Part of our Santander UK — Complete Guide 2026 hub.
Santander UK’s standard current account has no monthly fee, but several charges apply for overdrafts, international use, and certain payment types. Here’s a full breakdown of what you’ll pay and how Santander compares to other UK high-street banks.
Santander UK Fees at a Glance
| Charge | Amount |
|---|---|
| Everyday Account monthly fee | Free |
| Santander Edge monthly fee | £3/month |
| Santander Edge Up monthly fee | £5/month |
| Arranged overdraft | ~39.9% EAR (varies by account) |
| Unarranged overdraft | See account terms |
| Foreign transaction fee | 2.99% |
| UK ATM withdrawal | Free |
| CHAPS outgoing transfer | Fee applies — check current schedule |
| Faster Payments | Free |
| Standing order | Free |
Always verify the current fee schedule at santander.co.uk — rates can change.
Current Account Options and Monthly Fees
Everyday Account — Free
Santander’s standard current account has no monthly fee. It includes:
- A Santander debit card
- Online banking and the Santander app
- Faster Payments, standing orders, and direct debits
- Overdraft facility (subject to eligibility and approval)
No cashback or rewards are included on the free account.
Santander Edge — £3/month
The Santander Edge account charges £3/month (£36/year) and in return offers:
- 1% cashback on selected household bills paid by direct debit (up to £5/month)
- 1% cashback on Santander debit card supermarket spending (up to £5/month)
- Access to the Santander Edge Saver at a higher interest rate
The cashback can effectively cover the monthly fee for customers who spend enough in qualifying categories.
Santander Edge Up — £5/month
Santander Edge Up (£5/month / £60/year) includes:
- Higher cashback rates than Edge
- No foreign transaction fees on purchases (fee still applies to ATM withdrawals abroad)
- Access to a higher-rate linked savings account
For frequent travellers, Edge Up’s removal of foreign purchase fees can quickly justify the extra £2/month over Edge.
Overdraft Fees
Santander’s arranged overdraft rate for the Everyday Account is approximately 39.9% EAR — broadly in line with most high-street banks, which largely moved to a flat ~40% EAR rate following FCA reforms in 2020.
| Bank | Arranged Overdraft Rate (EAR) |
|---|---|
| Santander | ~39.9% |
| NatWest | 39.49% |
| HSBC | 39.9% |
| Lloyds | 27.5%–49.9% (varies by account) |
| Barclays | 35.0% |
Practical impact: A £500 overdraft used for 30 days at 39.9% EAR costs approximately £16. Overdrafts are expensive for sustained use — see Best 0% Overdraft Bank Accounts for alternatives.
Foreign Transaction Fees
Santander charges 2.99% on all card payments and ATM withdrawals made outside the UK. This applies to the debit card on the Everyday Account and Santander Edge. Santander Edge Up removes the foreign purchase fee (not the ATM fee).
| Bank | Foreign Transaction Fee |
|---|---|
| Santander Everyday/Edge | 2.99% |
| NatWest | 2.75% |
| HSBC | 2.99% |
| Lloyds | 2.99% |
| Starling Bank | 0% |
| Chase UK | 0% |
For frequent travellers, a specialist travel account (Starling, Chase, or Wise) will almost always be cheaper than using a high-street bank debit card abroad.
Payment Fees
| Payment Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Faster Payments (UK transfers) | Free |
| Standing orders | Free |
| Direct debits | Free to set up and receive |
| CHAPS (same-day large transfers) | Fee applies |
| International wire transfer | Fee applies — check current rate |
CHAPS and international transfer fees should be verified at the time of transfer as Santander’s schedule can change.
Returned Payment and Unpaid Item Fees
When a direct debit or standing order cannot be paid due to insufficient funds, banks may charge a “returned payment fee.” Santander charges £0 for unpaid items on most personal accounts — this changed when the FCA removed default charges regulation required banks to restructure fees. However, Santander’s overdraft interest rate still applies on any negative balance (see overdraft section above).
Alternatives to Avoid Fees
| Fee type | How to avoid |
|---|---|
| Monthly account fee | Switch to a fee-free current account (Santander Basic) if you rarely use account benefits |
| Overdraft interest | Keep a small buffer in the account; set low-balance alerts in the app |
| Foreign transaction fees | Use a dedicated travel debit card (e.g. Starling, Monzo) for overseas spend |
| CHAPS payment fee | Use Faster Payments for same-day transfers under £1 million (free) |
Santander Fees vs Competitors
| Fee | Santander | Barclays | NatWest | HSBC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard overdraft rate | ~39.9% EAR | ~35% EAR | ~39.49% EAR | ~39.9% EAR |
| International ATM | 1.5–2.75% | 2.99% | 2.75% | 2.75% |
| CHAPS payment | £25 | £25 | £0 (some accounts) | £0 (online) |
Overdraft rates across major high-street banks are broadly similar — if you regularly use an overdraft, a specialist account with lower rates or a 0% overdraft buffer is worth considering.