Fees and charges

Your guide to our charges

If you have a personal account at any of our branches, this page tells you everything you need to know about our main fees and charges. You might find it helpful to use it to plan ahead and avoid unnecessary fees.

Unless you pay a monthly maintaining the account fee for an account with added benefits, we don’t normally charge you for everyday banking – providing your account is in credit. There are some events, however, like using your cards outside the UK, where there may be charges. This guide will tell you exactly how the charges work, and when they may be applied.

If you want to use a service we haven’t covered here, we’ll always let you know before you are charged. If we make any changes to fees or services you regularly use we'll always let you know before you're charged.

Information on Business account rates and charges.

Banking charges guide

The following information applies to bank accounts opened from 12th September 2011.

When charges are applied

Different fees are taken from your account at different times. For example, regular fees like monthly account fees will come out of your account at the end of your monthly billing period.This is usually from the second of each month to the first of the next month, but it can vary.

If you’d like to check what your monthly billing period is please just ask us in branch, or call us on 0345 721 3141. Lines are open 8am – 8pm, seven days a week. Not all Telephone Banking services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

There are some charges that are made at the time we provide you with the service, for example, when you use your debit card outside the UK.

Other charges, such as daily arranged overdraft interest, are worked out and charged at the end of each day that you use your arranged overdraft.

If you change an account or service that has a regular fee attached to it, such as a Monthly Maintaining the Account fee, part way through your billing period, you’ll only pay for the time you’ve actually had it.

Current account charges

To check what type of current account you have please see your statement, visit us in branch or call 0345 721 3141
Lines are open 8am – 8pm, seven days a week. Not all Telephone Banking services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Current account charges

Type of current account

Monthly Maintaining the Account Fees

Main benefits

Type of current account

Classic, Under 19s and Basic Accounts

Monthly Maintaining the Account Fees

Free

Main benefits

  • Free banking for everyday transactions when you are in credit.

Type of current account

Student

Monthly Maintaining the Account Fees

Free

Main benefits

  • Interest-free tiered arranged overdraft available (subject to application and approval).

Type of current account

Graduate

Monthly Maintaining the Account Fees

Free

Main benefits

  • Interest-free tiered arranged overdraft available (subject to application and approval).

Accounts with extras

We use a range of third party insurance providers for the benefits on these accounts (conditions and exclusions apply). For further details please see the full policy documents.

Accounts with extras

Type of current account

Monthly Maintaining the Account Fees

Main benefits

Type of current account

Silver

Monthly Maintaining the Account Fees

£10

Main benefits

An account that gives you everyday banking plus a range of benefits including:

  • AA Breakdown Family cover with Roadside Assistance
  • Mobile Phone Insurance
  • European Travel Insurance for you and your family including winter sports cover. All cover stops on the account holder’s 65th birthday

Type of current account

Platinum

Monthly Maintaining the Account Fees

£21

Main benefits

An account that gives you everyday banking plus a range of benefits including:

  • AA Breakdown Family Cover with Roadside Assistance, National Recovery and At Home
  • Mobile Phone Insurance
  • Worldwide Travel Insurance for you and your family including winter sports cover. All cover stops on the account holder’s 80th birthday

Debit card and Cashpoint® card charges

Debit card and Cashpoint card charges

When you withdraw cash in the UK (whether at an ATM or over the counter)

Charges

When you withdraw cash in the UK (whether at an ATM or over the counter)

Using your debit card or Cashpoint® card at a Bank of Scotland Cashpoint® machine or branch in the UK.

Charges

Free

When you withdraw cash in the UK (whether at an ATM or over the counter)

Using your debit card at a non-Bank of Scotland Cashpoint® machine or non Bank of Scotland branch in the UK.

Charges

Bank of Scotland does not make a charge but the owner of the machine may. If so, the machine will show you the amount and tell you that it will be taken from your account when you withdraw the cash.

Debit card and Cashpoint card charges

When you use your debit card to purchase foreign currency or travellers cheques in the UK

Charges

When you use your debit card to purchase foreign currency or travellers cheques in the UK

From Bank of Scotland branches.

Charges

Foreign currency and Pounds: No charge

When you use your debit card to purchase foreign currency or travellers cheques in the UK

From any other banks, travel agents, bureaux de change and outlets displaying the Visa sign.

Charges

Bank of Scotland does not make a charge but the provider of foreign currency or travellers cheques may make a charge.

Debit card and Cashpoint card charges

Withdrawing cash in a currency other than pounds, or withdrawing pounds outside the UK (at a cash machine or over the counter)

Charges

Withdrawing cash in a currency other than pounds, or withdrawing pounds outside the UK (at a cash machine or over the counter)

Using your Bank of Scotland debit card or Cashpoint card.

Charges

If you use your card to make a purchase in a currency other than pounds, the amount is converted to pounds on the day it is processed by Visa using the Visa Payment Scheme exchange rate on the day. We will charge you a foreign currency transaction fee of 2.99% of the value of the transaction, this is a fee for currency conversion.

We will also charge you a foreign currency purchase fee of £0.50p which is not applicable if your transaction is in Euro inside the EEA, or if you use Private Banking, or if you use a Platinum or Premier account debit card.

Debit card and Cashpoint card charges

When you use your debit card to make a purchase or other transaction (not cash withdrawal or foreign currency purchase) in a currency other than pounds whether you are in or outside the UK

Charges

When you use your debit card to make a purchase or other transaction (not cash withdrawal or foreign currency purchase) in a currency other than pounds whether you are in or outside the UK

Using your Bank of Scotland debit card.

Charges

If you use your card to withdraw cash in a currency other than pounds, or to withdraw cash in pounds outside the UK, the amount is converted to pounds on the day it is processed by Visa using the Visa Payment Scheme Exchange Rate. We will charge you a foreign currency transaction fee of 2.99% of the amount of the transaction, this is a fee for currency conversion.

We will also charge you a foreign currency cash fee of £1.50 for each withdrawal in a foreign currency outside of the EEA and withdrawals in a non euro foreign currency within the EEA. Where you elect to allow the cash machine operator/financial service provider to make the conversion to pounds for you, we will only charge a foreign cash fee of £1.50 for each withdrawal in a foreign currency outside of the EEA and withdrawals in a non euro foreign currency within the EEA. The provider of the foreign currency may make a separate charge for conversion.

Other services

Other services

Service

Charges

Service

If you ask us to stop a cheque

Charges

No fee

Service

Returned cheque — If a cheque you pay into your account is returned to us unpaid by another bank or branch

Charges

Free

Service

Statements — We will send you regular account statements which are free of charge

Charges

Free

Service

Duplicate statements

Charges

Free

Service

Banker’s draft/cheque (pounds)

Charges

No fee

Service

CHAPS Payment — when you transfer cleared money to accounts held at any other bank on the same day, to arrive the same day. This will include an advice to the person you are paying when the payment reaches their bank

Charges

£25

Other services

Payments and deposits from outside the UK or in a foreign currency

Charges

Payments and deposits from outside the UK or in a foreign currency

Sending money outside the UK or in a foreign currency

Charges

View information on our fees and charges to send money outside the UK or in a foreign currency.

Payments and deposits from outside the UK or in a foreign currency

Electronic payments received from outside the UK or in a foreign currency

Charges

View information on our fees and charges to receive money from outside the UK or in a foreign currency.

Payments and deposits from outside the UK or in a foreign currency

Foreign Cheques

Charges

No fee

Payments and deposits from outside the UK or in a foreign currency

Notice of Default Sums

Charges

1. What is a default sum?

A default sum is a charge incurred on your account for any activity which breaks the conditions of your account.  The most common reasons for incurring a default sum include:

  • Exceeding your agreed card spending limit
  • Missing your minimum payment date / amount
  • Returned payments

2. How will I be notified about default sums?

Any incurred default sums will show on your statement under the heading 'Notice of Default Sums'

Cheque Imaging has been fully introduced for all banks in the UK, enabling quicker and more convenient ways of depositing cheques, such as via the Mobile Banking app. This is because instead of exchanging physical cheques, banks will exchange digital images of cheques.

A quicker clearing time also means that when you have written a cheque, money will leave your account sooner than it did under the old '2-4-6' clearing process. You should always ensure you have sufficient funds in your account prior to writing a cheque.

Cheque Clearing

The table below explains what happens while the cheque is being ‘cleared’ (collected from the other bank).

How the Cheque Imaging process works

If you pay a cheque in pounds into your account on a Monday, you will see it in your account the same day. It counts towards any interest and you can use the money on Tuesday by 11:59pm at the latest.

How the Cheque Imaging process will work

Cheque Clearing Process

When will the payment affect any interest or reward payments you get or daily arranged overdraft interest you pay?

When will the payment be available to use?

When can the cheque be returned unpaid?

Cheque Clearing Process

Cheques paid in using the Cheque Imaging process

When will the payment affect any interest or reward payments you get or daily arranged overdraft interest you pay?

By 11.59pm on the working day after we receive the cheque.

When will the payment be available to use?

From 11.59pm on the working day after we receive the cheque, at the latest.

When can the cheque be returned unpaid?

Up to 11.59pm on the working day after we receive the cheque.

Explanation of terms

GROSS RATE means that no tax will be automatically deducted from interest on your behalf. You are responsible for paying any tax due to HMRC.

AER (Annual Equivalent Rate) - the rate if interest was paid and compounded once a year.

Interest rates may vary from time to time. All rates are per annum except where stated.

Calls may be monitored or recorded in case we need to check we have carried out your instructions correctly and to help improve our quality of service.

Bank of Scotland plc. Registered in Scotland No. SC327000. Registered Office: The Mound, Edinburgh EH1 1YZ. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration number 169628.