Finder rating: ★★★★★
Santander Edge Student account review
Our verdict
Santander's current account for students comes with a range of benefits to help you with your studies.
The Santander Edge Student Account is a great all-round choice for students. It offers an interest-free overdraft and a sign up incentives. Get started by visiting Santander's website and open an account. If you have read this review and decided that this account is not for you, you can also compare other student bank accounts here.
Pros
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Interest-free overdraft;
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Free 16-25 railcard when you sign up.
Cons
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Not available to international or postgraduate students;
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Account has a minimum funding requirement;
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There are other student accounts with larger overdrafts.
Find out more about Santander’s student bank account option in our review, including how to apply for an account, what features and benefits it comes with, and what interest-free overdraft is available.
Rates, fees and limits
Santander has one current account available for students – the Santander Edge Student Current Account.
| Product Name | Santander Edge Student Current Account |
|---|---|
| Card type | Cash / Debit |
| Debit network | Mastercard |
| Minimum opening balance | £0.01 |
| Account fees | £0 |
| Interest (AER) | 0% AER |
| Funding requirement | Min. £500 per term |
| Daily cash machine limit | £300 |
| At end of term | Account transferred automatically to graduate account |
| Maximum overdraft in year 1 | £1,500 |
| Maximum overdraft in year 2 | £1,500 |
| Maximum overdraft in year 3 | £1,500 |
| Maximum overdraft in year 4 | £1,800 |
| Maximum overdraft in year 5 | £2,000 |
| Overseas card transactions | 2.95% |
| Overseas cash withdrawals | 2.95% |
Eligibility
To be eligible for a Santander Edge Student Current Account, you’ll need to be studying for an undergraduate course (for at least two years) or an apprenticeship (level 4 to 7).
You’ll also need to:
- be aged 18 or over;
- be permanently living in the UK;
- close or switch from any existing Santander bank account.
How to open an account
You can apply for an account once you’ve received an unconditional or a “confirmed conditional” offer.
You can open an account online or in-branch.
When registering an account, you’ll need to provide a few personal details, financial details and proof of your course, including your UCAS number.
Benefits
- Interest-free overdraft. With this account, you’ll get an interest-free overdraft of £1,500 for the first three years of your studies. You can increase this to £1,800 in year 4 and £2,000 in year 5, if your course lasts that long.
- Account opening incentives. Santander often runs account opening incentives where you can be rewarded for opening an account.
- Santander Boosts. Get cashback, vouchers, prize draws and other offers personalised to you.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Interest-free overdraft.
- Account opening incentives.
- Cashback and rewards with Santander Boosts.
Cons
- Not available to international or postgraduate students.
- Account has a minimum funding requirement.
- There are other student accounts with larger overdrafts.
Customer service information for Santander
| Email support | |
|---|---|
| Telephone support | |
| In-app or live chat | |
| Contact form | |
| Branch support |
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to get my student loan paid into this Santander account?
No, however the funding requirements of the account are min. £500 per term.
How much does it cost to use the Santander student debit card overseas?
When you use your card overseas, you'll pay a non-sterling charge of 2.95%. For, example, if you spend the local equivalent of £250, you'll be charged £7.38.
Because it's a Mastercard, you'll find it's accepted pretty much anywhere that takes card payments.
You may still be charged overseas fees however. For example, some cash machine operators when abroad may apply a direct charge for withdrawals from their cash machines (this should be advised on screen at the time of withdrawal).
Compare options for keeping costs down when spending abroad.
How much does it cost to withdraw cash overseas using the Santander student debit card?
You'll pay a currency conversion fee of 2.95%. For, example, if you take out the equivalent of £150, you'll be charged £4.43. Withdraw 250 euros (that's around £210.86) at an ATM in Paris and it'll cost you £6.22. Don't forget that the local cash machine provider may charge its own fee too.
Does Santander's interest-free student overdraft limit increase over time?
Yes. While the opening interest-free overdraft limit is capped at £1,500, this increases to a maximum of £2,000 in year five (£1,500 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.
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 has the source: Moneyfacts Group PLC. In other cases, Finder has sourced data directly from providers.
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