) Cash machine card Free buffer zone(2) Direct Debits and Standing Orders Charge for unpaid Direct Debit (3) Debit card (Solo or Electron) Cheque book Restrictions on who may be able to open an account. (If you fall into these categories, your application may be declined.) Abbey National Yes 16 None, but you need to put in £250 a month Yes Yes No Yes £30 but at bank’s discretion Yes No Some bad debts, depending on individual circumstances Alliance & Leicester Basic Bank Account Yes   None Yes Yes No Yes No Yes No Undischarged bankrupts, some bad debts depending on individual circumstances Bank of Ireland Yes Bank Of Scotland   Barclays Cash Card Account Yes   None Yes Yes £10 Direct Debits only £30 max per account per day No No Record of fraud Clydesdale Cashmaster Yes 16 None Yes Yes No Yes £33 No No Undischarged bankrupts Co-operative Bank Cashminder Yes 16 £1 Yes Yes No Yes No Yes No Record of fraud First Trust Bank Yes Halifax HSBC Basic Bank Account Yes 18 None Yes Yes £10 Yes No No No Bankruptcy orders, some bad debts Lloyds TSB Bank Account Yes 18(4) None Yes Yes £10(5) Yes No No No Undischarged bankrupts Nationwide Building Society Cash Card Flex Account Yes 16 £1 Yes Yes No Yes £25 No No Record of fraud Nat West Step Account Yes 16 None Yes Yes No Yes £30 Yes No Undischarged bankrupts Northern Bank Cash Master Yes 16 £1 Yes Yes No Yes £37.50 No No Undischarged bankrupts RBS Key Account Yes 16 None Yes Yes No Yes £30 No No Undischarged bankrupts Ulster Bank Dual Account Yes 16 £1 Yes Yes No Yes £30 No No None Woolwich Instant Cash Account No 16 £1 Yes Yes £10 Yes £30 from 1 August Yes No Bankruptcy orders or record of fraud Yorkshire Bank Ready Cash Yes 16 None Yes Yes No Yes £33 No No Undischarged bankrupts Post Office card account Available April 2003 Yes None None Yes No No No N/A No No Can only be used to receive ACT payment of benefits and tax credits Source: British Bankers’ Association, June 2002 This information is correct as at time of print, but is subject to change. Please check with your chosen bank, building society or post office.