A basic bank account in the UK can be useful for youngsters having their first bank account or for people who have a bad credit rating and cannot get clearance for a normal bank account. Most UK banks offer basic bank accounts but the terms and conditions vary widely and it is worth checking what they offer before choosing.

A basic bank account will allow money to be paid in, such as salaries and cheques, and allow withdrawals and automatic bill payments. But the key criteria for a basic bank account is that there is no overdraft facility, which is a prerequisite for those under bankruptcy or in an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) to clear their debts. It is also very rare for a basic account to come with a cheque book.

Most banks review and change the terms and conditions of all their accounts regularly, so the information below could change at any time thus it is always worth checking before applying to open a bank account.