I started with the OU last year, took my letter saying what courses I was doing to my bank (Bank of Scotland) and the girl at the counter agreed to put through an interest free overdraft for me. Now the bank has told me that shouldn´t have happened as the OU is not a "proper university" and I´m not having the same courtesy extended this year.
So I had a look around, and Barclays seem to be the only bank that treat OU students seriously, the man I met with said that if you go in with previous bank statements, a pay slip or confirmation of employment and your NUS extra card then they´ll set up an account for you that day.
I was wondering if anybody else has found any other banks that don´t treat OU students like something stuck to the bottom of their shoes?
What an interesting one. Seem to recall there was an article about this in the old Sesame magazine, years ago. I´m going to ask around and see if anyone has any more information on which banks are OU-friendly and which are still stuck in the dark ages.
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Jane Matthews
Platform home team
Certainly not RBS as their student accounts are only available to full-time students, which OU students are not (even if they are studying 120 points concurrently).
So there.
This is something I have always thought is a big mistake on the part of the banks. There is a HUGE number of OU students, far more that all the students attending brick unis, and attracting even a fraction of these would be great for business.
If I was Barclays´ marketing guru, I would be telling them to pay some money for some nice prominent advertising in Sesame and on the OU website for their OU-friendly bank accounts. This is especially important now that there are all these young people foregoing brick uni to work and study at the same time - a little bit of help now would lead to many life customers.
Moira. x
Have you been in touch with OUSBA? The OU student banking system. Depending on your income, you may be entitled to help. If not, I have always found them very accommodating. They charge a very small interest percentage and as I understand it, this is then ploughed back into giving OU students the very best finance. Like all financial agreements, you will need to read the small print but if you ring them they are very helpful. The following information I have just taken from the OUSBA OU web page. I have used OUSBA in the past and they give brilliant advice and service. I hope you find this useful:
Three ways to pay
If you are paying for some or all of the cost yourself, we can still help to make things easy for you. Not only do you pay for a course at a time, rather than up-front for an entire qualification, but you can also spread the cost of the course.
You have a choice about payment methods, so choose the most convenient for you.
So really its only Barclays?
I might ask around like Halifax and Natwest etc
Halifax and Natwest are the English names for Bank and Royal Bank of Scotland. As above, they´ll tell you to chase yourself.
Charming!!!
Barclays it is then
I have had student accounts with both Lloyds TSB and HSBC, and had all the features. The only time I had a problem subsequently is when applying for a credit card, the system didn´t like that I was earning money and a student, but that´s all sorted now.
:)
Barclays bank in reading jumped at the chance to give a student account i had to prove was doing hons degree by providing summary but has given student account and overdraft of upto 3000.