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Virgin Money: Essential current account (discontinued) reviews

Name: Essential current account (discontinued)
Rating: 3.76 (146 reviews)

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3.76

Based on 146 reviews, last reviewed 25th Apr 2026

300% increase in 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

100% increase in 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

39%

12%

37%

Latest highest rating:

5

Virgin Money 'M' current & saver accounts Needed a current account with no overdraft facility, due to tight budgets on a low income. Virgin Money were more than happy to oblige with their 'M' ... Read more Reviewed on: 16th April 2026

Latest lowest rating:

1

I am extremely dissatisfied with my experience with... I am extremely dissatisfied with my experience with Virgin Money regarding a recent transaction. The handling of my funds was unexpected and caused se... Read more Reviewed on: 25th April 2026

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About this product

Virgin Money stopped selling the Essential current account in 2015.

Review Virgin Money: Essential current account (discontinued) now

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Virgin Money Essential current account (discontinued) reviews (146)

Can't do real banking with this account

Amazing that in 2020 you still can't transfer money online. Useless! Reviewed on: 14th April 2020

AVOID THIS PROVIDER

AVOID THIS PROVIDER AT ALL COSTS. I would honestly give these guys a 0 if I could. I applied for a credit card application on 13 March, their website advises 5 working days for a response but they took a month. Within the month I called several times to find out the progress of my application and was misinformed many times. I spoke to a manager called Chloe ID number CK8811 who was the rudest person I have ever had the misfortune to speak to. She refused to file a complaint when I requested on the 23rd March and refused to give me information on my own application. I eventually got rejected for the credit card and have still not received ANY information as to why I was rejected even though I have requested this many times. I checked on Experian before applying for the credit card and I had a very good credit rating so there really should not be any reason for this rejection. Worse experience I have ever had!! Reviewed on: 13th April 2019

Reply from Virgin Money Hi there, thanks for getting in touch. Can you email your details over to us at [email protected] so we can help further? Thanks, Jane Response date: 15th April 2019

Surely the 5 star reviews here are fake?

I haven't a clue what is in the heads of the people running Virgin Money. If you read the negative reviews you'll see the legitimate reasons why people are frustrated. I have been with this bank for several years (I have no choice) and despite responses by Virgin saying 'thank you for your feedback, we will try and improve' they've done nothing other than add insult to injury. As mentioned by other people here, you can not do much online and have to go into a branch to do transfers. You can call them up but to make a new transfer you have to go to the branch. That isn't helped by them closing their branches!!! I live in London where you'd think this wasn't a problem but instead of being able to go to my branch in east London I now have to go to a branch in tourist central Piccadilly Circus. I was told in a letter that apparently my branch in east London closed because the landlord had put the rent up. Whoever heard of such a thing from a bank???!! Then when I go all the way to Picadilly Circus I find out where the money they saved has been spent on... free coffee and sandwiches and a grand piano!!!! I asked the teller what the hell this was and she said 'to improve customer experience''. You think sandwiches and a grand piano are preferable to me over not having to travel across London or being able to do ANYTHING online??? No double as a response to this review I'm going to get an empty 'Thanks for your feedback xxx, I'll be sure to pass that on to the relevant teams for you. If there's anything else we can help with in the meantime, just get back in touch! Thanks, Jane'.... absolute, empty rubbish. Enough of the lip service Virgin staff and !"£$% do something!!!! This bank wouldn't exist without some sort of support from the rest of the Virgin brand. Reviewed on: 26th March 2019

Reply from Virgin Money Good afternoon, thanks for taking the time out to share your feedback. I’d like to take a look into your experience and share this with relevant department so that they can review and respond to you directly. So that I can do that, can you please email your name, address and contact number across to [email protected]? Thanks, Lindsay. Response date: 26th March 2019

Efficient staff, great product, transparent and fair charges, convenient and excellent website

very convenient for me, as I travel back and forward between countries. No fees incurred for foreign purchases and a very low fee for overseas cash withdrawals. Would be even better if one could add and pay beneficiaries from this account. Reviewed on: 13th January 2019

Its ok

I cant do anything with my current account online. You can only check your balance. You cant move money cancel direct debits or anything else Reviewed on: 13th January 2019

Reply from Virgin Money Thanks for your feedback Jewean, I'll be sure to pass that on to the relevant teams for you. If there's anything else we can help with in the meantime, just get back in touch! Thanks, Jane Response date: 14th January 2019

always friendly,helpful and efficient staff.

I have an isa and a current account with virgin,opened just over a year ago. Unlike other banks I don’t get hassled about my accounts . Information is sent on a regular basis but the customer is allowed to make their own choice having received very good advice. The staff are professional, helpful and efficient at all times. I can’t recommend virgin money highly enough!! Reviewed on: 19th December 2018

A fantastic business, with people at it's heart

Of course t's easy to bank online nowadays, and the Virgin Money site's great, but I love to visit my Haymarket London branch - full of really kind, friendly and knowledgeable staff, involved in honest and principled business dealings, all shown off in stylish décor with a lovely coffee! Can't think how banking gets any better! Reviewed on: 17th December 2018

One of the best current accounts for interest

Love all Virgin Money products and their spectacular lounges! Well done! Reviewed on: 15th December 2018

Easy bank to work with

No hidden charges . Friendly staff Reviewed on: 15th December 2018

Excellent Current Account

I've been with Vigin for about 2 years and I find their current account serves all my needs with none of those silly charges you get at other banks. Well Done Virgin Money Reviewed on: 14th December 2018

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