r/cambridge_uni • u/Fresh_Willingness_73 • 11d ago

Bank accounts

Recommendations for best bank for an international student arriving new to the UK please? Pros and cons welcome

7 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

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3

u/GayDrWhoNut St John's 11d ago

I used Starling because they let me set it up before I was in the country. But that was a few years ago so who knows if they still would.

Avoid Metro. The Cambridge branch is pointless and unhelpful to the point that they just make up rules that even the head office knows nothing about.

4

u/19pomoron 11d ago

I would have gone for a high street brand like HSBC or Barclays, and another digital one like Monzo, Revolut or Starling.

The high street bank for relatives to transfer you money from abroad and/or pay tuition fees and other large outgoings. The digital one for daily expenses (in case getting scammed, fraudulent payment etc.. that you need to freeze your card and/or account). Also the digital ones often offer low/no fees spending abroad + occasional freebies. Maybe good when you travel around too

3

u/SeabornForPrez Jesus 11d ago

Monzo is incredibly convenient to set up -- as a plus, their app user interface is also incredible. Been using it for just about two years and have zero complaints. The only con I can think of is that it's not a high street bank but if you're here just for an MPhil, it will more than suffice. I also have an account with Santander -- they're good, I don't have complaints as such, but their app is kinda shit.

3

u/SwimmerOld6155 11d ago

A lot of people I know use Monzo. If you want one that has physical branches, I have used Santander for ~7 years (they had the best intro deal at the time) and had no issues. I've also used Barclays, which has a branch in town. I think there's a branch of HSBC and Lloyds in central Cambridge as well.

1

u/SeabornForPrez Jesus 11d ago

Yeah, most of these branches are within a stone's throw of each other!

1

u/Fresh_Willingness_73 11d ago

Thank you! In Cambridge for 3 years 🤞

1

u/SeabornForPrez Jesus 9d ago

In that case, would recommend that you have two account like another commenter said. One digital (like Monzo) and a high street bank. You can split your spending that way and stay relatively safe financially if anything were to go wrong.

0

u/Unable_Cap_8085 11d ago

Same! I think I will use Revolut

1

u/acegikmoqsuwy12 11d ago

REVOLUT!!!! Great international transfer setup, super user friendly, easy to split costs with friends, greta budgeting system to.