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HSBC student accounts review
HSBC offers a current account designed to help students with their studies.
Finder rating: ★★★★★
Check the account benefits and overdraft limits in our guide to opening an HSBC student account, and compare its offering with other student bank accounts.
Types of current accounts for students
HSBC has one current account available for students – the HSBC Student Bank Account.
Below, you’ll learn about the benefits and incentives associated with this account.
| Product Name | Student Bank Account |
|---|---|
| Card type | Cash / Debit |
| Debit network | Visa |
| Min. opening balance | £0.01 |
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
| Funding requirement | No minimum funding requirement |
| Daily cash machine limit | £300 |
| At end of term | Account transferred automatically to graduate account |
| Maximum overdraft in year 1 | £1,000 |
| Maximum overdraft in year 2 | £2,000 |
| Maximum overdraft in year 3 | £3,000 |
| Overseas card transactions | 2.75% |
| Overseas cash withdrawals | 2.75% conversion fee plus 2% cash fee |
| Key benefits | £80 cash reward, plus the choice of a £20 Uber Eats voucher or a year of unlimited next-day delivery with ASOS Premier, when 5 debit card transactions are made within a month of opening the account |
Eligibility
To be eligible for this account, you need to be at least 18 years old, with a confirmed place on a qualifying educational course in the United Kingdom. Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees all count as qualifying courses, as do several other qualifications.
On top of that, you’ll need to have lived in the UK for at least three years, and this must be your only student bank account.
How to open an account
You can apply for an HSBC Student Bank Account online or in-branch.
As part of your application, you’ll need to provide some basic personal details, financial details and information about your course.
Your 16-digit UCAS code will serve as proof that you’ve been accepted onto your course and you won’t be able to complete your application until you have this code.
The benefits
- Interest-free overdraft. You’ll be given an interest-free overdraft of £1,000 when you open the account. This can increase to a maximum limit of £2,000 in your second year and £3,000 in your final year.
- Option to apply for a credit card. HSBC also offers a student credit card. As a student current account holder with the bank, you’ll be eligible to apply.
- Incentives for opening and using the student account. You’ll get an £80 cash reward, plus your choice of a £20 Uber Eats voucher or a year of unlimited next-day delivery with ASOS Premier. All you’ll need to do is make 5 debit card transactions within a month of opening your account.
Pros and cons
Pros
- An interest-free overdraft, with a limit increasing up to £3,000.
- Incentives for opening and using the account.
Cons
- This account is not available to international students.
- This is not available to apprentices.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to get my student loan paid into this HSBC account?
No. This account comes with no regular funding requirements. See how that compares in our comparison of student accounts.
How much does it cost to use the HSBC student debit card overseas?
When you use your card overseas, you'll pay a non-sterling charge of 2.75%. For, example, if you spend the local equivalent of £250, you'll be charged £6.88.
Because it's a Visa, you'll find it's accepted pretty much anywhere that takes card payments.
Compare options for keeping costs down when spending abroad.
How much does it cost to withdraw cash overseas using the HSBC student debit card?
You'll pay a currency conversion fee of 2.75% plus a cash fee of 2%. For, example, if you take out the equivalent of £150, you'll be charged £4.13 plus the cash fee of £3.00. Withdraw 250 euros (that's around £211.49) at an ATM in Paris and it'll cost you £5.82 plus the cash fee of £4.23. Don't forget that the local cash machine provider may charge its own fee too.
Does HSBC's interest-free student overdraft limit increase over time?
Yes. While the opening interest-free overdraft limit is capped at £1,000, this increases to a maximum of £3,000 in year three. Check out our full comparison of student accounts to see the interest-free overdrafts available to UK students with a breakdown of each account's limit in each year of your course.
Our verdict
There’s an interest-free overdraft with the HSBC Student Bank Account, which grows to a substantial £3,000 in your third year. There are also some incentives for opening and using this account, which currently include a cash reward.
There are other student accounts out there which offer a large overdraft along with a range of freebies or cashback offers and retail discounts, so it’s worth comparing all the student accounts on the UK market.
