Overdrafts, your cards and account maintenance

Overdrafts

You can apply for a new overdraft, or increase / decrease the amount of any existing overdraft, online.  From the 'Take me to' dropdown on 'My accounts', simply select 'Apply / Change overdraft'.  The amount of overdraft available to you immediately will be shown on screen, or you can request a higher amount.

Sign in or find out more about the online service.

Alternatively call 08457 20 30 40 (lines open 8am to 8pm 7 days a week), or pop into your nearest branch.

The minimum overdraft amount you can apply for is £100.

Students can get an interest-free overdraft of up to £3000.  More details are shown on our Student Current Account.

Our overdraft interest rates are shown on our rates page.

Bank Charges Q&A's

Common questions relating to our bank account charges.

Cash withdrawal limits

The maximum amount that can be withdrawn from any cash machine within any 24 hour period is £300.

The daily maximum cash withdrawal over the branch counter is £1200, unless pre-ordered.

If you wish to withdraw more than £1,200 in cash, you will need to give your branch advance notice. When making large withdrawals, you will need to provide ID.  For more information on how to prove your identity please click here.

Lost, stolen and damaged cards - ordering a replacement card

If you lose or have your debit card stolen, you should call us immediately on 08457 20 30 99.  Lines are open 24 hours a day.  We will then cancel the card and arrange for a replacement to be sent to you.

We will replace up to 5 cards free in any 12 month period.

If your card is damaged, you can cancel your card and arrange a replacement by calling 08457 20 30 40 (lines open 8am to 8pm 7 days a week), or at your nearest branch.

Changing / Unlocking your PIN (Personal Identification Number)

With the introduction of Chip and PIN, you must use your PIN instead of your signature when paying with your debit card.  If you enter your PIN incorrectly 3 times, then your PIN will become locked, preventing you from using your card.

If you've forgotten your PIN, or your PIN becomes locked, just call 08457 20 30 40 (08458 50 55 25 for Easycash customers) (8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm weekends).  We'll then unlock your PIN after we have confirmed your identity, or send you a PIN reminder, which you will receive within 3 working days.

If you remember your PIN, you can also change or unlock your PIN at most UK cash machines.

Using your debit / cash machine card at home or abroad

You can use your debit / cash machine card at any shop or cash machine, in the UK or abroad, wherever you see the VISA sign.

If you use your Visa Debit card abroad, there will be a service charge of £1.50 plus a currency conversion fee of 2.75% of the total amount, for each transaction.  Overseas cash machine providers may also apply a charge for cash withdrawals.

You can withdraw up to £300 a day free-of-charge from any Halifax or Bank of Scotland cash machine.  Other cash machine providers may make a charge for this service - check the machine for any notice of charges before you make a cash withdrawal.

Many supermarkets also now offer a 'cashback' facility at the checkout which is another way to withdraw cash without any charge.

If you are planning to travel overseas, we advise that you take a range of currency options including a small amount of travellers cheques and foreign currency as well as your debit card. To help protect you from fraud we always monitor transactions, and in some circumstances this might mean that cash machine or card transactions in the UK or a foreign country are blocked.

Protecting you against fraud

We are introducing a new service to automatically identify possible fraud and respond quickly.  If we spot unusual debit card transactions that have been made in the UK or abroad, you may receive an automated call to confirm the transaction. 

Changing your address details

To change the address we hold for your account, print off and complete the form on the 'Change of address' page in our Help Centre.

Alternatively just visit your local branch.

Changing the name on your account

To change the name on your bank account, you'll need to visit your nearest branch, bringing with you evidence of the name change, for example Marriage Certificate or Deed Poll.

Joint accounts

The following bank accounts can be opened as joint accounts

High Interest Current Account
Ultimate Reward Current Account
Current Account
Easycash

To apply for a joint bank account, please click here.  Alternatively you can visit your local branch or ring us on 08457 20 30 40. For Easycash accounts, please call 08458 50 55 25.

You can add another person onto a bank account opened in a sole name and can also remove a customer from a joint named account.
To do this you will need to complete a form in your local branch where both signatories will need to sign a consent form.  If adding someone to the account, they may need to bring in the relevant ID.  Please see our proving your identity section.

You cannot remove a joint account holder and immediately replace that account holder with someone else.  To do this, you will need to close the account and open a new account.

Acceptable forms of Identification

When opening a new bank account, you will need to present two forms of verification, one for your name and one for your address at a branch so that we can verify your identity.

Forms of ID we accept include:
• Passport
• Photographic drivers licence
• Credit card statements
• Utility (Gas, Water, Electricity) bills
• Council Tax form
These must be originals, not photocopies.

This is not an exhaustive list – and some of these are only for address changes only.  For more information on how to prove your identity, please click here.

Paying bills from your account

You can set up new bill payments, and pay your existing bills, quickly and easily from the online banking service.

Instructions on how to pay bills online, can be found on our online demo.

Once set up, you can also pay your bills through any Halifax or Bank of Scotland cash machine.  Register now for our service, or sign in if you're already registered.

You cannot currently set up a bill payment or pay a bill over the counter in any of our branches.

Paying in books

We no longer use paying in books with any of our bank accounts.  All deposits can be made at a branch using our self-servicing facilities or over the counter.  If you need any help using the self-servicing facilities, just ask and we'll be happy to help you.

If you have a Cardcash or Easycash account, only deposits of £300 or more can be made over the counter.

Setting up standing orders from your account

If you're registered for our online banking service, you can set up standing orders quickly and easily once you've signed into the service.  Click here for more information on online banking or to view our demo.

To set up a standing order from your bank account, call us on 08457 20 30 40 (08458 50 55 25 for Easycash customers), (lines open 8am to 8pm 7 days a week), or drop into your nearest branch.  You will need to have the receiving bank's sort code, account number and account reference details with you.

Direct Debits are set up on your account by the organisation to which the Direct Debit payment will be made.  You can also cancel Direct Debits online.

External payments made to incorrect bank account details

We are not responsible for any losses resulting from you supplying incorrect information at the time you make your payment.  You are advised to check that all the details you have entered are correct before sending your payment.  Once a payment has been sent, it cannot be stopped, amended or retrieved.

If you entered incorrect details when making a payment you will need to contact the receiving organisation direct to request a refund.  To help you, we have created a letter template for you to download - External Payment Sent to Incorrect Details – Refund Required.  You can print off the letter and use this template as a guide to write your own letter.  You may find the details you need on your mandate or most recent bill or letter from that organisation.  Your own account details can be found on your card or statement.  The letter should then be sent to the receiving bank in an attempt to recover the funds.  We cannot guarantee that the funds will be recovered.

Faster Payments

A new payment system is being introduced by the UK banking industry. The Faster Payments Service will mean that electronic payments could be processed in hours* rather than days, if accepted by the receiving bank. The new service will run alongside the existing payment schemes in the UK such as Bacs† and CHAPS**.

Click here for more information about Faster Payments

International Cash Machine Restrictions

the banking industry is currently experiencing high levels of fraudulent activity from international cash machines.  In order to protect our customers and ourselves we have increased our defence levels which may cause some disruption to service with your debit card in cash machines outside the UK.  If you do have difficulties you can try to use a different cash machine.  Using your card in shops, Bureaux de Change or at Bank Counter services overseas are unaffected.

We always advise our customers to have a range of currency options when travelling abroad and take a small amount of travellers cheques and notes.  Any one of our colleagues will be happy to explain our full range of foreign currency options on 08457 20 30 40, alternatively you can access our online ordering service.

If you are planning to travel overseas and use your debit card in cash machines please contact us for further information on 08457 20 30 40.

Thinking of closing your account?

We're sorry to hear that you wish to close your account.

If your existing account is not providing you with what you want, we're sure we've got an account better suited to your needs - and it's easy to change your account over - You can compare all the current accounts we offer to find the right one for you.

If you would still like to close your account, please see our account closure process.

Tax certificates

You can request a tax certificate for your bank account by completing and returning the tax certificate request form on our 'Useful forms' page.