Santander
Current account
Up to 15% cashback at a range of major retailers
Open your everyday current account with Santander today and get up to 15% cashback at a range of major retailers. T&Cs apply.
Loot bank review
No longer active after entering administration, Loot was a digital current account that wanted to help people manage spending.
What's in this review?
Loot recently entered administration after failing to receive backing from RBS. Loot had to call in administrators on May 22nd 2019 after attempts to raise new investment failed. A spokesperson for the administrators, said they were in “advanced negotiations” with a potential investor that could take over Loot’s service and prevent disruption to existing customers.
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What is Loot?
Founded in 2014, Loot offers a digital-only current account with built-in tech to help manage your money.
Aimed at millennials and students, it enables users to set budgets and keep on top of progress. So, if you set a monthly budget Loot will tell you what you need to spend today to hit that. It will continue to recalculate for you dynamically, so if you spend too much today you’ll have less to spend tomorrow.
If money is left over, it can be transferred to a ‘Loot Goal’ or spend on a treat.
It’s a way to streamline and manage your day to day spending while working towards bigger goals, such as holidays or larger purchases.
How does Loot work?
Using Loot allows you to budget, put money aside and pay using your contactless card. On the app you can:
- Budget: Set a daily, weekly, fortnightly, monthly, or make a custom budget. Loot will provide you with a daily spend limit so you can track your spending and save effectively. You can then see your budget in different time frames, so if you have a monthly budget Loot will tell you what you need to spend today to hit that.
- Spending Guide: Shows you how much you can spend each day, which sits in the budget circle. The circle will go from blue to yellow to orange to red, depending on whether you’re spending too fast.
- #LootGoals: Put money aside for goals and larger purchases by creating a Loot Goal. You can track your progress as you go.
- Go abroad: Use the live exchange rate and pay no additional charges when making purchases abroad in over 210 countries.
- Instant transaction list: View your spending real-time while keeping track of what you’re spending and where. When you make purchases abroad, Loot will convert your spending into GBP so you can see the current exchange rate.
- Pause/Unpause: You can pause your account if your card or phone gets lost or stolen. If your items are recovered, you can unpause the account and continue using your card.
- Spending insights (only on Android currently): You can see your total spend for each month and see a breakdown by category.
Loot’s fees and limits
- The first two ATM withdrawals are free each month, thereafter it is £1 per withdrawal.
- Maximum balance of £25,000
- Maximum ATM withdrawal: Daily is £250, monthly £3,000 and annually the limit is £15,000
- There is no monthly fee and the card itself, along with any replacement cards you may need, are free also.
Using Loot abroad
You can use your Loot card in any shop, hotel or bar, worldwide, that accepts Mastercard. Loot use the Mastercard wholesale rate to convert your pounds into foreign currency. This doesn’t incur any fees or charges.
Limits on the account do not change, regardless of whether you are in the UK or not.
Is Loot safe?
Your Loot card is a Mastercard and is protected by Mastercard rules.
Your money is kept in a separate, protected account and is available anytime you need it. However, your account isn’t covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.
This separate, protected account is controlled by Wirecard, the company who issues our Loot cards. In the unlikely event, Wirecard becomes insolvent, your money would be protected against any claims made by creditors.
Pros and cons of Loot
Pros
- Easy to manage and track your budgeting while factoring in goals.
- If you lost your phone you can still gain access to your account via Loot’s web app.
- Pause and unpause your card at any time.
- Set up an account in under eight minutes.
- In-app customer support
- Fee-free spending abroad
Cons
- Only the first two ATM withdrawals are free, cost is £1 thereafter.
- Limits on ATM withdrawals.
- Limit of £25,000 on balance.
- No bank branches is less ideal for those who prefer face-to-face customer service.
Compare Loot against its competitors
Frequently asked questions
Santander
Current account
Up to 15% cashback at a range of major retailers
Open your everyday current account with Santander today and get up to 15% cashback at a range of major retailers. T&Cs apply.
Starling
Award winner
Starling voted best British bank and current account
No branches, no fees, no paperwork. Get a smarter kind of bank account with the Best British Bank 2018 – all in under 3 minutes!
Plum
Money manager
Grow your money with Plum
Check out Plum App now and save money easily. T&Cs apply.
Ask an Expert
Can i use the Loot card in Bulgaria?
Hi Tracey,
Thanks for your inquiry.
Yes. As per Loot, you can use your Loot card at millions of shops, hotels, and bars around the world – look out for the Mastercard Acceptance Mark.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards,
Bella