Basic Current Account

There’s no monthly fee to maintain the account. 
The Fee Information Document details the main fees and charges on this account. For further explanation of our main terms and services take a look at our Glossary

There’s no overdraft facility available with this account. 

This means we won't normally let you make a payment out of the account if there isn’t enough money in it. However, there may be times where you make a payment that we can't stop, which will take the account balance below zero. We won't charge you for this.

Overdrafts depend on your circumstances and you must repay any overdraft when we ask in line with our General Terms and Conditions.

You’ll be automatically set up to receive text alerts when:

• your balance falls below zero
• you have regular payments due on your account for which you have insufficient funds to cover, we will ask you to pay into your account to ensure these payments are made;
• where a payment is refused as you don’t have enough funds.

If we don’t have a valid mobile number for you, we might not be able to reach you.

You can also register for other account alerts to help you to stay on top of your finances. For example, alerts to advise you when your balance has fallen below a set limit, or you have had a deposit into your account greater than a set amount. 

For more information visit Account alerts
You can manage your alerts settings at any time by using Online Banking, calling us on 0800 9 123 123 or visiting a branch.
 

Once you know how much money you’ll need for your bills or other payments you can transfer any money to and from your top-up card by:  

• Logging on to Online and Mobile Banking
• Calling us on 0800 9 123 123 (+44 1908 237 963 outside the UK)
• Visiting any Santander branch or ATM

You’ll only be able to spend or withdraw the amount of money you’ve transferred onto the card. Once you have the money on the card, you can use it to:

• make purchases online, or in stores 
• make cash withdrawals using any UK Link cash machine or Cirrus ATMs worldwide 

Fees may apply when you withdraw cash from outside the UK or make purchases in any other currency than pounds. 

To prevent the account going overdrawn, you won’t be able to set up or make certain payments on the top-up debit card, including:

• Contactless payments
• Automated/pay at pump petrol stations – but you will be able to pay over the counter at petrol stations
• Car hire
• Parking or vending machines
• Recurring and instalment transactions (for example magazine subscriptions). These are a series of payments made using your card number. If you want to switch your account from another bank to the Basic Current Account, we won't be able to move any existing recurring payments.

You can use this card to withdraw money from an ATM or Santander branch, as long as you have enough money in your account. You can’t use this card to spend in shops or online. 
You’ll also find your bank account details on this card so that you can use them to set up:

• Direct Debits
• Standing orders
• Faster payments
• International payments 
• Benefit payments

• You’re 16 or over
• You live in the UK
• You don’t already have a Basic Current Account, or more than one other current account with Santander

24/7 banking on all your accounts. You can amend your statement settings and set up personalised account alerts. 

• Online Banking
• Mobile Banking

Face-to-face support in branch and UK-based telephone support

• In branch
• Telephone Banking
• ATM
• Post Office to make withdrawals, balance enquiries, cash deposits and cheque deposits

Keep your banking details private and secure.

For more information about our approach to security as well as more useful information to help you stop the threat of fraud visit our Security Centre.

Visit help and support