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Santander: Basic current account reviews

Name: Basic current account
Rating: 3.97 (340 reviews)

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3.97

Based on 340 reviews, last reviewed 11th Oct 2026

100% decrease in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

300% 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

Dreadful customer service Dreadful customer service especially related to an elderly hard of hearing customer. Refused to help her and wouldn't allow her daughter to assist. Ab... Read more Reviewed on: 11th October 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 (340)

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

Seems like a great service

Their reviews and testimonials from other customers have made me consider switching to their services. Reviewed on: 9th October 2014

Very happy with Santander!

Very good customer service. Always very helpful when I visit them in branch. Reviewed on: 8th October 2014

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