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Santander: Basic current account reviews

Name: Basic current account
Rating: 4.1 (323 reviews)

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4.10

Based on 323 reviews, last reviewed 6th Apr 2026

1300% increase in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

No new 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

53%

20%

13%

11%

Latest highest rating:

5

Simple banking without frills, fluff or fees I have been with Santander for many years, a legacy from Alliance & Leicester. My current account offers straightforward simple banking without unnece... Read more Reviewed on: 6th April 2026

Latest lowest rating:

1

They are so rude, they mess up and don't hold themse... They are so rude, they mess up and don't hold themselves accountable for the issues that they have caused. Putting there customers into debt and not a... Read more Reviewed on: 4th March 2025

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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.

Santander Basic current account reviews (323)

Review of the Santander, Basic current account:

Great Bank

I have been with them for years, always find them great, even the call centres :) Reviewed on: 22nd November 2019

My santender account is good enough to use.

I find my Santander account easy to manage and I couldn't think of a better account to use being at university. When I opened my student account I was given an overdraft with 0% interest which doesn't need to be paid back until I finish university. Moreover, whenever I'm in need of assistance I always come off the phone or away from the branch feeling as though I have gained all the help I need in order to solve my problems. Reviewed on: 29th April 2015

i love santander

i wanted an account as I am a teenager at school and I got an account with Santander and I love the fact I do not have to carry money on me now and I can use machines which to me is safer Reviewed on: 28th April 2015

Very simple, no fuss, good service

I've had a current account with Santander since they changed from Alliance and Leicester. The current account is straightforward, and has no annual charges or gimmicks. The staff are always friendly and helpful, and very professional and keen to help. The app makes banking with them incredibly easy and hassle free. (There are some things you need to use the website for, such as setting up a new payee.) You can also set up text alerts, which mean that you get a text if your account balance falls below a certain amount (decided by you). Reviewed on: 27th April 2015

I would say average

I have had good service from santander the only thing I disagree with is the overdraft charge of £1.00 a day and if you do not pay back full overdraft within a month you get an extra £30 charge on top of it. Most banks have free overdraft services where Santader seems to charge an awful lot an could cause bad debt for people when it shouldn't it as it suppose to be there to help people not put them in a worse situation Reviewed on: 24th April 2015

Very good at protecting your money.

Santander are brillant for protecting your money against fraud and theft, I have had fraud on my account and this was quickly reversed by santander and the money was back in my account within hours. I had just moved home so this helped me a massive amount. The advisers are always friendly and very helpful. I will never back with another bank ever! So if your looking for a brillant bank with excellent customer care! Join santander. Reviewed on: 24th April 2015

excellent company!

been banking with santander for over 10 years now and they are fanastic! nothing is too much of a problem for them and they are alwas very helpful with whatever i need! i will continute to bank with them for as long as they are going!! Reviewed on: 26th March 2015

In branch is good, online could be better

Dealing with Santander in branch is pretty hassle free which is good. I feel that the online experience could be better though. All in all, happy with them, but room for some improvement! Reviewed on: 25th February 2015

Santander gave me great advice and even refunded £150

I had gotten into a pickle with my finances, common problem....spending more than I had in my account through lack of proper money management. I spoke to Santander and it was agreed that my best option was to change my account. Now I am in control of my finances a lot more thanks to them. They even gave me a refund of £150 as a one off good will gesture, something I have never had from any bank! Reviewed on: 29th January 2015

It works for me!

Walking into my local branch is easy and pleasant. No long queues, excellent customer service and always helpful and polite! Reviewed on: 30th December 2014

Extremely limited. Good for a child's first bank account and people with poor credit. You can only use it at cash points.

If you have a poor credit rating, you will still be accepted for a basic account with Santander. However, you can't use the card online or with chip & pin and are limited to cash points only. However the staff were extremely helpful and polite when setting up my account. Great service. Reviewed on: 16th December 2014

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