Best student bank account offers 2026

NatWest or RBS Student Account: £85 cash

NatWest is offering £100 in cash and a 4-year Tastecard for students who sign up for its student account this year.

How to get the £100

To get the £100, you need to sign up for a NatWest Student Account between 1 July 2026 and when this offer is withdrawn – this isn’t likely to happen until later in the year.

You can’t get it if you’ve received a student offer from NatWest since 1 July 2022.

When will I get the £100?

As long as you’re eligible, you’ll get the £100 cash within 10 working days of meeting the above criteria.

What is a Tastecard?

The Tastecard gets you a discount at restaurants all year round. It includes some 2-for-1 and 50% off discounts, though you can usually get free trials or find discounts at participating restaurants in other ways.

This is quite a nice little bonus to the account, but wouldn’t be worth making a decision on.

Nationwide student account: £100 cash and £120 in Just Eat vouchers

Nationwide is offering £100 cash and £10 per month in Just Eat vouchers for first-year uni students who sign up for its student account this year.  

How to get the £100 cash and £120 in Just Eat vouchers

To get the £100 cash and monthly Just Eat vouchers, you need to sign up for a FlexStudent account after 15 July 2026 and pay in £500 and make five debit card payments by 11 December 2026. 

You can’t get it if you had a FlexStudent or FlexGraduate on 15 July 2026 or if you opened a FlexStudent account last year and got the previous cashback offer. 

When will I get the Nationwide £100?

As long as you’re eligible, you’ll get the £100 cash within 14 days of depositing £500 or more into the account. You’ll get an email with details of how to claim the vouchers.

Santander student account: free 4-year railcard for opening a Santander student account and entry into a £100,000 prize draw

Santander is giving away free 4-year 16-25 railcards to students who open a Santander Edge Student account. 

How to get the Santander student railcard

To get the free railcard you need to open a Santander Edge Student account and register for online banking. You should then receive a code by secure message to your online banking account within five working days.

You’ll need to enter this code on the Railcard website within 60 days of the email.  

When will I get the Santander railcard?

You’ll get a code in your online banking inbox within five working days of opening the account. If you choose a digital railcard, you can use it right away. If you choose a physical card, it’ll take around five days to arrive.

Prize draw: up to £100,000 up for grabs

Santander is bringing back its £100,000 prize draw for students who open an account between 14 July and 16 October 2026.

Everyone is guaranteed to get at least £20, then 1,000 students will win £100, 50 students will win £1,000, 5 students will win £10,000 and one lucky student will win £100,000.

To be entered into the prize draw you need to open or transfer to a Santander Edge Student current account between 14 July and 16 October 2026 and make a debit card purchase by 31 December 2026. Every debit card spend until 31 July will also enter you into the draw, with a maximum of 40 per month. You need to keep your account open until the draw has been made.

Lloyds Student Account: £100 cash and up to £120 in Deliveroo vouchers

Lloyds is offering £100 in cash and £120 in Deliveroo vouchers for students who sign up for its student account this year between 30 July and 30 October 2026.

How to get the £100

To get it, you need to open a Lloyds Bank Student Account (or change your existing Lloyds account to a Student Account) between 30 July 2026 and 30 October 2026; and pay in at least £500 to your Lloyds Bank Student Account by 30 October 2026.

When will I get the £100?

As you’re eligible, you’ll get the cash by 30 November.