NATWEST CURRENT ACCOUNTS

Who is NatWest?

Part of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) Group, NatWest is a UK bank whose roots can be traced back as far as 1833.

The National Westminster Bank formed in 1968 with the merger of the National Provincial Bank (established 1833) and Westminster Bank (established 1836).

NatWest officially started trading as we know it today in 1970, with more than 3,000 branches across the UK. NatWest was acquired by the Royal Bank of Scotland Group in March 2000, as part of a £21billion deal which was (at the time) the biggest take-over in UK banking history.

What types of current account does NatWest provide?

As you’d expect of any UK bank, NatWest offers a range of current accounts. From free, simple everyday current accounts to premium, paid-for current accounts and even accounts for students, graduates and young people.

NatWest’s Select Account has no monthly fee and simply gives customers a current account with a debit card and an overdraft (amount varies, subject to availability).

The Select Silver Account currently costs £8 per month and includes all the benefits of the Select Account but with annual multi-trip European travel insurance cover, mobile phone insurance up to £750 replacement value and identity theft assistance.

The Advantage Gold account costs £12.95 per month (at the time of writing) and improves on the Select Silver Account by providing annual multi-trip worldwide travel insurance cover and mobile phone insurance up to £1,000 replacement value.

Advantage Gold also offers Green Flag car breakdown cover, identity theft protection, accidental death insurance and a range of other extras.

NatWest’s Black account, available to customers earning at least £100,000 a year (or £150,000 in a joint account) offers the most extensive range of account extras for £24 a month.

Extras include a 24/7 concierge service, worldwide airport lounge access and mobile phone insurance for up to four handsets.

Students are also well catered for as the Student Account offers an interest-free overdraft of up to £1,000 in the first year, rising in the second and third years.

What are the advantages of using NatWest current accounts?

One of advantages of using NatWest current accounts is its innovative Emergency Cash service, which allows customers who have lost or misplaced their debit cards to withdraw up to £300 from an ATM.

NatWest has more than 1,500 branches in the UK, call centres in the UK and an award-winning online banking service. Its smartphone and tablet apps allow customers to check balances and make transfers to existing payees in just a few taps.

Finally, as a NatWest customer, any money you have in a current account is guaranteed by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, up to the value of £85,000 – so you can be sure that your money is safe.

Why should you use MoneySupermarket.com to compare NatWest current accounts?

First of all, MoneySupermarket’s current account service is free, independent and whole of market,  which means you get the most comprehensive and reliable comparison of the UK current account market.

Also, while NatWest’s basic Select Account is a great, functional and free account, there may be other current account providers offering more extras with their free current accounts, or better deals on their overdrafts.

Similarly, other current account providers may be offering more lucrative extras on their paid-for accounts than NatWest, so it’s worth doing a comparison to see if you could be getting more back for your monthly fee.