Graduate AccountsHave you outgrown your Bank?

Graduate accounts are effectively current accounts with an increased overdraft facility to ease you into 'real life'. They last for up to three years after you graduate, and you will usually find that the credit facility that you are eligible for at zero per cent interest decreases year on year over this period. Before you switch, check what the different banks need by way of proof that you are a graduate. It may be that you need to be in a full-time job, or need to apply within a set period of time after graduating, and some banks will need proof of graduation. More info

After leaving university, there is usually so much else to consider that changing your bank account is rarely a priority. However, by not shopping around, you could be missing out on the best graduate account deals. Also, you should forget any sense of loyalty to the bank that you used in your student days, your custom was as valuable to them as their overdraft was to you. However, if you have been with your bank for a long time, approach them with a good deal that you have found elsewhere and ask them to match it. Existing customers are worth more than new ones, especially when they can offer you other products such as home insurance, so you may be able to get what you want without moving. Less