Tell me moreCurrent account options
- Extra benefit current accounts
- Standard accounts
- Student current account
- Graduate current account
- Bank accounts for young people
Useful information
Student Royalties
Extra benefits for students
Open a Student Royalties Account today and get an interest free overdraft up to £2,750 whilst you are a student plus loads of great savings and discounts.
To find out exactly what's on offer to you, click here
Already an RBS Student?
Details of the offer available to you were sent out in June. If you did not receive your offer, please contact us.
- Banking and insurance - interest-free overdraft up to £2750 at 0% EAR.
- Concert tickets - 25% off tickets for gigs (and more) in mainland UK when you book through us.
- Travel - save 10% on flights and holidays booked through Royalties Membership Services.
Useful information for students
How much does student life cost?
(PDF, 1,163KB)
Money management - learn more
Government Student Loans
The Royal Bank of Scotland is not responsible for the content of external websites.
Interest Rates
Interest we pay you
The annual rates of interest paid on credit balances are as follows:
Calculation and application of interest
Interest is calculated on a daily basis and paid into your account once a month, usually the day after we send your statement to you. The exceptions to this are our Key and Cash Accounts, where interest is paid on the first day of each month.
| Gross Rate % | AER % | Net rate % |
|---|---|---|
| 2.00 | 2.02 | 1.60 |
Calculation and application of interest
Interest is calculated on a daily basis and paid into your account once a month, usually the day after we send your statement to you. The exceptions to this are our Key and Cash Accounts, where interest is paid on the first day of each month.
Gross rate
Gross rate means the rate you are paid before the deduction of tax.
Annual Equivalent Rate (AER)
This is the notional rate used for interest bearing accounts which illustrates what the gross credit interest rate (excluding any bonus interest payable) would be if paid and compounded on an annual basis. It helps you to compare the effective rates of credit interest on different accounts.
Net Rate
This means the interest rate paid after deduction of tax.
Effective Annual Rate of Interest (EAR)
This is the real annual cost of an overdraft stated as annual rate which takes into account how often interest is charged to the account. All other charges, for example arrangement fees, are shown separately from the EAR.
Unarranged overdrafts
Any amount overdrawn without an arranged overdraft or in excess of the arranged overdraft limit will be charged at a rate of 2.2% per month, which is equivalent to 29.84% EAR Typical (variable). However, we will not charge interest on any part of the overdrawn balance which represents a Default Notice Fee or other sum (apart from interest) you must pay us in connection with a breach of your obligations under your agreement with us; or a Maintenance Charge, Paid Referral Fee, Guaranteed Card Payment Fee or Unpaid Item Fee.
Historic Credit Interest Rates
| Previous Rate | Current Rate (effective from 03/12/01) | |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Gross Rate % | 3.00 | 2.00 |
| Gross / AER % | 3.04 | 2.02 |
| Net Rate % | 2.40 | 1.60 |
| Unarranged overdrafts and unpaid items - charges | Fee amount |
|---|---|
| Maintenance Charge | |
| If your account becomes overdrawn without prior arrangement or any arranged overdraft limit is exceeded, you will be liable for a monthly Maintenance Charge. The Maintenance Charge will be applied if you have an unarranged overdraft at any time during a monthly charging period. The charging period normally ends on the date that we send your statement to you. | £28 (£10 for R21**, Student Royalties, and Graduate Royalties) |
| When charged 16 days after the end of the charging period (or the next business day if this is a Saturday, Sunday or Bank Holiday). | |
| Paid Referral Fee | |
| A Paid Referral Fee will be payable if: you informally request an overdraft by issuing instructions for a withdrawal or other payment on your account; and the payment cannot be met from the funds in your account or any unused arranged overdraft facility; and an unarranged overdraft is created or increased because we decide we are willing to accept your request. | £30 for each day on which a Paid Referral occurs (subject to a maximum of £90 in any calendar month) |
| When charged On the sixth business day of the calendar month after the calendar month in which the transaction(s) took place. | |
| Guaranteed Card Payment Fee | |
| A Guaranteed Card Payment Fee will be payable if: you informally request an overdraft by issuing instructions for a withdrawal or other payment on your account; and the payment cannot be met from the funds in your account or any unused arranged overdraft facility; and we decide we are not willing to accept your request but nonetheless accept it because we find that you have guaranteed payment by the use of a cheque guarantee card or debit card. | £35 for each transaction |
| When charged At the time the transaction is paid or taken from your account. | |
| Unpaid Item Fee | |
| An Unpaid Item Fee will be payable if: you informally request an overdraft by issuing instructions for a withdrawal or other payment; and the payment cannot be met from the funds in your account or any unused arranged overdraft facility; and we decide in our discretion not to make the payment. | £38 for each item (subject to a maximum of £114 per day) |
| When charged At the time we decide not to make the payment. | |
| Making an informal request for an overdraft means that you will have to pay a Paid Referral Fee, a Guaranteed Card Payment Fee or an Unpaid Item Fee. If an unarranged overdraft arises, you will also have to pay the Maintenance Charge and interest on the amount overdrawn. However, we will not charge interest on any part of the overdrawn balance which represents either (i) a Default Notice Fee or other sum (apart from interest) you must pay us in connection with a breach of your obligations under your agreement with us; or (ii) a Maintenance Charge, Paid Referral Fee, Guaranteed Card Payment Fee or Unpaid Item Fee. | |
| Enforcement | |
| A Default Notice Fee will be payable if we need to serve a default notice on you (for example, if you fail to repay your overdraft on demand or we wish to enforce any security we hold). This is in addition to any other charges that may apply. | £30 per notice |
| When charged Within four days of the Default Notice being served. | |
** R21 Account is not available to new customers
- Show me legal information for the Student Royalties account
- Show me information on additional services
Student Royalties is available only to students completing a first full time higher education course, post graduate course or training as a nurse. The course must last for a minimum of 2 years (1 year for postgraduates). You must use the Student Royalties account as your main current account and deposit regular amounts into it by way of local education/Student Awards Agency for Scotland funding, parental contribution, salary, student loan or other funding, such as sponsorship or bursary. We will only allow you to hold one student account which offers preferential terms such as interest free overdraft facilities with us (or any other financial institution). Any account not deemed to be conducted in the above manner or that breach these terms and conditions will be subject to removal of facilities and closure.
Overseas students should contact their local branch for more information. Travel and Leisure benefits specified must be ordered through Royalties Membership Services. Commission free travel money must be arranged through The Royal Bank of Scotland.
Creditor interest is paid gross or net of tax depending on your tax position.
New customers will be asked to provide proof of identity, verification of address and signature.
Credit facilities: Over 18s only.
System updates will mean that our internet and telephone banking services are unavailable for short periods in the early hours of the morning.
Arranged overdrafts:
Student customers are offered interest-free overdrafts, by prior arrangement of up to £1,250 in the 1st year, £1,400 in 2nd year, £1,600 in 3rd year, £1,800 in the 4th year and £2,000 in 5th or postgraduate year.
Overdraft repayable on demand
Royalties Membership Services is operated by Affinion International acting as agents for the Royal Bank of Scotland plc.
Sentinel Card Protection ('SCP') is a trading name and registered trademark of Affinion International. Registered address: Charter Court, 50 Windsor Road, Slough, SL1 2EJ, United Kingdom. Registered in England No. 1008797. Affinion International is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority in respect of insurance mediation activities only. Affinion International acts as an intermediary for arranging the insurance and provides the administration of the card registration and associated services.
This insurance is underwritten by Allianz Insurance plc Registered in England No. 84638. Registered Office: 57 Ladymead, Guildford, Surrey, GU1 1DB, United Kingdom. Branch Address: Allianz Schemes, 6 Vale Avenue, Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1EH, United Kingdom. Allianz Insurance plc is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Their authorisation can be confirmed by the FSA by calling 0845 606 1234 or at www.fsa.gov.uk. Their FSA registration number is 121849.
Royalties Payment Card Protection is subject to Terms and Conditions, a copy of which is available in the back of the service guide you will receive after you convert your account.
Important Information
Full terms and conditions and details of how to access the offers are detailed in your Welcome Pack, which will be sent once the account is opened.
- Please also read our website terms and conditions which cover your use of this website
