Current Account
Account guide
Our Current Account will provide you with a complete banking service and instant access to your money.
Who can open an account?
- You need to be 16 years of age or over and be a permanent UK resident
- You can open an account individually or jointly up to two people
How do you open an account?
- You can open an account in your local Northern Rock branch** or by post with any amount up to £2 million
- You can also switch an existing current account to a Northern Rock Current Account
- Please read the Terms and Conditions and Key Product Information before you open an account
Please note: We are required to confirm the identity of all customers who open an account. If you are opening your account by post at Northern Rock's Head Office you will not be required to send proof of identity with your application but you may be asked to supply identification at a later date. If you are opening an account at a branch**, please ensure you take suitable forms of identification.
What happens next?
- Once you have completed your application for a Current Account, we will provide you with a chequebook and a VISA Debit Card (subject to status)
Switching your current account to us
Switching your account to Northern Rock is straightforward and free of charge. Once you have opened your account with us we will:- contact your old bank for a list of all the Direct Debits and Standing Orders that you have. Your old bank will provide us with the list within three business days of receiving our request;
- make a copy of the list available to you to review;
- set up the Standing Orders on your new account;
- tell the organisation(s) that you have Direct Debits with your new account details and ask them to change their records;
- ask your old bank to cancel all payments you have with them;
- ask your old bank to transfer your balance and/or close your old account.
All you have to do is:
- advise us of any Direct Debits and Standing Orders that should not be switched to your new account;
- inform your employer and other organisation(s) that make payments into your account of your new account details.
The Bankers Automated Credit System (BACS) provides free information about Current Account switching which can be obtained by visiting their website www.bacs.co.uk and clicking on consumers/account switching.
Ready to apply?
Great, let’s get the ball rolling. Take a look at the ways you can apply for this account and choose the option that best suits your needs.
Ways to apply- 1 AER stands for the Annual Equivalent Rate and shows what the interest rate would be if interest was paid and added to the capital balance? each year.
- 2 Gross P.A. is the rate of interest paid to eligible non-taxpayers without the deduction of tax.
- 4 Net is the annual rate of interest payable after deduction of basic rate income tax (currently 20%). Interest will be paid net or, if we receive the necessary declaration from you, gross. Where the tax deducted exceeds your tax liability (if any) you may make a repayment claim to HM Revenue & Customs. If your income falls within the basic rate band the tax deducted will match your tax liability on the interest and you will have nothing further to pay. If you are liable to tax at the higher rate(s) you will have an additional tax liability. For more information please visit www.hmrc.gov.uk/individuals/babsi.htm.
- * Call our UK-based Contact Centre between 8am to 8pm business days, 8am to 4pm Saturday and 10am to 3pm Sunday. Calls are charged at your service provider’s prevailing rate and may be monitored and recorded.
- **Not all branches are able to offer full banking services. Any facility which is not available at your local branch, excluding cash deposits and general cash transactions, can be processed at our Head Office. Please refer to your local branch for details.