Packaged bank accounts

Comparing hundreds of products for each of your financial needs can be exhausting (we should know). So the idea of getting travel insurance, device insurance and breakdown cover with your bank account, all for one simple monthly fee, certainly sounds appealing.

Sometimes it can also be the cheapest choice, but a lot depends on your personal circumstances; we’ve broken down all the typical features of packaged bank accounts to help you figure it out.

What is a packaged bank account?

A packaged bank account is a current account that comes with a set of benefits and perks in return for a monthly fee.

The advantage is that you’re all sorted and don’t have to worry about purchasing insurance separately. The disadvantage is that it may not necessarily be the cheapest option.

Which benefits can I get with a packaged bank account?

It depends on the account, but you normally get a range of insurance options plus, in some cases, some extra rewards or perks.

Current accounts with travel insurance

Travel insurance is a standard feature of packaged accounts. Whether it’s cheaper purchasing it separately mostly depends on how often you travel.

You should also consider that in some cases, the travel insurance provided by the account has an age limit, so if you’re beyond that, you won’t be covered. Finally, always let your bank know if you have any pre-existing medical conditions because they may not be covered by the policy.

Current accounts with device insurance

Most packaged accounts also have device or mobile phone insurance. Depending on the cover, this means that if your phone (or laptop if included in the policy) is lost, damaged or stolen, you’ll be able to submit a claim and get some money back.

Needless to say, whether it’s worth ensuring your device will mostly depend on how much the device itself is worth. However, also consider the economic costs that could arise if you lost important data you had on your device (which of course will not happen because you have a full backup of those someplace safe… right?).

Current accounts with breakdown cover

Another common feature of packaged current accounts, breakdown cover is highly recommended if you drive often, especially if your not-so-new car has seen better days. Knowing that if it breaks down you can call for help without it costing you a fortune can give you great peace of mind.

However, breakdown cover is also a pretty standard car insurance feature, so you should definitely check that you aren’t already paying for it anyway.

Extra rewards

Some packaged accounts also allow you to earn extra rewards or discounts. Now, those won’t be enough to justify the monthly fee on their own, but it can help you make a choice if you’re unsure.

For example, you could be able to earn cashback on your household bills or get a discount when you shop at certain retailers.

Are packaged accounts worth it?

That’s the million dollar question. There’s no universal answer, but here are a few things you should think about that can help you figure it out:

• How much does the account cost per year? It’ll help you when it comes to comparing the account to purchasing insurance independently.
• Will you actually use the benefits? This can be broken down into: how often do you travel? Is your phone worth insuring? Do you drive at all?
• Are you already covered? Breakdown cover could be included in your car insurance, mobile insurance could come with home insurance if you have one, and some credit cards also offer travel insurance.
• Which level of cover do you need? Packaged accounts tend to provide high cover levels, but in many cases you may be just fine with a less comprehensive policy.
• How much will it cost to purchase insurance independently? The only way to find out is getting independent quotes for the insurance products you need and then compare the costs.

Finally, don’t forget that your time is worth something. If purchasing insurance independently will only save you a few pounds and is a much more of a hassle, it may be worth just going for the packaged account and forgetting about it.

Pros and cons of packaged bank accounts

Frequently asked questions

• Can I open a joint packaged account?

  Yes. It’s a good way of boosting your account benefits because the insurance provided will normally cover both account holders for the same fee.

• Can I get an overdraft?

  Packaged accounts work just like regular current accounts, so as long as you pass the credit checks you can usually get an overdraft quite easily.

• Can I claim back my packaged bank account fees?

  Packaged accounts have often been mis-sold in the past. If, for example, you’ve been paying the monthly fee even though you were unable to claim the benefits (say, because you’re over the age limit of the insurance policy provided), you may be able to claim the fee back. Try filing a complaint with your bank first; if it isn’t resolved in your favour, you can take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service.