Just the essentials for everyday banking
Our Basic Bank Account is only for people who don’t qualify for one of our other accounts or for those who don’t already hold a payment account in the UK - perhaps because they’ve had financial trouble or have a poor credit record.
Here's what you get with your Basic Bank Account
A range of ways to bank
Do your banking by app, by phone, online or in our branches, making it easy to manage your account.
Contactless payments
Make payments easily using Google Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay or your contactless Visa debit card1. Payment limits apply.
No credit or overdraft
You won't have access to credit (eg an arranged overdraft, credit cards or loans) and you won't receive a cheque book2.
Manage your money with our app
Take care of your banking in no time with our Mobile Banking app. Check your balance, set up bill payments and more. If you prefer, you can also bank online, in-branch or by phone3.
Know exactly where you stand
Use our smart money tools to manage your budget more easily. And get help to stay on top of your spending, with instant notifications when money goes in or out of your account4.
See your spending broken down into categories and set targets to help control it with Spending insights and Monthly budgets.
Get help whenever you need it
If you ever need support, we're always on hand. You can chat to us in the app, by phone, by Live Chat on our website, or by popping into one of our branches nationwide.
Who can apply?
You may be eligible for a Basic Bank Account if you:
- Don’t qualify for one of our other current accounts or don't hold another payment account in the UK
- Are aged 16 or over and live in the UK5
- Can provide ID and proof of address, including non-standard ID documents
- Can provide proof of immigration status, if needed
Want to apply for an account?
Are you aged 18 or over?
If you’re not an existing HSBC UK customer and have a passport or driving licence, you can apply for a sole account in our app. We will assess the information provided and offer the most appropriate account type for you.
You'll need a passport or driving licence to apply on the mobile app - if you have alternative ID or don't have access to a smartphone, contact us to apply.
Are you aged 16 or 17?
If you’re aged 16 or 17, you may be eligible for HSBC MyMoney, which offers MyAccount and MySavings accounts.
If you aren’t eligible for a MyMoney account, you can apply for our Basic Bank Account in a HSBC branch.
Frequently asked questions
Your eligible deposits with HSBC UK Bank plc are protected up to a total of £120,000, or up to £240,000 for joint accounts, by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, the UK's deposit guarantee scheme.
This limit is applied to the total of any deposits you have with the following: HSBC UK, HSBC Private Bank, first direct, M&S Bank and M&S Savings and Investments.
Any total deposits you hold above the limit between these brands are unlikely to be covered.
You might also be interested in
Other current accounts
Take a look at our full range of current accounts, all with no monthly account fee.
Money worries
Concerned about your financial situation? Find out how we could help.
Additional information
1. Apple Pay is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Google Pay is a trademark of Google LLC. Samsung Pay is a registered trademark of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
2. While we'll take all reasonable steps to stop your account going into an unarranged overdraft, there may be some situations where this happens. We won't charge you any interest or charges if it does.
3. Find out more about the operating systems our app works on.
4. You'll need to opt in to receive instant notifications. You can do this in our app. This feature is currently being rolled out and may not yet be available on some older devices.
5. Including if you have no fixed address, or if you're seeking asylum and your application has been officially registered by the Home Office