What you get with FlexStudent
An interest-free arranged overdraft
Apply for up to £1,000 in year 1 and up to £3,000 by year 3.
No card fees abroad
No Nationwide fees for using your debit card wherever student life takes you.
Bank on our app
Keep on top of your money with our highly-rated app.
Our freshers offer. It's uni but foodier.
If you're starting uni this year, you can get:
- £100 cash. For whatever you want.
- £120 in Just Eat vouchers. A £10 voucher every month for 12 months.
You need to pay £500 into the account and make 5 debit card payments by 11 December 2026. Terms apply.
- And this year get a limited edition debit card. While stocks last.
More reasons we're a good way to bank
- Save while you study
FlexStudent gets you access to our exclusive regular savings account. - Over 600 branches across the UK
Wherever you're studying, we'll probably be nearby. - You could get a Fairer Share payment
Each year since 2023, we've paid £100 to eligible members with a qualifying current account and qualifying savings or mortgage. Terms apply.
Which? recommended, Five-Star student banking
Get an interest-free arranged overdraft
Arranged overdrafts are a way to borrow money in the short term. When you apply for FlexStudent, you can ask for an arranged overdraft and set a limit. You can borrow up to £1,000 in your first year, £2,000 in your second year and £3,000 in your third year. Your limit will stay at £3,000 if your course is longer than 3 years.
To be able to increase your limit in your second and third years you need to:
- have paid in at least £500 each term
- OR have paid in at least £1,500 in 2 or more payments over the past year.
You'll need to stay within your arranged overdraft limit. If you try to go beyond your limit, you won't be able to make payments or withdraw cash until you're back within it. Unarranged overdrafts are borrowing not agreed with us in advance and may negatively impact your credit score.
You can remove, decrease or apply to increase your arranged overdraft any time in our app, internet bank or over the phone.
Alerts to help you manage your borrowing
We want to give you time to pay in money and avoid any charges. That's why we'll send you alerts to help you manage your borrowing.
Apply for FlexStudent
To apply, you need to:
- be 18 or older
- be a UK resident and have spent at least 3 years in the UK. If you haven't, one of our other current accounts might be right for you
- be on, or starting, a full-time UCAS course of at least 2 years
- have an unconditional offer or a confirmed place starting in the next 5 months OR at least 6 months left on a course
- not have another student bank account. If you do, we'll ask you to switch it to us.
Bank on our app. In uni and beyond.
Rated 4.8 stars in App Store and 4.8 stars in Google Play (mobile only). Ratings for the phone app as of July 2026.
Everyday banking
Send money to friends, pay bills, check recent transactions, download statements and more.
Check your overdraft
Keep an eye on how much of your student arranged overdraft you're using (if you have one).
Safe and secure
Use your fingerprint or face to log in. Quickly freeze your debit card if it gets lost or stolen.
Our student banking guides
Read our handy guides to find out how student bank accounts and overdrafts work, and how to choose the account that’s right for you.
Our top student money management tips
Starting university is an exciting time. But it's normal to feel worried about managing your money by yourself.
Before you head off, read our top tips so you can feel more prepared. We've got a guide on how to get ready and how to budget while at uni.
Log in to the voucher portal
If you've already taken up our offer, log in to get your next voucher or get help.
Frequently asked questions
Current Account Switch Service
Switching your current account to Nationwide takes just 7 working days. It's a free service, all you need to do is pick the date.
Looking after your money
We're committed to keeping your money safe. And as well as the security you get from us, you're also protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
This means the money across all your Nationwide and Virgin Money accounts is covered up to £120,000 per eligible person (or a combined £240,000 for joint accounts). This applies if we're unable to meet our financial commitments or stop trading.
Summary financial statement
You can read our latest summary financial statement in our review of the year plus our auditor's report in our annual report and accounts on our results and accounts page.
To use our app, your device must be running Android 8.0 or higher, or Apple iOS 15 or higher. Beta versions of operating systems are not supported. Our Watch App is no longer supported but Apple Pay and Google Pay will continue to work on your watch or mobile device. iOS is a registered trademark of Cisco systems Inc. and/or affiliates in the United States and certain other countries and is used under license. Apple, Apple Pay, iPhone and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc. registered in the US and other countries. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc. Google, Android, Google Pay and Google Wallet are trademarks of Google LLC.