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Santander: Basic current account reviews

Name: Basic current account
Rating: 4.12 (339 reviews)

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4.12

Based on 339 reviews, last reviewed 5th Sep 2026

82% decrease in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

200% increase in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

52%

20%

13%

12%

Latest highest rating:

4

Average bank, friendly staff I find the branch staff friendly Reviewed on: 14th June 2026

Latest lowest rating:

1

Title: I deeply regret switching to Santander I switched my personal banking to Santander, initially attracted by the £175 switching offer. My experience since then has been appalling, and I now h... Read more Reviewed on: 5th September 2026

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About this product

The Santander Basic current account is for people who’ve been turned down for another current account, have a poor credit history, or are new to the UK for work or study.

The Basic current account has a contactless debit card, basic banking facilities, mobile banking as well as no fees for using Santander cash machines abroad.

Santander Basic account reviews help you find out what it’s really like to be a customer. If you’ve used Santander before, you can also leave a review and share your experience.

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Santander Basic current account reviews (339)

Title: I deeply regret switching to Santander

I switched my personal banking to Santander, initially attracted by the £175 switching offer. My experience since then has been appalling, and I now have serious concerns about whether I can rely on Santander to provide me with access to my own money. I have previously spent weeks unable to properly access or use my account, spending hours on telephone calls trying to resolve matters. At points I had to rely on my business banking because I could not reliably access my personal funds. The latest incident has now started affecting my business. My father loaned me £2,000, transferring the money from his Santander current account into my Santander current account. I then attempted to transfer that £2,000 to my business, @mosferics, where it was urgently needed to bridge a cash-flow requirement. Santander stopped the payment for security checks. I have no objection to genuine fraud-prevention measures, but what followed has been extraordinary. I answered numerous questions about a legitimate payment and explained its urgency. I was told the matter would be reviewed. I have subsequently had my Online Banking access blocked and have now been told I must physically attend a Santander branch with my passport and bank card so that the branch can telephone the relevant department. On my latest call I spent 58 minutes trying to resolve this. I asked what would happen if I were abroad and therefore unable to visit a branch. I also asked what would happen if a customer were physically incapable of attending because of illness or injury, or was housebound. I was told a home visit could potentially be arranged if the branch offered that service. That answer concerns me enormously. I have previously experienced severe depression, although thankfully my life today could not be more different: I am mentally and physically well and enjoying life. But my past experience means I understand how overwhelming weeks without reliable access to your own money, hours of telephone calls and uncertainty could be for somebody already in a vulnerable or perilous situation. I have made a formal complaint to Santander (reference 14087679) and requested the recordings/transcripts of my calls through a data access request. I intend to review that evidence carefully and, if necessary, take my complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service. I am also shortly due to travel abroad. After this experience, I genuinely fear what would happen if Santander restricted my account again while I was outside the UK and unable to comply with a requirement to visit a branch. I understand why banks carry out fraud checks. My complaint is not that Santander asked security questions. It is what happens to a genuine customer after they cooperate with those checks. At present, £2,000 legitimately loaned to me remains unable to reach my business, my Online Banking access is blocked, and my confidence in Santander has been severely damaged. I deeply regret switching. Reviewed on: 5th September 2026

I was robbed of £1650 Santander said we cover fraud...

I was robbed of £1650 Santander said we cover fraud up to 100,000 and you got £1650 they said they don't cover many bad banks don't use them Reviewed on: 11th August 2026

Average bank, friendly staff

I find the branch staff friendly Reviewed on: 14th June 2026

Good bank helpful staff very keen to help

Good bank helpful staff very keen to help Reviewed on: 11th June 2026

Very good security and good online experience

Very good security and good online experience Reviewed on: 11th June 2026

just another bank nothing special

just another bank nothing special Reviewed on: 11th June 2026

Trustworthy banking

Always felt protected with Santander, a bank that truly looks out for you. Customer service is top notch online. They will always double check when you’re making big payments and warn you of scams on the rise. Been with them for years and probably always will be ! Reviewed on: 7th June 2026

Standard current account.

Standard current account. 0% interest on balances, with charges on an overdraft. Online banking is Ok and fairly easy to use Reviewed on: 23rd April 2026

All the team at Santander Tunbridge Wells are amazing

All the team at Santander Tunbridge Wells have been amazing over the last 7 months, helping us to settle a relatives estate. They were always helpful, listened well, and gave us the best service. Reviewed on: 17th April 2026

Good telephone banking.

Good telephone banking. Easy to use online banking. Easy to make bank transfers. Good online statements. Reviewed on: 17th April 2026

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