros to spend on your debit card. It’s easy to apply for the account online, but both account holders must be at least 18 years old and have lived in the UK for the last 12 months.
Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 0% EAR variable.
| Minimum opening balance | £1 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
The Co-operative Bank Current Account
7.6 Great| Minimum opening balance | £0 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
If you and your partner are looking for a more ethical way to bank, this everyday account from the Co-operative could be the answer. There’s no monthly fee and you can manage your account online and via your mobile. Each account holder will get their own contactless debit card and you’ll have access to exclusive savings accounts. It takes around 10 minutes to complete the online application form to open the account, or you can apply in branch if preferred. You must be at least 16 years old (18 if you want an overdraft) and a UK resident.
Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 35.9% EAR variable.
| Minimum opening balance | £0 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
Halifax Basic Account
| Minimum opening balance | £0 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
The free everyday bank account from Halifax includes an optional overdraft and a debit card for each account holder. You’ll get up to 15% cashback whenever you spend with your debit card at certain retailers, as long as you activate the offers in your app. In addition, the Save the Change feature rounds up your card payments and transfers the difference to your Halifax savings account. You can open a joint account via internet or mobile banking if you are both existing Halifax customers. Otherwise you will need to open the account in branch.
| Minimum opening balance | £0 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
Metro Bank Current Account
7.3 Great| Minimum opening balance | £0 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
This account from Metro Bank has no monthly fee and can be opened online in just 10 minutes. It’s a straightforward bank account, so there are no rewards or cashback available. However, you can use the app to receive alerts every time your debit card is used, while the Insights feature can identify patterns, trends and upcoming payments to create personalised reports. You can also freeze your card if you misplace it and unfreeze it again when found. The account - and therefore your money - is protected under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 34% EAR variable.
| Minimum opening balance | £0 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
Nationwide FlexAccount
8.6 GreatThe FlexAccount from Nationwide has no monthly fee and includes an optional overdraft. Opening an account gives you access to exclusive savings accounts with Nationwide, but as this is an everyday bank account, there are no rewards or perks. To open the account, you must be at least 18 years old and a UK resident. You can apply online and you will both need to provide information such as your address history, employment details and any financial dependants. You can bank online, via the app, over the phone or in branch.
Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200, you'll be charged interest at 0% EAR variable.
Virgin Money M Account
| Minimum opening balance | £0.01 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
The Virgin Money M account is a free current account that can be opened on a joint basis. You’ll need to both be at least 18 years old and a UK resident to apply and you can do this easily online. The account pays interest on balances up to £1,000 and gives you access to a free linked saver account. What’s more, there are no fees for spending or withdrawing cash on your debit card abroad. A further benefit is that you can earn cashback on your spending at selected brands and on Virgin travel insurance.
| Minimum opening balance | £0.01 |
|---|---|
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
To come up with our Finder ratings and picks for the best bank accounts in the UK, our team looked at every free-to-use current account and scored them across 8 key areas.
We looked at their app scores in the Google Play Store and the App Store, their monthly fees, their transaction fees for things like ATM withdrawals or having your bank card delivered, their customer satisfaction scores including how they were ranked in our Finder survey, their account access including in-branch and online, their payment features and their extra features like spending categories or reward programmes.
We scored each category out of 5. For example, if a bank account had no fees for transactions like direct debits, card purchases, deposits and withdrawals, it would score 5 out of 5. To calculate our Finder rating, we averaged out all these scores and rounded them to the nearest half star.
You’ll also see accounts we picked as being outstanding in certain categories, such as the best bank account for overseas spending or the best bank account for payment features. What you need from a bank account is personal, so these picks are just a guide to help you with your decision.
A joint bank account is a current account held by more than one person at the same time. The limit is usually two, although there are some banks that allow more people to open an account together.
There are multiple reasons for opening a joint account, but basically, it can be a good idea when you already share some kind of money commitment with someone else: for example, if you have to pay the rent, the bills or a mortgage together.
A joint bank account works just like a regular current account. Standard features include a debit card, online and app-based banking, direct debits, standing orders and an overdraft facility. There are also joint business bank accounts to help with running a business.
These days, most banks allow you to apply for a joint current account online. Both of you will need to provide your personal details and to have your identity verified. Depending on the bank you’re applying with and whether you’re also requesting an overdraft, you may also have to go through a credit check.
In some cases, once you’ve completed the application form, you may be asked to pop into a branch and provide some form of proof of identity and proof of address. That’s usually when the bank is unable to verify your identity online.
The functioning of a joint account is governed by a document (generally referred to as a “mandate”) that details who can do what with the account. Both account holders will have to sign it.
Once the account is open, you’ll be able to register for online banking, download the app and fund the account. You should also receive your debit card and PIN within a few days.
From time to time banks offer switching bonuses if you close down your old account and switch to a new one. This also applies to joint accounts. Learn more about the latest switching deals and which banks are offering them.
Spend & Save | 5 | Yes | ||
Barclays Bank Account | 4* | Yes | ||
Current Account | 4 | Yes | ||
Current Account | 3 | Yes | ||
Classic Account | 2 | Yes | ||
1st Account | 2 | Yes | ||
Current Account | 2 | Yes | ||
Advance Bank Account | 6 | Yes | ||
Classic Account | 2 | Yes | ||
Current account | 2 | N/A | ||
FlexDirect Current Account | 2 | Yes | ||
NatWest Select | 2 | Yes | ||
Standard account | 2 | N/A | ||
Royal Bank Select | 2 | Yes | ||
Everyday current account | 2 | Yes | ||
Starling Personal | 2 | No | ||
Current account | 2 | Yes | ||
Select account | 2 | Yes | ||
M Plus Account (Age 16-17) | 2 | No | ||
Current Account | 1 | N/A |
The reason why sharing a current account is such a big commitment is that both people have the same right to access the money in it. As a consequence, once you fund the account, you’re relinquishing control over your money and sharing it with another person. Doing this entails two sets of risks:
For these reasons, you should only open a joint account with someone who you trust completely and with whom you share a similar money management style. It’s also a good idea to have a conversation at the very beginning on how much you’re going to pay into the account and what you’re going to use the money for.
If things go wrong and you have a disagreement with your other account holder(s), then the first step you may want to consider is to cancel the account’s “mandate”, the document that details who can do what with the account. By doing this you freeze the account, which means that none of the account holders (including you) can withdraw the money.
This should give you time and space to resolve the dispute. Your bank or building society will only unlock the account once you convince it that you have agreed on how to split the money.
Sadly, if you can’t come to an agreement about how to split the money in the account, your only remaining option is to take legal action through the courts, which is likely to be expensive and messy.
The introduction of the Personal Savings Allowance (PSA) in April 2016 means that basic rate taxpayers can earn £1,000 in savings interest per year without paying tax. Higher rate taxpayers can earn £500 in savings interest per year before paying tax, while additional rate taxpayers do not get a PSA.
The PSA covers interest earned in bank accounts, savings accounts, and bonds. With joint accounts, the interest is usually split equally between both account holders and goes towards each account holder’s respective allowance.
To help you find the best joint bank account, you’ll need to work out what’s most important to you. For example, if you are planning to use your account to pay household bills, you might want to look for one that pays cashback on those bills. Or you might want an account that pays interest on your balance.
You will also need to consider whether you’re likely to need an overdraft. If so, you’ll want an account that charges a low rate of interest or offers an interest-free overdraft buffer.
If a few of you are planning to open a joint account, check the maximum number of account holders permitted – this is usually between two and four people. You might also want to check whether all account holders need to authorise transactions, or whether just one of you can.
If one account holder loses mental capacity, providers in England and Wales can choose to temporarily freeze a joint account. This would involve blocking debit cards, withdrawals, online banking and direct debits.
One way around this is to appoint a power of attorney in advance, which allows someone else to make decisions on your behalf should you lose your mental capacity. If you lose your mental capacity before being able to do this, a deputy must be appointed by the Court of Protection. This can take several months and it can be expensive.
In Scotland, banks must allow the other account holders to continue to use the account under the Incapacity Scotland Act, so long as it was set up on an either-to-sign basis.
In Northern Ireland the process will vary depending on the provider.
What happens if you break up as a couple, or if you move out and don’t need an account with your flatmate anymore? Well, as long as you both agree on this, there’s nothing to worry about. You can split the money left in the account, move it back to your individual current accounts and then close the joint account.
In order to do so, you’ll usually need to visit a branch together and bring your debit card and proof of identity.
If you disagree on how to split the money, you can get in touch with the bank to cancel the mandate. The bank will then freeze the account until all the parties involved reach an agreement.
A third of Brits (34%) - an estimated 18.5 million people - have withheld important information about their finances from their partner in a current or previous relationship. Finder research also found that, in more than half of UK relationships (53%), one person is dealing with all of the financial tasks.
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A joint bank account is a good idea if you need your funds or savings to co-exist with someone else. So long as you find the right bank, trust the other person’s financial commitments, set out some ground rules and are aware of the potential impact it could have on your ability to borrow money, it should be smooth sailing.
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