TSB review
Updated September 28, 2026 · HodlCue Editorial Team · Facts checked September 26, 2026
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Our verdict
TSB suits anyone who wants an everyday debit card with a £0 monthly fee, and the card is aimed at student and kids. Spending comes straight from the current account, and the monthly fee is free at Bitpanda and bunq too, so the choice rests on what the card spends.
Pros and cons
Pros
- A debit card, so spending draws on the money already in the current account
- Aimed at student and kids, which suits a student or a child's first card
- Payments work the same way as the current account it belongs to, with no separate balance to top up
Cons
- It is a debit card, so spending draws on a current account balance rather than a crypto balance
- Business customers are not among its named audiences (student and kids), so the offer is pitched at a narrower group
Who it suits
- Students opening a first bank account, since the card is aimed at student and kids
- Parents setting up a child's card, the other group named in student and kids
- Anyone who wants a debit card with a £0 monthly fee and pays from a current account
Who should look elsewhere
- Bitpanda, for anyone who wants a card that spends a crypto balance rather than a current account
- bunq, an app-first account where card use sits inside wider account features
- BMW Card von American Express, a card built around rewards on brand spending
How TSB compares
Frequently asked questions
What does the TSB card cost each month?+
The monthly fee is £0, so there is no charge for holding the card itself. It sits at the free end of the cards compared here, alongside Bitpanda at €0 and bunq at €0.
Is this a debit card or a credit card?+
It is a debit card, so spending comes straight out of the money in the current account. There is no borrowing line to manage and nothing to repay each month, and the card is aimed at student and kids.
Is TSB regulated and is my money protected?+
TSB is a bank rather than a crypto platform, and this debit card runs on a current account. No regulator or protection scheme is named for it here, and the £0 monthly fee is the only charge the offer sets out.
Who is this card aimed at?+
The card is built around student and kids, so it targets students and kids rather than every customer. That makes it a natural fit for a student opening a first account, or for a parent setting up a child's first card.
Can I pay with cryptocurrency from this card?+
No. This is a debit card for a current account, so it draws on banked money rather than a crypto balance. Spending crypto directly needs a card built around crypto balances, such as the Bitpanda card at €0 a month.
How does this compare with a free crypto card?+
A crypto card spends a crypto balance, while this debit card spends a balance held in a current account. The monthly fees line up, since TSB charges £0, Bitpanda charges €0 and bunq charges €0.
Sources
- tsb.co.uk checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Audience
“Student, Graduate, Under 19s current accounts”
- tsb.co.uk/current-accounts/spend-and-save-account.html checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Monthly fee
“Spend & Save account”
- tsb.co.uk/current-accounts/ways-to-pay.html checked September 26, 2026
Backs: Card type
“Ways to pay with TSB current accounts”
Compiled from 3 source pages, checked September 26, 2026. We did not open an account.
Not confirmed yet: Currency conversion fee, Free ATM withdrawals, Protection.