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Personal AccountsSimplify Your Finances with the Right Personal Account

With a personal bank account, you have many options to consider. Firstly, do you wish to pay all of your bills automatically each month? If so, you need to have an account that allows you to set up direct debits and standing orders, to leave your account on a set day each month. Doing this through a branch can be time-consuming, and therefore many banks have set up an online service to enable you to set these up by simply logging into your personal account online. Make sure that you always have enough money in your account to make these payments, because if the payment cannot be made, the bank will charge you a fee. More info

Features of a Current Account

  • Cash Card. These days, most current accounts will provide you with a debit card that you can use to pay for goods, with the money debited directly from your account.  However, it is worth checking that the card you are offered allows card payments, because some will only let you withdraw money from ATM machines or bank branches.  Although this would help you manage your money, because you have to physically withdraw everything that you spend, it is less secure to always carry cash on your person.
  • Withdrawal Limit.  Most current accounts will set a limit on the amount of money that you are able to withdraw from your account in a day from an ATM machine.  Usually you can withdraw a greater amount if you go into a branch and show some identification.  This is a security measure, but means that you need to plan ahead if you will a large amount of cash.
  • Overdraft facility.  Most people don't think of an overdraft facility in this way, but it is in fact an unsecured loan from the bank.  Because you are borrowing money, the bank will charge you interest.  However, current accounts usually have a free overdraft limit, and as long as you stay within this, you will not be charged any extra on your account.