You will soon move to the UK to study at a university there. You are reading an article about bank accounts for students written by a recent graduate of that university.
Almost all banks these days offer special "student bank accounts," and I strongly recommend signing up because they offer services not available to regular account holders.
My account is with Alpha Bank. To attract new customers, they offer a 3-year student railcard if you open an account in September. These railcards are worth £120, and holders can get 30% off train fares. Other banks give cash gifts. For example, Waverly Bank puts £50 in every new student account, while Phoenix Bank gives £40.
In addition to online banking and a debit card, all student accounts provide low-interest credit cards and offer zero-interest short-term loans. Last month, the salary from my part-time job was late, but I borrowed £100 from Alpha at zero interest for a week. Some banks allow higher limits. Customers of Waverly Bank and Phoenix Bank can borrow up to £200 and £300 interest-free respectively.
Most adult bank accounts charge a fee of up to £10 a month, but student bank accounts are usually cheap or free to use. My bank charges £2 a month, but Waverly and Phoenix are free. However, my bank does not charge at all for ATM cash withdrawals, unlike the other two.
The unique benefit of Alpha bank is that it offers free travel insurance until I graduate. This is great for me because I like to travel. I took a trip to Paris last month and my camera was stolen. I was able to get some money back to buy a new camera, although I wish the money had arrived faster and the procedure was simpler.
Each account offers different benefits and services, so think about your own needs before choosing a student bank account.