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Changes to how your bank account balance is displayed
To meet new regulation that all banks must follow, we need to change how we show your account balance.
Previously your ‘available balance’ included your arranged overdraft limit. After the change you’ll see your actual account balance shown separately to your arranged overdraft limit, if you have one.
Based on customer feedback, your account balance will also include pending transactions – these are recent debit card payments you’ve made that are still being processed. Uncleared cheques won’t be included in this.
What this change means if you’re already using an overdraft
You can still use your overdraft in exactly the same way as you did before. The main difference under the new regulation is that we can’t show your account balance and overdraft as one amount any more. We know this now means you’ll need to work out how much overdraft you have available to spend.
Soon we’ll be making more changes to make it easier to see your available overdraft online.
Changes to ATM displays
We’re also making changes to how balances are displayed on our ATMs. Other banks are doing the same, so if you use another bank’s ATM to check your balance it might look different there too.
To make sure you can see these changes on your Mobile Banking app, you can download the latest version from your app store.
Here are some examples of how the new display will look online and what the figures mean.
In the Mobile Banking app:
Example 1 – this shows how the display will look if you have an arranged overdraft in place and have used it.
In this example, the account is £10 overdrawn, there are £10 of pending transactions, and a £500 overdraft limit.
How the account display looked before
- This balance amount is £10 overdrawn and doesn’t include the £10 of pending transactions.
- This ‘Available’ amount showed the account balance minus the £10 of pending transactions, plus the £500 arranged overdraft limit all added together.
How the new account display will look
- This amount shows the actual account balance – in this example it’s £10 overdrawn and minus £10 of pending transactions.
- This shows the £500 total arranged overdraft limit.
Example 2 – this shows how the display will look if you have an arranged overdraft in place and but haven’t used it
In this example, there’s £1000 in the account, £10 of pending transactions and a £500 overdraft limit.
How the account display looked before
- This £1,000 balance amount doesn’t include the £10 of pending transactions.
- This ‘Available’ amount showed the account balance minus the £10 of pending transactions, plus the £500 arranged overdraft limit all added together.
How the new account display will look
- This amount shows the actual account balance – in this example it’s £1,000 in credit minus the £10 of pending transactions. This does not include the £500 arranged overdraft.
- This shows the £500 total arranged overdraft limit. This is not included in the balance amount.
In Online Banking:
Example 1 – this shows how the display will look if you have an arranged overdraft in place and have used it.
In this example, the account is £10 overdrawn, there are £10 of pending transactions and a £500 overdraft limit.
How the account display looked before
- This ‘Balance’ amount was £10 overdrawn and didn’t include the £10 of pending transactions.
- This ‘Funds available’ amount showed the account balance minus the £10 of pending transactions, plus the £500 arranged overdraft limit all added together.
How the new account display will look
- This ‘Balance after pending’ amount shows the actual account balance – in this example it’s £10 overdrawn and minus £10 of pending transactions.
- This shows the £500 total arranged overdraft limit.
Example 2 – this shows how the display will look if you have an arranged overdraft in place and but haven’t used it.
In this example, there’s £1000 in the account, £10 of pending transactions and a £500 overdraft limit.
How the account display looked before
- This ‘Balance’ amount of £1000 didn’t include the £10 of pending transactions.
- This ‘Funds available’ amount showed the account balance minus the £10 of pending transactions, plus the £500 arranged overdraft limit all added together.
How the new account display will look
- The ‘Balance after pending’ amount shows the actual account balance – in this example it’s £1,000 in credit minus the £10 of pending transactions. This does not include the £500 arranged overdraft.
- This shows the £500 total arranged overdraft limit. This is not included in the balance amount.
Any questions?
If you’d like to talk to us about your bank account or overdraft, please call 0345 720 3040 (or +44 (0)113 242 1984 if you’re calling from abroad) or pop into your local branch.