UK Bank Accounts For Those with Bad CreditAll bank account details correct as of 28th June 2010 If you try to open a standard UK personal current bank account complete with cheque book, cheque guarantee card, Visa debit card and overdraft facility then you could be refused for any of the following reasons: - poor repayment history
- poor, adverse or bad credit (County Court Judgments (CCJs) or defaults)
- bankruptcy or IVAs
- a low credit score (low earnings, not at current address for long etc)
- a history of fraud (CIFAS flag)
- not being on the electoral register
You may not even know why you keep getting refused for a UK bank account and only an examination of your credit file will reveal any bad credit history. Even if your credit file is in good order your financial circumstances may mean that your resulting credit score is so low that you will still be refused a normal current bank account. Banks prefer customers with regular incomes that pay them into their bank accounts directly. For people in this position, some banks are now able to provide more than just a savings bank account. These new type of real bank accounts are called basic bank accounts. As you would expect, most basic bank accounts just provide the most basic of banking facilities. All basic bank accounts provide ATM cash cards and services such as standing orders and direct debits. More and more of these bank accounts will even provide debit cards such as the Visa or Visa Electron types. One that we know of will also provide a cheque book. "Oh and one more thing I think your site is excellent you have really put my mind at rest in a lot of things and I thank you for that. A lot of info is free that is usually paid for, I am seriously considering getting a current account through you when I next get paid as I only have a savings account." - C.S. UK
The only people they will generally refuse to open these basic UK bank accounts for are undischarged bankrupts (not always the case - see details of our bank accounts for undischarged bankrupts) and those with any history of fraud. You won't initially receive a cheque guarantee card or an overdraft facility with this type of bank account but with some banks these may be available after a period of responsible operation. However, one bank we know of will even provide a cheque book immediately and another very lenient institution will normally upgrade their basic bank account to full current account status with cheque book, cheque guarantee card plus an overdraft facility after just 6 months of responsible operation. With most banking institutions this is simply out of the question if you have a bad credit history. These basic bank accounts, which are generally not forcefully advertised or publicised (because they are not that profitable. They can't lend to those who are a bad credit risk), are available to almost anyone even if there are CCJs, defaults or arrears against your name or even if you are not on the electoral register. Vanquis Bank Visa Credit Card If you have a bad credit history this is one of the best Visa cards to apply for. Credit limits start at £250. Not guaranteed but the best unsecured alternative to a prepaid Mastercard or Visa. | 
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"Hi there, I recently purchased your uk bank accounts, which I found great.
- P. Ashcroft - UK Adverse Credit Personal UK Bank Accounts with Debit Cards or Cheque Book If you want a personal UK bank account with one of the UK high street banks that provide bank accounts with a few more useful facilities than just a cash card or standing orders and direct debits then see the following bank account information. Provided you do not have a history of fraud then you will be accepted for at least one of the following bank accounts. 1. Personal UK bank account with cheque book & ATM card 2. Personal UK bank accounts with Visa debit cards 3. Personal UK bank accounts for those undischarged from bankruptcy "Just a note to thank you so much for the help you provided in obtaining a
bank account. Today I have just received my cash/debit card and pin number. This is all in spite of me having 3 CCJs and a mortgage repossession against me." - S.R. Cheshire, UK
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