Our offices will be closed on Thursday 26 June while our teams attend an important colleague event. We'll still be here if you need to report an emergency. You can also request a repair, or get help and advice online.

A bank account can help you to manage your money. It also saves you from having to carry cash with you all the time. 

There are different types of bank accounts: 

  • You can have your salary and any benefits paid into the account
  • You can take money out at cash machines with a cash card
  • Pay your bills by direct debit
  • Some banks let you have a debit card to pay for your shopping
  • You don't need to pass a credit check to open a basic account. So long as you have money in the account to pay out any direct debits, you won't get charged

With a basic bank account you: 

  • don’t get a cheque book 
  • don’t get an overdraft facility
  • A current account can be used for day-to-day things like paying in salary or benefits, paying bills and taking money out. 
  • You can have your salary and any benefits paid into the account. 
  • You can take money out at cash machines with a cash card. 
  • Pay your bills by direct debit. 
  • A debit card to use in shops. 
  • Can have an overdraft facility. 
  • You may get a chequebook if you are given a cheque guarantee card. 
  • Credit Unions are run by the local community, and they can offer low-interest loans and savings accounts.