If you receive a regular income either from your job and/or benefits, then the chances are you will have a current account with a bank or building society.

A typical current account offers a number of services:

• A cash card giving access to cash machines around the country.


• A debit card - often combined with the cash card.


• A cheque book.


• Overdraft facilities if your balance falls into the red.


• Interest if your account is in credit

If you find it hard to get to your bank or building society, then it is worth choosing a current account that allows you to manage your finances from home.
Facilities you might want to consider are:

• Telephone banking services. Most telephone banking services operate 24-hours a day and enable you to check your account balance, transfer funds between accounts and order statements and cheque books. Users of these services must have a touch-tone phone.
• Internet banking services. In addition to telephone services, most banks and building societies allow you to manage your current account over the internet.
• A debit card. These enable you to pay for goods and services over the phone or the internet.

If you are hearing impaired, check to see whether a bank's services can be operated via a Textphone. In practise you can use Typetalk to mediate with all financial institutions.

Many banks are able to issue promotional leaflets, bank statements, letters and mortgage forms in Braille, large print and on audio tape. Some can also provide you with plastic guides and templates to help you fill in cheques, and credit books.

The current accounts offered by different banks and building societies vary. Take time to find the account that is right for you.

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