Best packaged bank accounts 2026

Pick and mix packaged accounts

Barclays offers a different style of packaged account by giving you the option to add insurance to your existing current account. 

You can choose between two levels of cover for both travel insurance (includes breakdown cover) and gadget insurance. Barclays’ bolt-ons continue to be relatively expensive – even choosing the least- comprehensive insurance options (Barclays Tech lite and Travel) will cost £156 more than Nationwide's FlexPlus account. 

Discover how our experts rated Barclays travel insurance.

You generally need to be over 18 to open a packaged bank account.

There aren't usually upper age limits for opening accounts - but there will be for some of the insurance they come with.

Standard travel insurance upper limits range from 70 to 80.

Nationwide has now removed its £65 per account fee to cover those over 70, so is a good option for travellers over that age. 

NatWest/RBS will also theoretically offer cover whatever your age - but only if you pay an additional fee when you reach 70. This is £75 per person, meaning joint account holders only pay once. 

You'll still need to disclose any medical conditions, which may or may not be covered.

If standalone travel insurance is expensive because of your age or health, a packaged account may actually be the cheapest option.

Check with your chosen bank first, though, as pre-existing medical conditions (PEMCs) aren't covered automatically. You'll need to declare these when you open the account and you may be asked to pay extra, or accept limited cover.

Insurers also ask to be informed of any material changes to your health, at which point they may re-screen you, which could result in the terms of cover changing or the premium going up.

• Read more: best travel insurance if you have a medical condition

Most banks offer unlimited car breakdown cover. 

However, Virgin Money limit you to eight call-outs a year and The Co-operative Bank limit you to five call-outs a year.

The banks with the lowest scoring car breakdown policy scores (Bank of Scotland, Halifax, and Lloyds) won't cover you for accommodation while your vehicle is being fixed.

With mobile phone insurance, most banks will only cover your phone and limit claims to two a year, though Barclays, Virgin Money and Nationwide are more generous.

Barclays Tech Pack will cover up to four mobile phones and unlimited gadgets if they cost up to £2,000. It allows unlimited claims for damage or breakdown, four claims for loss or theft of mobile phones, and four claims for any claims for gadgets. 

Nationwide protects multiple phones owned by you and family members living at the same address. Virgin Money will cover phones and gadgets owned by you and family members living at the same address.

Ask your bank whether there are any other steps you need to take to qualify for the benefits, such as registering your smartphone online.

Sharing a packaged account with someone you live with is a good way of getting more value from the account. 

All of the accounts in our table can be held in joint names, meaning two people can be covered under the one fee.

Joint bank accounts aren't without risk - because you are both liable for any debts, regardless of who spends the money - and not all packaged accounts offer value for money.

There are rules in place to prevent insurance mis-selling within fee-charging bank accounts.

These force providers to a) check whether you are eligible to claim under each policy and make sure you know that information; b) establish whether each policy is suitable for you and alert you if some aren't; and c) provide you with annual eligibility statements prompting you to check if the policies still fit your needs.

Here are some other things to watch out for:

• You were signed up without realising it Banks should not do this without your consent unless all customers on a previously free account are being switched to a packaged account.
• You are no longer eligible to claim if your circumstances change, for example, if you pass the maximum age limit to claim on a travel insurance policy, your provider should inform you of this.
• You have to activate the benefits before you can use them Check whether you need to do this when you open the account, otherwise you might find that your insurance is invalid and that you have been paying for something you can't use. If this wasn't explained to you and your insurance claim is rejected, you might have grounds for complaint.

If you think that the features of the packaged account weren't explained properly, or the benefits didn't apply to your circumstances, you might have been mis-sold the account.

First, lodge a complaint with your bank or building society. If after making a formal complaint, you disagree with their final decision, or if you don't hear from them within eight weeks, you have the right to take your complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service.