Top British Banks List and Guide

If you're looking for a reliable British bank, you have plenty of options. Barclays is one of the most well-known banks in the UK, with a history dating back to 1690.

HSBC is another major player in the British banking scene, with a presence in over 80 countries worldwide. It's a global bank with a strong local presence.

With so many banks to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start. RBS (Royal Bank of Scotland) is a popular choice for many Brits, with a wide range of services and a long history of banking expertise.

British banks are primarily categorized into two main types: retail banks and wholesale banks. Retail banks focus on serving individual customers and small businesses.

High street banks, such as Barclays and HSBC, are a type of retail bank that provides everyday banking services to the general public.

Wholesale banks, on the other hand, cater to large corporations and institutions, offering specialized financial services like investment banking and trade finance.

The largest British banks, including Royal Bank of Scotland and Lloyds Banking Group, operate both retail and wholesale banking divisions.

HSBC is the largest bank in Europe and the 7th largest in the world by total AUM. It has an extensive branch network throughout the UK and operates in multiple countries around the world.

The Big Four banks in the UK are HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group, and NatWest Group. These banks dominate the retail and commercial banking markets. Santander UK is often included in this group, but its Spanish origins make it a topic of debate.

Here's a brief overview of the Big Four banks:

The Big Four banks in the UK are HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds Banking Group, and NatWest Group. These four banks dominate the retail and commercial banking markets in the UK.

HSBC is the largest of the Big Four banks in every relevant metric. It's headquartered in London and has historical links to business in East Asia. HSBC is the largest bank in Europe and the 7th largest in the world by total assets under management.

Barclays has a market capitalization of $55.08 billion and total assets under management of $2,049.77 billion. Barclays is ranked 13th globally by total assets under management.

Lloyds Banking Group has a market capitalization of $49.02 billion and total assets under management of $1,122.76 billion. Lloyds Banking Group is ranked 35th globally by total assets under management.

NatWest Group has a market capitalization of $47.60 billion and total assets under management of $925.89 billion. NatWest Group is ranked 42nd globally by total assets under management.

Here is a summary of the Big Four banks:

Smaller Banks are a great option for those looking for a more personalized banking experience. They often have a stronger focus on community and customer satisfaction.

Co-operative Bank is one such smaller bank, owned by The Co-operative Group. It's a customer-led ethical policy that sets it apart from larger banks.

Sainsbury's Bank is another smaller bank, owned by British supermarket company Sainsbury's and Lloyds Banking Group. This unique partnership brings together the best of both worlds.

Tesco Bank is also a smaller bank, owned by British supermarket company Tesco. It's a great option for those who shop at Tesco and want to manage their finances in one place.

Post Office Money is a smaller bank that offers a range of banking services, including current accounts and savings accounts.

Santander UK is a leading bank with a mission to help people and businesses prosper in a simple, personal, and fair way.

The bank is part of the Santander Group of Spain, which has a significant presence in the UK market. Santander UK has a strong commitment to sustainability, aiming to raise €220bn in green financing between 2019 and 2030.

Lloyds Banking Group is another major player in the UK banking market, with a rich legacy spanning over three centuries. The group has a large customer base, serving 30 million customers across its various brands.

Here's a list of some of the notable UK banking brands owned by foreign banks:

Metro Bank is a relatively new player in the UK banking scene, having been founded in 2010 by Anthony Thomson and Vernon Hill.

It was granted a licence by the Financial Services Authority on 5 March 2010, making it the first high street bank to receive such a licence in over 150 years.

Metro Bank has a strong focus on in-person banking, with a network of branches across the UK.

The bank has also been investing in technology, launching new invoicing technology for its business customers via its mobile app in 2021.

Its partnership with HCL Tech has helped drive continuous innovation and enhance customer experiences, showing that even traditional banks can adapt to changing times.

Halifax is a major UK bank operating as a division of Lloyds Banking Group.

Founded in 1853 as the Halifax Permanent Benefit Building and Investment Society, it was originally a building society.

In 1997, Halifax demutualised and became a bank, later merging with the Bank of Scotland in 2001 to form HBOS.

Halifax has implemented innovative technologies like heartbeat authentication for secure online banking.

The bank offers a range of accounts, including a standard Current Account, Reward Current Account, and Ultimate Reward Current Account.

The Ultimate Reward Current Account comes with extras like travel insurance, breakdown cover, and mobile phone insurance, all for a monthly fee.

Halifax also offers a dedicated Student Current Account and Money Smart Account for 11 to 15-year-olds.

Santander is a well-established bank with a significant presence in the UK. It's the UK subsidiary of Santander, the largest bank in Spain and the fourth largest in Europe. Santander UK aims to be the best open financial services platform, providing services to individuals, SMEs, corporates, financial institutions, and governments.

The bank's purpose is to help people and businesses prosper in a simple, personal, and fair way. Santander UK is building a more responsible organization, making commitments to support this objective, including raising €220bn in green financing between 2019 and 2030.

Santander UK has a significant customer base, with over 165 million customers worldwide. The bank has a large network of branches, with over 8,500 locations globally. Santander UK also employs over 212,000 people, making it a major employer.

Santander UK offers a wide range of financial products and services, including everyday banking services, credit cards, insurance, mortgages, savings, and investments.

Santander UK's financial performance is impressive, with a total of €1.3tn in total funds as of 2023. This makes it a significant player in the global banking industry.

Here's a comparison of Santander UK with some of the other major UK banks:

Santander UK's significant market presence and financial performance make it a major player in the UK banking industry.

The Royal Bank of Scotland is a major retail and commercial bank in Scotland, founded in 1727 through a royal charter in Edinburgh. It operates around 700 branches, primarily in Scotland but also in major towns across England and Wales.

Royal Bank of Scotland is the biggest bank in the UK, and one of the largest banks in the world, with a merger deal that reached a record high in British banking takeover of up to £21 billion in 2000.

While headquartered in Edinburgh, Royal Bank of Scotland is part of the NatWest Group, offering a similar selection of current accounts as its parent bank. The RBS Select Account and RBS Reward Account are two examples of current accounts available.

There are also a range of perk-packed Premier accounts, student, teen, and child accounts available from Royal Bank of Scotland.

Barclays, one of the UK's most iconic banks, has a rich history dating back to 1690. It was founded as a goldsmith banking business in London's financial district, the City of London. Barclays acquired its famous name in 1736 when James Barclay joined the firm as a partner.

The bank operates through two main divisions - Barclays UK and Barclays International, supported by a service company called Barclays Execution Services. Due to its significant size and importance, Barclays is designated as a systemically important bank by the Financial Stability Board.

Barclays is not only the oldest bank in the UK but also the second largest, just after HSBC. It was the first bank in the world to have an ATM and issued the first credit card in the UK in 1966, followed by the first debit card in 1987.

Here are some of the most popular current accounts at Barclays:

Barclays has a significant presence in the UK, with a range of personal banking products, including current and savings accounts, borrowing options, credit cards, investment, and insurance products.

NatWest is a major player in the UK banking scene, with a presence in every corner of the country. It has over 960 branches and 3,400 ATMs across Britain.

The bank serves a massive customer base, with 7.5 million personal customers and 850,000 small businesses. This is a testament to its wide reach and influence in the market.

NatWest has made significant investments in digital innovation, aiming to improve the user experience of its mobile app and leveraging open banking APIs. This is a move towards making banking more accessible and convenient for its customers.

The bank has set ambitious targets, aiming to provide £100bn in climate and sustainable financing by 2025. This is a significant step towards supporting customers' transition to net zero emissions and renewable energy solutions.

Here are some key facts about NatWest:

Lloyds is a well-established bank with a rich legacy, tracing its roots back to the founding of the Bank of Scotland in 1695. It has evolved into a banking behemoth serving 30 million customers and employing 65,000 individuals across its various brands.

Lloyds Banking Group is a financial powerhouse that has acquired HBOS in 2009, and it's now a part of the "Big 4" banks in the UK. Halifax is a major bank operating as a division of Lloyds Banking Group, founded in 1853 as the Halifax Permanent Benefit Building and Investment Society.

The bank offers a range of current accounts, including its Classic and Club Lloyds accounts, plus all kinds of premium and specialist accounts. You can choose the Silver account to get family travel insurance and breakdown cover thrown in, or a Platinum account which also includes mobile phone insurance.

Lloyds Bank offers a Smart Start savings account and a dedicated Student Account for young people. The bank has also implemented innovative technologies such as heartbeat authentication for secure online banking.

Here are some key features of Lloyds Bank's current accounts:

Santander UK offers a 1|2|3 Student Current Account, which is a popular choice for students. This account comes with a range of benefits, including a 0% overdraft.

Lloyds Bank has a dedicated Student Account, which is designed specifically for young people. It's a great option for those looking for a student-friendly account.

Santander UK's Santander Edge Student account is a top pick for students, with a service rating of 60% "great" from Money Saving Expert. It's a solid choice for those in higher education.

Lloyds Bank's Smart Start savings account is a great option for young people who want to save money. It's a simple and straightforward account that's perfect for those just starting out.

Here are some of the top student bank accounts available: