November 7, 2021

best joint account


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Best Joint Account for Couples (UK)

Getting a joint bank account can be a serious step, so it's good to do some research beforehand to find out what exactly is involved and how to get the right account for your needs.

This guide will check out some of the best joint bank accounts rated by their customers to help you decide which is right for you.

We will also answer some of the common questions, such as can you open with the same bank, should you use a joint account as your sole account, and what rights does each joint account holder get?

What is a Joint Bank Account?

A joint bank account is an account that two or more people own together. It allows account holders to have equal rights over one account.

This can be useful for partners, friends, roommates, family members, and others who want to keep their finances organized in one place.

A joint bank account offers some benefits that other types of accounts do not provide, such as the ability to quickly transfer money between accounts without fees and the convenience of having a shared balance. 

Which Bank is Best For Joint Accounts UK?

Best Joint Bank Account for Couples 2022

Picking between joint accounts can be challenging. That's why we have summarised the best joint bank accounts in the UK so that you can choose the right joint account for your need.

The banks listed in this article have been listed for their service and individual features that will appeal to a wide variety of circumstances. Take a look at the list and consider your own needs. 

Best Joint Accounts for Couples

*Ratings shown are App Store ratings taken 25/09/21

#1 

249k reviews 4.9/5

Starling Bank: Our Choice for Best Joint Account for Couples

We couldn't have a list of joint accounts and not feature Starling Bank.

Starling offers several different accounts, including sole and joint account options or business. Starling is a mobile/ online bank meaning you would access this joint account from the comfort of your home.

They have no branches, but they made this list because of their excellent customer reputation, winning Best British Bank 3 years running and scoring an excellent score of Trust Pilot of 4.3 with over 23,000 reviews to date. The App Store rating is no different, scoring an incredible 4.9/5 with 249k reviews! Opening a joint bank account is also incredibly easy. Just download the app and follow the instructions. 

Staring bank overview

#2

48k reviews 4.8/5

Monese - Best Non-Bank

Monese is a good option if you are worried about completing a credit check or have proof of address. The app has great budgeting options, and you can spend abroad with 0 commission fees! Monese works like a bank but is actually classified as an electronic money institution. The EU electronic money directive protects your money. But not to worry about the functionality the account works like any other, and you can set up to pay bills and deposit money quite easily, just as you would with any other bank.

who are Monese

#3

111k reviews 4.8/5

Metro Bank

Offering fantastic current account options. Metro Bank has a good online and in-store experience that could be a good fit for you. App Store reviews for Metro Bank are excellent, scoring 4.8 out of 5 on 111k reviews, a key reason it has made this list. Being a traditional Bank with Metro, you can also access joint savings account if you are also looking for one. 

metro bank joint bank account

#4

196k reviews 4.8/5

Bank Of Scotland

Scoring great App Store reviews and offering an online and in-branch experience, bank of Scotland is a good contender for your options for joint account holders. If you already have a current account with the Bank of Scotland, adding a joint accounting on a joint account might be an easy win. 

bank of Scotland joint account

#5

341k reviews 4.8/5

First Direct

Known for their online service, first direct pride themselves with their offer. You can apply online for a joint bank account, and First Direct offers UK telephone and online support. 

first direct joint current account

Starling Bank

Starling bank

Winning many banking awards and scoring consistently in customer services, Starling Bank is hard to beat overall banking. With its Intuitive app that helps you budget and travels easily, a joint current account with Starling is a good option for many people. 

Becoming a Starling Bank customer is easy to do. Download the app and install it on your device. To get a joint account, both parties must download and open a personal current account, then go into the app and open a joint account.

No further checks are required to open a joint account as Starling already has your details from your personal account. 

Go to Starling Here

  • Good To Know

  • Why We Like it

Good to know

  • No monthly fee current account that is packed with savings features as standard such as spare change round up
  • Both parties need to have a personal account to set up
  • Arranged overdraft available
  • They are an actual bank and registered with the financial services compensation scheme, you must be a UK resident to sign up
  • Current account switch service available 

Monese - Good option for ex-pats & Low Credit Score

Not technically a bank, Monese is an electronic money institution (EMI) and offers joint mobile money accounts that you can use in many of the same ways.

Like Starling, you must open a personal current account before Monese lets you open a joint account. Monese is an excellent option for ex-pats as you don't necessarily need to be a UK resident. Any EU resident can open an account. Because Monese is not a bank, you don't need to provide the same level of authentication for credit history or proof of residence. You need to prove your ID.

  • Good To Know

  • Why We Like it

Good to know

  • Any resident of the UK, or if you live in any of the 30 countries in the European Economic Area can sign up.
  • Once you have a Monese personal account, it’s easy to invite someone to open a digital joint account with you. No new checks or applications – send an invite from your Monese app.
  • Your money is protected by the EU Electronic Money Directive and UK Electronic Money Regulations 2011 and not the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)
  • The perfect account for budgeting, the app has built-in budget features
    • You won’t have an overdraft, so you can’t spend more money than you add



Metro Bank

Metro Bank now offers joint accounts available at branches. You must be 17 years and above and must be registered within the UK. Additionally, you will need to prove residence and identity. 

  • Good To Know

  • Why We Like it

Good to know

  • Metro Bank also offers savings accounts.
  • You can only open a joint account by going into a store, and Metro Bank are not in every town, so this could be pretty inconvenient.
  • Both account holders will need to present to open an account
  • Arranged overdraft available

Bank of Scotland

Free jointly-booked accounts are offered to existing and new customers. You can begin application processing online, but you must go to a local branch.

  • Good To Know

  • Why We Like it

Good to know

  • Offers more than just a joint current account, credit cards, arranged overdrafts mortgages are also available (subject to credit check and eligibility.)
  • Lots of branches across the UK if you want to speak to someone in person
  • Must book an appointment to open a joint account. 

First Direct

Rated number 2 for overall service quality in an independent survey, First direct has a tremendous outstanding all-around reputation for delivering a great online banking experience.

  • Good To Know

  • Why We Like it

Good to know

  • You can apply online for a joint account. It takes around 10 minutes to complete the application.
  • First Direct offer a £250 interest-free overdraft (subject to eligibility)
  • UK based customer service
  • No monthly fees



How to Open a Joint Account

Depending on the bank you decide to go for, you may need to visit a bank. If you choose an online bank like Starling, you can apply online through their app and set up minutes without an appointment.

When opening a joint account, you could need: 

  • ID 
  • Employment information 
  • Income details 
  • Proof of address (except Monese)

The bank will also ask you to sign a mandate that tells the bank how to run your account. They can give one person more power to do things without telling the other person, or they can ask for both people's permission first. Before signing a mandate, make sure you are comfortable with what it says and feel free to change it.

How are Joint Bank Accounts Protected?

Just like any other account, a joint one is 100% safe. The bank will have the same security measures in place to protect all of your accounts. FSCS protection* also covers them, so you know they are safe if anything happens to the bank.

*must be a UK bank account to be protected by FSCS protection. We have also featured Monese in this article, which the EU Electronic Money Directive covers.

How do I Remove a Joint Holder?

You can remove someone from a common account and leave the account in the name of the rest of the holders. A bank must obtain the permission of all the people whose accounts have been removed. 

Some banks will ask to have ID documents on file, or you can go into a branch to make a change. When a homemade moves out of your house, you can get rid of them from your home account. You could change the name of someone just to their name if they left their house.

Advantages of Opening up a Joint Bank Account

There are many benefits to opening a joint bank account. Some of these include:

  • Having a shared balance (allowing for purchases even when one person doesn't have enough funds)
  • Ability to easily transfer money between accounts.
  • People can use the account more efficiently together so it can be easier to budget.
  • Great for bills like mortgage payments, utility bills etc.

Related Article: Best Budgeting App UK

Drawbacks to Opening up a Joint Bank Account

There are also some drawbacks to opening up a joint bank account. Some of these include:

  • Both people have access to all of the money in the account, so it can be hard to keep track of who spends what if they are bad at managing their expenses
  • Mistakes are easy to make without getting instant notifications
  • Finances are tied. 

Can you Open a Joint Account Online?

Yes, you absolutely can! The following banks which we have featured in this article can be opened online/on your phone:

  • Starling Bank: Find out more detail here. To open, download the app, and first, you and your partner (the other joint account holder) must both open personal accounts, then click to open a joint account within the app, which Starling says takes 5 minutes to do.
  • Monese: With Monese to open a joint account is simple to do. First, download the Monese App then you and your joint account partner should both set up a personal account which Monese says takes minutes to do. Once you have a personal account, all you need to do is invite your partner to open a joint account. No additional checks are needed because it is not a bank. 

How Does a Joint Bank Account Affect Credit Rating?

When you start opening a shared bank account, your personal history can be linked to other bank account holders. If you apply for credit in the future, the lenders may be able to read your credit report on the shares you currently have. If someone shares a bank account with has a poor credit record, you may be denied a credit card or a loan due to their association with them. You might also get refused if you share an account and you have a poor credit history.

Can Joint Accounts Have Overdrafts?

Not all of the joint accounts listed in this article have overdraft ability, so make sure you check. But with the ones that do, you can apply for an overdraft on your bank. You need to be honest before you set up your account. If you overspend and your account gets in trouble, you are both responsible for it. For the most part, it seems oblique to agree on a bank overdraft that is necessary.

Do I have to be Married to get a Joint Account?

Joint accounts can be opened in many different circumstances. A single couple can claim on a single account, whether married or not. You could even sign up with friends or relatives.

Can we Have Our Own Debit Card?

Joint accounts work as if you were the only account holder when it comes to debit cards. Other account holders each receive their own debit card with their own details. Of course, the difference is both debit cards link account holders to the same account. The debit card on joint accounts has the same functionality, too, so you can use it the same at the atm to check how much money you have or withdraw.

Best Joint Bank Accounts Bottom Line

Joint bank accounts are a great way to manage money in relationships. They allow you and your partner the opportunity to share finances without one person having all of the responsibility or control over what is happening with their account. 

You should always check with both people if you want to transfer money into an account, encourage communication about spending and saving so you can be on the same page, keep track of everything for easy reconciliation at the end of each month/year, make sure you both receive emails about possible mistakes made in your account to avoid any future issues when earning joint income it's important that everyone takes responsibility for their share but also makes things difficult if one person ends up paying more than they expected- this article will help guide readers through these decisions.

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About the author 

Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is a passionate advocate for financial freedom. She is the founder of MeMoreMoney, and a featured Personal Finance expert in GO Banking Rates and Yahoo! Finance. Mary loves to make money simple and understandable for everyone. Her goal is to help people make simple changes so that they have more money to live the way they want.

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