Finder rating
★★★★★
Expert analysis
Customer rating
★★★★★
Satisfaction survey
Good range of account and app features
No saving pots or round-up spare change option
NatWest current accounts review
With NatWest, you can choose from a wide range of current accounts and get rewarded for paying your bills.
Whether you’re looking for a simple current account, a business account or one that rewards you with cashback, NatWest has plenty of options. It even runs generous switching bonus offers from time to time to attract new customers. NatWest carries all the advantages of a big, established bank, such as security, customer service and a network of branches if you prefer to deal with your bank in person.
Compare NatWest’s current accounts
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Types of current accounts from NatWest
NatWest current accounts come with many different options and features, so you have good chances of finding something that suits your needs.
Standard accounts
NatWest’s Select account is a simple option that makes it easy to manage your finances and doesn’t have a monthly fee.
Reward and incentive accounts
NatWest gives you cashback on your bills and travel insurance, but it does have a monthly fee, so make sure you compare your options and get the best deal.
Premium accounts
NatWest Premier accounts offer a series of benefits, such as worldwide travel insurance. However, Premium accounts are only available if you have a certain annual income or amount of savings, so you’ll have to check if you meet the criteria first.
Student accounts
NatWest’s student account offers a decent overdraft option and often has seasonal incentives. However, if these perks don’t appeal to you, you can check and compare our selection of other student accounts.
Children’s accounts
With NatWest’s children account, children between 11 and 17 can manage their pocket money easily and safely. However, if your children are younger and you want them to get an early start at budgeting, you can compare the alternatives on our dedicated page – some accounts can be opened when they are as young as seven.
Business accounts
There are 4 business accounts to choose from with NatWest. The bank offers a straightforward business account for those that either have been trading for over a year with a turnover below £1, million or have a turnover above £1 million and have been trading for less than a year. NatWest also offers a free mobile account for sole traders or limited companies with up to two owners and a balance of up to £100,000, a start-up account for those trading for less than a year with a turnover of less than £1 million, and a community account for not-for-profit organisations.
NatWest customer reviews
NatWest was ranked 7th 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 82% said they’d recommend the current account service. Users highlighted the bank’s reliability and its easy-to-use smartphone app. Here’s what some of those NatWest customers had to say in our survey:
“Had an account for 20 years and they’ve always been reliable.”
“It’s a current account that just simply works and I have no problems with it. Excellent mobile app and online banking.”
“A good app and a efficient service.”
The NatWest app has a rating of 4.8 out of 5 from around 420,000 reviews on the App Store. On Google Play, the app has a score of 4.6 from around 327,000 Android app users (November 2023).
Pros and cons of banking with NatWest
- Perks. Different NatWest current accounts come with different perks, but in general, you have a good range of options to choose from, including cashback on bills, travel insurance, mobile phone insurance and car insurance (breakdown cover).
- Multiple ways to bank. With NatWest you can manage your account online 24/7, but you can also register to telephone banking or discuss your option in person at your local branch.
- Mobile banking app. NatWest’s mobile app has a clean design and allows you to manage all your NatWest accounts in the same place – including the business ones.
- Global acceptance. NatWest’s cards are all either Mastercard or Visa, so you won’t really have to worry about where you can use them and where you can’t.
- Round the clock assistance. Got robbed of your card during your dream holiday in the Caribbean? No worries, if you need support, you can call NatWest’s customer service 24/7 and they’ll help you out.
- Earn cashback through MyRewards. If you opt for a Reward current account, you’ll be able to earn cashback with selected NatWest partner brands or even just when you pay direct debits from your account and use the app regularly.
- Switching bonus. You might be able to earn a cash incentive if you move your main bank account to NatWest from another banking group.
- No interest paid on account balances. While NatWest can offers some decent perks, unfortunately it doesn’t usually pay interest on account balances.
- Monthly fees. Its reward and premium accounts come with monthly fees.
- Eligibility. You have to meet certain criteria to take advantage of the perks on NatWest’s reward and premium accounts, so make sure you read the small print.
Opening an account with NatWest
To open an account with NatWest, you’ll have to provide the following information:
- Your personal details and address history
- How much you expect to pay in each month
- Your salary details and any assets you have
- Your nationality/citizenship
- Proof of identity (passport, driving license, EEA or Swiss national identity card)
- Proof of address (utility bill, bank statement)
You can open a NatWest account online or by visiting a branch.
Our verdict: Is a current account from NatWest worth it?
NatWest has a broad range of bank accounts, from simple current accounts to those that come with perks such as cashback or travel insurance. The reward accounts tend to come with fees, so you might want to work out if you will earn enough cashback to make it worth it. To benefit from the cashback, you need to pay a certain amount into the account each month or have a certain level of income, so make sure you understand the rules. Unlike some top current accounts, NatWest doesn’t pay interest on balances. If NatWest’s 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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