Great for building credit history and when others say 'no'.
4
If, like me, you've moved fairly recently to the UK and have had to start your credit and banking history from scratch, the Aqua Advance Credit Card is a good starting point. They say 'yes' where others say 'no' - probably best to try credit card application simulators to check your chances of getting accepted by any provider before collecting too many hits on your credit history. Applying and using your card is really simple and you'll get text and email reminders to pay your statement on time. The website is not the most intuitive of all, but after searching around a bit, you'll usually find what you need. After half a year of using the card responsibly and paying in full every month I asked for a credit limit increase which was promptly granted. The rates are very high, but if you always pay in full, it doesn't make that much difference since you're not paying them anyway. And in the meantime you'll be able to build your credit history and make way for getting better deals down the road.
Reviewed on: 26th August 2015
This no frills and no fees basic account is a good starting point, but in the long-term you'll want (and need) more.
3
Opening a Classic Account with Lloyds Bank was a very quick and straightforward process. I have been using this as my main bank account for over two years now and have been satisfied with the in-branch customer service, the home banking system and not having to pay monthly fees. It is a good option if you've just moved to the UK or can't get a more sophisticated account for some reason (e.g., unemployed or on a low income). When your circumstances change, you'll probably want a current account that pays decent interest and that gives you access to other perks.
Reviewed on: 26th August 2015
