Notices

  • Our Windfall Bond is available for new account openings, offering interest at the Bank of England Bank Rate and entry into a monthly free prize draw with more prizes available now determined by the prize fund value. Find out more here

    Newly opened accounts need to be fully funded and nominated bank details registered before the end of September in order to qualify for entry into the November Prize Draw.

  • Mortgage products - On Friday 20 September we made changes to our Buy to Let mortgage product range. Our BTL Limited Company 5 Year Fixed Rate product (XF0898) has been withdrawn without replacement, and we've launched a new BTL UK Landlord 5 Year Fixed Rate product. Further information can be found here.

    On 19 September 2024, we reduced our Managed Mortgage Rates (MMR) by 0.25%. All on-sale discounted variable product rates and other details, including representative examples displayed on our website, have been updated to reflect these lower rates. We have written to existing customers who have been impacted by this change, with details relevant to them. Find out full details here.

Higher education

If you want to pursue education after high school there are range of different options available to you.

Having taken GCSEs, there are a variety of options open to young people. 

There’s some good advice available online, however asking the views of family and friends as well as individuals in the local community or those working in a profession of interest may be worthwhile. 

Useful information on options can be found on the following sites:


Learning or training until the age of 18

Young people need to stay in learning or training until the age of 18 but don’t need to stay in school to do this.

The options are:

  • Studying for ‘A’ levels, BTECs or the IB Diploma full-time in a school, College or with a training provider
  • Working or volunteering, combined with part-time education or training
  • Taking up an apprenticeship or traineeship.

If you need guidance to help you find your career purpose then Career Alchemy can help you get into a career you care about.


University Costs

Studying for a degree at university is expensive. 

Whilst some parents may be able to help their children meet their university bills, most students take out student loans to cover fees and living costs. The loans are available to both undergraduates and post-graduates. 

Information about how to apply for a student loan can be found on gov.uk. Here you will also find details of maintenance and special support grants for members of low-income families.


Repaying Student Loans 

No matter where you studied in the UK, the way you’ll repay your student loans will be the same. 

However, there are differences in the rules of loan repayment and interest; this is because England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales have separate policies that govern student finance.

For further information please refer to the gov.uk.


Interest on your loan

All student loans accrue interest from the day they are paid. The amount of interest on a student loan will vary according to the repayment plan type. 

For more information, see the Student Loans Company. To find out which repayment plan type is applicable, there is a section on the website which helps the individual to work out which repayment Plan type they have. 

Borrowing and debt

Most of us may need to borrow money at some point in our lives. We've outlined some key things you need to consider when borrowing money.

Read more