Understanding the UK banking system can help you make the most of your money and avoid any mistakes. Here’s an outline of some of the basics.
Most banks, building societies and credit unions in the UK are backed by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). This means that if they fail, the FSCS will automatically pay compensation up to £85,000 on an individual account and £170,000 on a joint account.
Most banks in the UK will offer a range of products such as:
Current account: a day-to-day account that comes with a debit card you can use to buy things. Not all cards are physical now. Some accounts offer digital cards as standard and there’s a charge to receive a physical debit card. You can have your salary paid into a current account and use it to send money to other people or pay bills. Your debit card will come with a PIN or will have a contactless feature which you can tap to make payments. You can also add your debit card to your digital wallet.
Overdraft: some current accounts allow you to spend more money than you have in your current account. You can have a set limit on what you’re allowed to spend over your account balance. This will incur interest until you pay it back.
Savings account: there are several types of savings account in the UK. There are accounts that reward you for regular saving and also ISAs. ISAs allow you to reduce the amount of tax you pay on any interest earned. Eligibility criteria apply.
Credit card: a way of borrowing money up to a certain limit, where you make regular repayments on any money you owe. If you carry a debt from month to month, you'll be charged interest on the money you owe. You’ll get a physical credit card which can be used either via contactless or PIN. You can add your credit card to your digital wallet.
If you’re moving to the UK, you might be able to use your international credit record to apply for credit, depending on the country.
Mortgage: a long-term loan where you borrow a lump sum to buy a property and make regular repayments, paying interest on the amount owed. Mortgages are secured against your property, so bear in mind, your home may be repossessed if you can't meet your payments.
Personal loan: this type of loan could be for something like buying a car or improving your home. As with a mortgage, you borrow a lump sum and make regular repayments, paying interest on the amount owed. Personal loans are usually paid off over a shorter term than a mortgage.
UK banks also offer different ways to access your accounts:
Beyond the different banking products, there are some different labels and names you'll see and hear.
Account number: a unique number given to your bank account.
AER: the annual equivalent rate (AER) is the way banks show the potential interest earnings on a savings account or investment product over the course of a year. AER shows what you would earn over a year if you put money into an account and kept it there.
APR: the annual percentage rate (APR) is the way lenders show the potential cost of borrowing money over a year on credit cards and loans. It takes into account interest, as well as other charges you'd have to pay such as an annual fee. This is done in a standardised way across banks to allow you to compare the cost of products from different lenders.
BIC: this stands for Business Identifier Code. It's a number that identifies your bank and is needed if you want to send or receive automated international payments. It’s also sometimes called a SWIFT code.
Cash machine: you can use cash machines to withdraw money from your current account and check your balance. They’re also known as ATMs (automated teller machines).
Direct Debit: this is used to make regular payments from your bank account to another account (such as an electricity provider). Unlike a standing order, the payee can change the amount paid by a Direct Debit, but they have to give you notice of this.
IBAN: this stands for International Bank Account Number. It identifies accounts held at any bank in any country or region. You may need it if you want to send or receive automated foreign currency payments.
National Insurance: is a tax on earnings and self-employed profits. You normally start paying National Insurance when you turn 16 years old and earn over a certain amount. This goes towards welfare benefits, such as the state pension, maternity pay, and the Jobseeker’s Allowance.
Sort code: this is a 6-digit code that identifies your bank branch.
Standing order: a regular payment you make from your bank account. You might set up a standing order for a monthly charity donation or for other regular payments to friends and family.
