Abbey and A&L current accounts saw 1 million new customers in 2009

Santander owned Abbey and Alliance and Leicester current accounts saw the opening of one million new accounts in 2009.

Both the Abbey current account, which offers an interest rate of 6 per cent on balances of up to £2,500, and the Alliance and Leicester current account, which offers an interest free arranged overdraft have proven popular with customers.

Commenting, Alison Brittain, Santander's executive director of retail distribution in the UK said: "It is a significant achievement to open 1 million new current accounts in a year in the UK – especially as Britons are sometimes hesitant when it comes to moving their primary banking relationship.

"We have only been able to do this by offering the most compelling products, a free switcher service and through the dedication of our staff in promoting the benefits of switching to our accounts."

The latest addition to Santander's current account range is the Zero Current Account, available to Abbey mortgage customers, which offers no fees for exceeding authorised overdrafts or using cash machines abroad.

© Fair Investment Company Ltd

Current Accounts

	Account	Overdraft (EAR%)	Features	Apply
	Barclays Bank Account	up to £5000 (from 19.3%)	Telephone and Online Banking - Simply, free and easy to use
	Premier Current Account	0% on arranged overdrafts!	Interest free overdrafts
	Current Plus Account	19.99%	A flexible current account for day-to-day banking
	Standard Interest Paying Current Account	19.24%	0.10% interest is calculated daily and paid into your account on a monthly basis
	Premier Direct Current Account	0% for 12 months, max limit £2500	Earn 5.0% on balances up to £2500
	Rewards Current Account	from £1 per day	£5 cashback every month you deposit £1000
	Rewards Current Account	from £1 per day	£5 cashback every month you deposit £1000
	HSBC Current Account	19.9%	£50 cashback for new customers when you switch to HSBC Current Account or Current Account Plus.
	Premier 50 Current Account	0% for 12 months, max limit £2500	Earn 5.0% on balances up to £2500 + get £100 when you switch!
	Barclays Current Account Plus	interest free up to £300 and 16.9% thereafter	Up to £213 benefits annually for just £5 per month
	Barclays Additions Active	up to £300 interest free (from 12.9% thereafter)	Up to £800 of annual benefits for just £15 a month. Includes travel insurance, mobile insurance, breakdown cover and much more!
	Advantage Gold	18.49%	Winter savings worth up to £704 incl. breakdown cover, annual travel insurance and mobile insurance incl. iPhones™. Conditions and monthly fee apply.
	Royalties Gold	17.00%	Winter savings worth up to £704 incl. breakdown cover, annual travel insurance and mobile insurance incl. iPhones™. Conditions and monthly fee apply.