Essentials Current Account

There’s a £1 monthly fee to maintain the account. We take it from your account automatically each month.

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 are other charges with this account, such as when you use your card abroad. Please refer to the Terms and Conditions for details.

There’s no overdraft facility available with this account, however there may be circumstances where you make a payment that we’re unable to prevent which will take your account into a negative balance. In these cases, you won’t incur Unarranged Overdraft Usage fees or fees for allowing a payment despite lack of funds on this account. In all other circumstances, we won’t allow the payment to go through and you’ll be charged a £10 fee for refusing a payment due to lack of funds.

There is an Unarranged Overdraft Fee Cap of £50 in each monthly statement period on fees for refusing a payment due to lack of funds.

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

We’ll automatically send you alerts about your balance and payments. For example, when your balance falls below zero, a payment has gone unpaid or you need to pay money in to cover a payment. We’ll send alerts as texts to the mobile number you’ve registered with us. If you have Mobile Banking we may send you alerts as notifications there. 

From 18 December 2019, we’ll no longer automatically register accounts to receive these alerts by email, but we will send them by text if you’ve provided a mobile number. If you already receive these alerts by email, this will continue.

You can manage your alert settings through Online Banking, calling us on 0800 9 123 123 or visiting a branch. 

• Online Banking
• Mobile Banking
• Contactless payments: link your Santander debit or credit card to your Apple, Android or Samsung device
• 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

This account doesn't pay interest.

Visit help and support

• You’re 18 or over and have a UK residential address 
• You’ve moved to the UK within the last 12 months
• You can provide proof of study or employment in the UK

You can only have one Essentials Current Account, either in your own name or in joint names.
You must use the Essentials Current Account as your main current account.

• Proof that you’ve been accepted in the UK with a higher education provider for a minimum of 1 year. This can be a letter of acceptance/admission from the university/college/school confirming UK study details (name, course details, dates and current UK address).  Alternatively, you can provide a letter of introduction for UK banking facilities from the university/college/school, or a student ID card issued by a recognised UK university.

• Proof of employment from a company registered in the UK. This can be a contract or HR letter from a searchable company registered in the UK stating the customer’s UK address in full.

In addition to your proof of study or employment in the UK you'll also need to bring proof of your name and address – see a list of acceptable identification (pdf)