These accounts are the ones which come with the extra perks. Either you go “premium” where you pay a monthly fee for extras like travel insurance or a weekly Greggs sausage roll (IYKYK), or you go “premier”, where how much your salary is or the money you hold with your bank unlocks a raft of benefits.
The UK’s best premium bank accounts for 2026 ranked by expert score
Rank
Product
Finder score
1
Lloyds Bank Club Lloyds
9.8/10
2
Santander Edge Up
9.6/10
3
Barclays Premier Current Account
9.5/10
4
Monzo Max
9.2/10
5
HSBC Premier
9/10
6
NatWest Premier Reward
8.9/10
7
Revolut Ultra
8.6/10
Our experts have analysed and ranked the features and services of the premium UK bank accounts we’ve reviewed on our site. We’ve examined app ratings, monthly fees, eligibility criteria, overseas fees, customer service, payment features and given a bonus for extra services. You can check out our best premium bank accounts below, where we’ve explained what’s great about each one, including some pros and cons and standout features.
What benefits does a premier bank account offer?
Premier bank accounts are usually offered by traditional banks (think Barclays, HSBC and the like). Each account has its own sets of perks, but here are some of the features you can expect:
Some kind of insurance. For example you might get free travel insurance for you and your family.
Interest-free arranged overdraft. Up to a certain limit, say £500.
Special offers on other banking products. For example you might be offered a higher interest rate on your savings, or better conditions on a mortgage or a loan.
Higher account limits. Such as a higher limit on daily ATM withdrawals.
Dedicated customer service. Big banks often have a dedicated customer service team to support their premier customers.
International banking. If you travel a lot, you might also be able to get a premier international bank account, which will allow you to hold different currencies at the same time. Alternatively, the premier account might come with free international bank transfers.
How much do premier and premium bank accounts cost?
Premier bank accounts don’t usually charge a monthly fee. They are a way for banks to reward you for your loyalty and for being a “big” customer. This doesn’t mean that there are no fees at all though. So check the terms and conditions carefully before applying. For example, there might be fees for making payments abroad. Banks might also run switching promotions from time to time where you can earn a bonus for switching to a premier account.
Premium accounts, on the other hand, will charge a monthly fee in exchange for the perks you get. However, the idea is that the annual value of all the benefits you receive will outweigh the annual amount you pay in monthly fees. Plus you get to use the account for all your everyday banking needs too. From time to time, banks also run switching deal promotions where you can be rewarded with a bonus if you switch to a packaged account.
How can you qualify for a premier bank account?
Every bank has slightly different eligibility criteria, but generally speaking, you will need to hold a significant sum with the bank offering the premier account. This will usually mean having at least £50,000, or perhaps even £100,000, in either a current, savings or investment account with the same bank.
With some banks, you might also need a high annual income that you will pay into the account (think £75,000 or higher) or you might need to already have a substantial mortgage with that provider (potentially £500,000 or more).
Because these accounts come with overdraft facilities, applying involves a credit check. A bank may tailor your overdraft limit according to your credit history. If you don’t know your credit score you can check it for free and view your credit report through Finder.
All of this means that premier bank accounts won’t be for everyone. As we’ve already mentioned, if you can’t qualify but would still like a comprehensive current account with a lot of extra perks, you could consider a premium account or another type of packaged bank account. They come with a monthly fee but offer all kinds of extra features and insurances. More info about them is in this guide.
Should I go for a premier bank account?
It depends – and you’ll need to meet the eligibility criteria first. The perks included in premier bank accounts can be enticing, but they are definitely not worth changing your overall financial strategy for. If you are uncertain, just leave them out of the equation for a second and consider everything else.
For example, would you want to have most of your savings or investments with the same bank as your current account anyway? Or would you rather shop around and make sure you get the best deal in each scenario, even though it will be more time-consuming to manage your finances across multiple providers?
If you do decide to go for a premier bank account, compare options carefully. Check the fees and the perks, and ask about customer support and other banking products. For example, say you are thinking of buying a house in the near future, will the premier account also come with a better deal on your mortgage?
Finally, keep in mind that anything above the first £120,000 you hold with the same bank in a current account or a savings account will not be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which is a big safety net in case anything were to go wrong with the bank. It may not be worth losing that protection over the comparatively small perks of a premium bank account.
Pros and cons of a premier bank account
Pros
Extra free perks and benefits, such as free travel insurance.
You'll often get more dedicated customer service compared to a standard customer.
Better deals on other banking products, such as mortgages.
Keeping all your money with the same bank can make it easier to manage everything.
Cons
You'll usually need to be a high earner and hold a large amount of money with the bank to be eligible.
Being loyal to the same bank may mean missing out on better deals elsewhere.
If you deposit over the FSCS limit, your money may not be entirely protected.
Bottom line
If you’re looking to put a large sum of money into one account, a premier bank account could be a good option if you meet the eligibility criteria. Perks available include special offers, rewards and higher account limits, but your money may not be fully protected if your funds exceed £120,000. However, if you like having all your finances in the same place, it could be the one for you.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can. However, the eligibility criteria might be slightly different. For example, the minimum sum you need to hold with the bank to qualify might be higher, as there will be 2 account holders.
Yes you can, as long as you qualify for it of course. The switch will be handled by the banks involved and will be completed within 7 working days, thanks to the Current Account Switch Service. Just keep in mind that this switching service is only for current accounts, while anything else (savings accounts, etc) will have to be moved manually.
It depends on the bank. If you are an existing customer and already meet the criteria, you should be able to apply online pretty easily. If you are planning to switch, you might have to visit a branch in some cases (for example to provide a proof of ID).
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. Most of the data in Finder's comparison tables is provided by Defaqto. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
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To make sure you get accurate and helpful information, this guide has been reviewed by
Rachel Wait, a member of Finder's
Editorial Review Board.
Kate Steere is an editor and money expert at Finder, specialising in banking, savings and fintech. She has previously written for The Motley Fool UK and Fitch Solutions, where she covered a wide range of personal finance topics and kept a close eye on market trends. Kate has a Bachelor of Arts in Modern History from the University of East Anglia. When not working, she can usually be found curled up with a good book or heading out for a run.
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Michelle Stevens is a deputy editor at Finder, specialising in banking, credit, loans and mortgages. She has a journalism degree from the University of Sheffield and has been a journalist for 15 years, writing on topics including fintech, payment systems and retail. In her spare time, Michelle likes to travel, explore new foodie experiences and attempt to improve her own culinary skills.
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Finder.com is an independent comparison platform and information service that aims to provide you with the tools you need to make better decisions. While we are independent, the offers that appear on this site are from companies from which Finder receives compensation. We may receive compensation from our partners for placement of their products or services. We may also receive compensation if you click on certain links posted on our site. While compensation arrangements may affect the order, position or placement of product information, it doesn't influence our assessment of those products. Please don't interpret the order in which products appear on our Site as any endorsement or recommendation from us. Finder compares a wide range of products, providers and services but we don't provide information on all available products, providers or services. Please appreciate that there may be other options available to you than the products, providers or services covered by our service.
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