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Compare bank accounts for 3 or more people
There's no rule that says a joint account is just for 2.
Some banks offer joint accounts for 3 or more people. You’ll each get your own debit card linked to the account, and there generally aren’t extra charges or fees for this. This comparison is for personal accounts – we also have a joint business bank accounts guide. Our comparison table shows accounts that can be joint accounts, and below that, we’ve listed how many account holders or additional cardholders each bank allows.
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What is a joint account?
A joint bank account allows multiple joint account holders to deposit and withdraw money. Joint accounts most commonly have two account holders, but it is possible to have more. You can open a joint bank account with three, four or five people, or even more.
For current accounts, each account holder will have their own debit card that will let them make purchases and withdraw cash at ATMs. Each account holder will also be able to access the account online or via an app to transfer funds and keep an eye on transactions.
Joint bank accounts compared
To compile the information in the below table, we checked each bank’s website and terms and conditions, and also contacted the providers’ press teams where necessary.
| Bank | Account name | Max no. of account holders | Can you convert a sole to a joint account? | Both-to-sign account? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of Scotland | Classic Account | 2 | Yes | No |
| Barclays | Barclays Bank Account | 4* | Yes | No |
| Co-operative Bank | Current Account | 3 | Yes | No |
| First Direct | 1st Account | 2 | Yes | No |
| Halifax | Current Account | 2 | Yes | No |
| HSBC | Advance Bank Account | 6 | Yes | No |
| Lloyds Bank | Classic Account | 2 | Yes | No |
| Metro Bank | Current Account | 4 | Yes | No |
| Nationwide BS | FlexDirect Current Account | 2 | Yes | No |
| NatWest | NatWest Select | 2 | Yes | No |
| Royal Bank of Scotland | Royal Bank Select | 2 | Yes | No |
| Starling Bank | Starling Personal | 2 | No | No |
| TSB | Spend & Save | 5 | Yes | No |
| Virgin Money | M Plus Account | 2 | No | No |
*Barclays says: “There is no restriction on the number of parties that can set up a joint account with Barclays, though our recommendation is no more than 4 parties do so.” When conducting our research, we discovered that two of the above providers also enable you to add additional cardholders to your account. These cardholders are not joint account holders and won’t have full access to the account. The money in the account doesn’t belong to them (as it would with a joint account) and the account will only be in your name. For example, Starling Bank has a Connected card that you can give to a friend, family member or carer so they can buy whatever you need on your behalf. The money will come out of a designated Space in your bank account which means the additional cardholder won’t be able to access your whole account. Nor can they check the balance, withdraw cash or shop online. Meanwhile, Barclays lets you give up to 4 extra debit cards to other people which enable them to spend from your account. The additional cardholders can use their card for spending in shops, over the phone and online, as well as for cash withdrawals. But you can set spending limits and control the cards at all times. You can set up this service through the app, but the cardholders must already bank with Barclays. Having an extra cardholder could be ideal if you have a carer who needs to shop on your behalf or if you were ill and needed a friend to buy essentials for you. It means someone else can still access the funds in your account, and you can stay in control of what is spent where. Note that this is different to setting up a third party mandate which is a formal instruction from you to your bank or building society informing them that you want someone else to carry out everyday banking transactions on your behalf. Barclays also offers something known as an account supervisor. This works in a similar way to an additional cardholder, but you can give your friend or family member extra access to your account. This means they can see your balance as well as transactions, and you can choose to let them set controls on your debit card if you wish to. This can be a good option if you are concerned about scams or need help controlling your spending. Your friend or family member can help you manage your banking without the need to hand over full control of your account. If you want to open an account with 2 or more others, consider the following when comparing your options: When you’ve selected an account from the table above, click “Go to site” to check that the account allows the number of people you want to share it with, then complete the online application process. Each account holder will need to provide personal information. Banks may also require you to verify your identity using a passport or driver’s licence. From time to time, banks often run switching offers that pay you to close down your old account and switch to a new one. This can also apply to joint bank accounts. The need for more than two joint account holders most often arises in business situations, where partners, treasurers and other bookkeepers all need to be able to move money in and out of the account. In the case of youth accounts, it is not uncommon to find both parents listed as account holders as well as the child. This ensures that in the event that one parent is absent, the account is still accessible. People also commonly open joint accounts with: Generally, one person can close a joint bank account without the other’s permission. But some banks have stricter rules that require all joint owners to provide consent before closing. If you’re concerned about having the account closed without you knowing, look for a bank that requires all parties to close the account together. While 2 is the most common number when it comes to joint accounts, several banks allow you to add a third account holder or additional card holder. Compare savings accounts or current accounts to find one with the features you’re looking for before getting started. Finder scores, in blue, are based on our expert analysis. We also show reviews from users, where we've received more than 10, with a score in yellow. We gather more reviews from customers every year in Finder's customer satisfaction survey. To find out more, read our full methodology.
The data in this table was last checked on 7 March 2024.Additional cardholders
Account supervisors
How do I compare accounts that allow multiple joint account holders?
Pros and cons of having a joint account with multiple people
Pros
Cons
How to open a mutiple-holder bank account
Common reasons for opening an account for multiple people
Who can close a multiple-holder bank account?
Bottom line
Frequently asked questions
Banking scores
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