There are many different current accounts and a number of ways of accessing these - by post, at a branch, by telephone, on-line or through your television.

Consider the interest rates, whether the account has an overdraft facility and whether the overdraft is free. Also, weigh up the benefits of incentives encouraging you to open a bank account. A CD or book token may seem like a nice bonus but an higher interest rate may serve you better in the long run.

Current Accounts (with overdraft)
Current Accounts with an overdraft are designed to provide you with full day-to-day banking facilities, easy access to your money and an authorised overdraft facility.

Cheque Accounts
Cheque Accounts are essentially 'instant access' savings accounts with limited banking facilities they are not always suitable for everyday banking requirements.

Basic Bank Accounts
Basic Bank Accounts are no-frills current accounts aimed at those people with no credit history or those that opening their first bank account.

Student & Young Person Accounts
Student and Young Person Accounts are designed to assist young people and students to become prudent with their personal finances. Most of the Student Accounts have interest free overdraft facilities, free banking and a 'student adviser' service to help students with their money management problems. They may also offer a credit card facility. Both types of accounts offer incentives to encourage consumers to open an account, which include: cash payments; mobile phones or gift vouchers; discounts on CD's, DVD's, computer games, concert tickets, books and entrance to night-clubs. Some accounts will pay interest on credit balances.

Graduate Accounts
Graduate accounts aim to assist graduates with their money and debt management for time periods of up to 3 years after graduation.

Foreign Currency Accounts
Foreign Currency Accounts can be manages like standard current accounts, but consumers can generally choose to run then using Sterling, Euros or US Dollar.

Current Accounts (with special offers)
Current Accounts with special offers are accounts currently offering extra incentives to join.