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Important information for International Students
With a Current Account you get
- Free everyday banking - no monthly fee to maintain the account
- Up to 15% Cashback - activate your offers using our mobile banking app or Online Banking and earn as you shop with Cashback Extras. Merchant offers and cashback amounts vary
- The option to apply for an arranged overdraft - all overdrafts are subject to our assessment of your circumstances, and are repayable on demand
- Save the Change - round up your card payments and put the change in your Halifax savings account with Save the change®
- Contactless payments - pay, tap & go with a Visa Debit Card up to £100. You can now use our mobile banking app to choose a contactless payment limit between £30 & £95. You can also add your card to Apple Pay and Google Pay
Plus these great features with our mobile app to help you manage your money
- Quick, secure sign in - with the option to use fingerprint or other biometrics on compatible devices
- Freeze your card - if you lose it or want to limit how it's used
- Cheque scanning - pay in cheques of up to £10,000 in to your account by simply taking a photo of your cheque and uploading to the app. There is a maximum daily limit of £10,000 per day
- Check your credit score - register to use Your Credit Score through Online Banking or our Mobile Banking app
- Mobile alerts - you'll get alerts straight to your phone so you can stay up to date on your finances
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Q - How do I open an account if I am going to be studying in the UK?
A - You can easily apply for an account through our website or by downloading the Lloyds Bank mobile app on either iOS or Android. There is a step-by-step guide to setting up the app plus information on the features available at the following page: Mobile Banking app | Mobile Banking app | Everyday banking | Halifax
Q - How quickly can I start using my account?
A - In most cases it will be the same day. However, sometimes due to needing further information from you or during periods of high demand, it may take a little longer. We’ll contact you when the account is open and active.
Q - What documents do I need to open an account in the App?
A - A valid biometric British residents permit card and a mobile number registered in the UK. Be aware that without a UK telephone number we won’t be able to send you important information.
Q - Do I need a permanent address?
A - Yes, if you are using your student accommodation it may have to be entered manually. You may be required to provide evidence of this address upon account opening.
Q - My previous address does not fit in the information box provided?
A - Provide the first line of your address followed by town and country.
Q - I’ve completed my application and I have been told to wait, what is happening?
A - We are checking your application and there will be no need to do anything further. We’ll be in touch with you if we need you to do anything. Please do not enter a branch as our branch colleagues can’t expedite the process.
Q - I can’t open my account digitally can I visit a branch?
A - It’s usually easier and quicker to apply online, but sometimes we understand customers need additional support. Please visit one of our branches and we’ll be happy to help you with your application.
Please bring your smartphone with you or a similar digital capable device (i.e. a tablet) if you have one.
Guidance for providing your proof of identity online
- Your name, address and date of birth must match your application
- Your document must be in date
- Use a device with a good camera, such as a mobile phone
- Make sure there is no glare, and the document is well lit
For this page in the following languages please see the documents below:
Traditional Cantonese and Simplified Mandarin (PDF, 225 KB)
Hindi (PDF, 121 KB)
Urdu (PDF, 96 KB)
Still need some more information?
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Switch to us in seven working days
Switching to us is quick and easy. Just fill in our simple online form and let us take care of the rest.
With the Current Account Switch Service, we'll switch your accounts within seven working days. And we handle all the admin - we'll set up your new account, transfer your Direct Debits, and close down your old account for you.
How does the Current Account Switch Service work?
![Current Account Switch Guarantee]()
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We have designed the Current Account Switch Service to let you switch your current account from one bank or building society to another in a simple, reliable and stress-free way. It will only take seven working days. As your new current-account provider we offer the following guarantee.
- The service is free to use and you can choose and agree your switch date with us.
- We will take care of moving all your payments going out (for example, your Direct Debits and standing orders) and those coming in (for example, your salary).
- If you have money in your old account, we will transfer it to your new account on your switch date.
- We will arrange for payments accidentally made to your old account to be automatically redirected to your new account. We will also contact the sender and give them your new account details.
- If there are any issues in making the switch, we will contact you before your switch date.
- If anything goes wrong with the switch, as soon as we are told, we will refund any interest (paid or lost) and charges made on either your old or new current accounts as a result of this failure.
For more information and FAQs, please read the Account Switching Guide (PDF 1.7MB).
![Current Account Switch Guarantee]()
![Crystal Mark 20785. Clarity approved by Plain English Campaign.]()
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Whether it's the weekly shop, popping out for lunch or hitting the high street, Cashback Extras makes it easy to earn up to 15% cashback. The offers you get will come from places you might like to try, as well as places where you already shop. Merchant offers and cashback amounts vary. The retailers above are just some of the offers you may receive, merchant offers and cashback amounts vary
- Quick and convenient - select to activate your offers using our mobile banking app or Online Banking.
- Spend and earn - Use any of your Halifax debit or credit cards with your chosen retailers, in store or online, in line with the offer conditions. Your cashback will be paid into your current account at the end of the following month.
- Straightforward - you can keep track of the amount of cashback you've earned by visiting the Cashback Extras hub.
For more information visit Cashback Extras.Manage your Cashback Extra offers using our Mobile Banking app or Online Banking. -
Struggling to save? We’ve come up with a simple way to turn your pennies into pounds
Switch on Save the Change® and when you buy something with your Halifax debit card, we’ll round up the amount to the nearest pound. At the start of the next working day, we’ll transfer the difference into your nominated Halifax savings account.
For example, if your coffee costs £2.20, we’ll transfer 80p from your current account into your savings account.
It’s a clever feature that takes your leftover change and builds it into bigger savings.
Find out more about Save the Change
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It is less likely that you will be approved for an overdraft if you have not been a resident in the UK.
An arranged overdraft can act as a short term safety net. You can use it to borrow money up to an agreed limit through your bank account.
- You can apply to add an arranged overdraft to your account and you’ll only pay daily arranged overdraft interest if you use it.
- If you use your arranged overdraft but pay it back before the end of the day, then you won’t pay any arranged overdraft interest for that day.
Helpful tools - You can use our eligibility checker and cost calculator to check your eligibility and calculate the cost of an arranged overdraft.
Applying for an arranged overdraft - When you have applied for this account, at the end of the application you can apply for an arranged overdraft which you can add right away. You can also apply for one later.
Amending an arranged overdraft - You can reduce or remove your arranged overdraft at any time through Mobile Banking, Online Banking or Telephone Banking or by visiting your branch. But you must repay anything you owe if you want to remove an arranged overdraft or anything over the new reduced limit you want. You can also apply to increase it. Using an arranged overdraft increases your overall borrowing and may affect your credit score.
If you don't have enough money in your account or available arranged overdraft to make a payment, we may either let you borrow through an unarranged overdraft or refuse to make the payment. Missing payments and using an unarranged overdraft can damage your credit score, please get in touch with us as we may be able to help you.All overdrafts are subject to application and repayable on demand. You must be 18 or over to apply.
Please read our important information on overdraft rates and charges
Arranged overdraft details
- £0 interest free amount
- 39.9% EAR (variable) representative
- Your interest rate will be based on how you manage any accounts you have with us and on the credit information we hold about you
- No unarranged overdraft interest, fees or charges
Representative example
Representative Example A variable representative rate of
A variable interest rate of
Based on borrowing
A variable representative rate of
39.9% APR
A variable interest rate of
39.9% EAR*
Based on borrowing
£1,200
How does our overdraft compare?
You can use the representative APR to compare with other products or credit providers, this can help you make sure that you choose the right type of borrowing for you.
How much does my overdraft cost in pounds and pence?
As an example, the interest cost of borrowing £500 is:
As an example, the interest cost of borrowing £500 is: £3.22 for 7 days
£13.86 for 30 days
£28.09 for 60 days
*EAR is the Equivalent Annual Rate. This is the annual interest rate of an overdraft. This means you are charged over the year based on how often and how much you are overdrawn by, and the effect of compounding it – charging interest on interest already charged. This interest rate does not include any other fees and charges.
Find out more about arranged overdrafts
If you already have a current account with us and would like an arranged overdraft, you can apply for one through Online Banking or Mobile Banking. You can also apply to increase your existing arranged overdraft too.
Apply for an arranged overdraft
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For more information and terms & conditions for this current account, read the Bank Account Getting Started Guide (PDF, 1.1MB)
Halifax current accounts and services are offered subject to status. Available only to personal customers aged 18 or over who are resident in the UK.
Whether you can have an arranged overdraft and the amount will depend upon your personal circumstances at the time you apply for one. Any overdraft we agree is repayable on demand.
Apple Pay is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Google Pay is a trademark of Google LLC.
