Hi Porcupine.

A while back it was signalled that this development was to include undischarged bankrupts. I can't find the detail anywhere to confirm that it does, but it certainly sounds like it might be the case at last.

In reality almost all of the banks have offered basic accounts to persons in trust deeds, but only Barclays were serving undischarged bankrupts after the Co-op Bank pulled out a couple of years ago.

Would be great to hear from anyone out there who is trying to get an account opened while in a Trust Deed. Hopefully the rhetoric does translate to people's experience on the ground.

I've just come across the press release issued by HM Treasury on the Gov.uk website regarding Fee-Free bank accounts.

It advises that the accounts will be available to anyone who doesn't already have a bank account, is ineligible for a standard current account or who can't use their existing account due to financial difficulty.

It doesn't make it clear from the press release if this will impact on people subject to a Trust Deed or Sequestration. I suppose it could be argued that people on a TD/SEQ fall into the category of financial difficulty.

The banks offering basic bank accounts are as follows:

ÔÇó Barclays ÔÇô Barclays Basic Current Account
ÔÇó Santander ÔÇô Basic Current Account
ÔÇó NatWest ÔÇô Foundation Account
ÔÇó Ulster Bank (Northern Ireland) ÔÇô Foundation Account
ÔÇó The Royal Bank of Scotland (Scotland) ÔÇô Foundation Account
ÔÇó RBS England & Wales ÔÇô Basic Account
ÔÇó HSBC ÔÇô Basic Bank Account
ÔÇó Nationwide ÔÇô FlexBasic
ÔÇó Co-operative Bank ÔÇô Cashminder
ÔÇó Lloyds Banking Group (including Halifax and Bank of Scotland brands) ÔÇô Basic Account
ÔÇó TSB ÔÇô Cash Account
ÔÇó National Australia Bank Group (including Yorkshire Bank and Clydesdale brands) ÔÇô Readycash Account

Time will tell how people get on applying for a bank account but it's certainly a step in the right direction.