Barclays are the only bank who have increased their overdraft limit this year. You get an automatic £200 interest-free overdraft although you could get an interest-free overdraft (available on request) of up to £1,000 in year 1, £1,250 in year 2, £1,500 in year 3, £1,750 in year 4, and £2,000 in year 5. There is an option to extend you overdraft to £3,000 at 8.9% AER; this is one of the best for unauthorised borrowing charges.

Please note there's no guarantee that you'll get the maximum overdraft- it's based on a credit check. Barclays will give you a connect card with a daily cash-machine withdrawal limit of £300, you also benefit from online and telephone banking.

FREEBIES? You get a 25% discount on the monthly cost of mobile broadband through orange (or £18.65/month) and they'll throw in a free USB Modem. This could save you £112.50 however if you are an orange customer you may be eligible for FREE broadband so check it out with them first.

HSBC currently represents the best value for additional agreed overdrafts. It's additional agreed overdraft is charged at 3% above the base rate, so with interest rates currently at record lows, you can really benefit from this. You could be eligible for an overdraft of £1000 in year 1 and an extra £250 for each additional year.

FREEBIES? You get discounts on mobiles, computer equipment and entertainment as well as a specialist advice service and travel insurance.

With Lloyds you get an automatic £200 interest-free overdraft, although up to £1500 could be available (students may be able to arrange extended interest-free overdrafts on request). There is an 8.2% charge on additional agreed overdrafts. With Lloyds you could benefit from free mobile banking until August 2010, but you'll have to pay £2.50 a month after that- boooo! However we're a big fan of their free text alerts which allow you to keep an eye on your finances. They'll give you a visa debit card, with the option to sign up for 'Save the Change', which helps you save every time you use your Visa debit card.

FREEBIES? You can top-up your PAYG phone at most Lloyds TSB cashpoints, you also get commission-free foreign currency and non-sterling American Express Travellers Cheques. In addition you could save up to £75.99 with the AA and you get free YHA membership for a year worth £9.95... oh and 35 free music downloads!

With NatWest you get an interest-free overdraft up to £1,250 in year 1, £1,400 in year 2, £1,600 in year 3, £1,800 in year 4 and £2,000 in year 5. Unauthorised borrowing is charged at a massive 17.81% so don't get overdrawn without permission! You'll get a student credit card, with a credit limit of up to £500, as well as an international debit card. You also benefit from mobile phone banking (and mobile phone top-ups at cash machines). Natwest are the student specialists with more campus branches than any other UK bank which means they're there if you need to pop in for advice (don't be afraid to do this!).

FREEBIES? Our favourite, a free five-year 16-25 Railcard worth £130 (which entitles you to a third off rail fares, plus discounts at a range of shops and restaurants). The railcard is annually renewed only if you've used the account in the last 3 month. You get a free 4GB USB memory stick when you apply online (while stocks last!). You'll also get a discount card offering 20% discount at Borders, New Look, Dominos etc, a £100 discount on asus laptops, £10 credit for 3 mobile broadband with a USB mosem for £14.99 and a free USB memory stick.

RBS's student account is very similar to NatWest's. You could be eligible for a 0% overdraft of up to £2750, however at RBS you'll get charged a painful 29.8% for unauthorised borrowing.

FREEBIES? Again, the perks are similar to Natwest: A 5 year national railcard which gives you 33% off (worth £120). Again the railcard is annually renewed only if you've used the account in the last 3 months. You'll get a discount card offering 20% off at Borders, New Look, Dominos etc, a £100 discount on asus laptops, £10 credit for 3 mobile broadband with a USB modem for £14.99 and a free USB memory stick. However in addition you also get 25% off gigs and shows, 241 cinema tickets and 10% off flights and holidays!

The Bank of Scotland student account is basically the same at Halifax's. It offers an interest-free overdraft of up to £3,000 (typical 0% EAR variable) for up to five years - plus for an extra year after you graduate. You'll automatically get a £500 interest-free overdraft when you open your account and then you can apply for more if and when you need it.

FREEBIES? They offer you commission-free foreign currency and traveller's cheques so you can have more spending money for your summer holidays. In addition you get a 25% discount on AA breakdown cover, and a 20% discount on their Card Care card protection insurance.

Halifax has the joint highest 0% overdraft at up to £3000/year, but don't count on being eligible for it. Last year fewer than 40% of the applicants got the full overdraft. While Halifax offers the best overdraft they're also sneaky sneaky with their fees. They ll charge you 24.2% on unauthorised overdrafts as well as a £28 fee per month and a £20 a day charge for every transaction that takes you into the red. You have been warned...... It's worth noting that Halifax does offer one of the lowest interest rates on agreed overdrafts (7.2%) so Halifax is a good choice for those in control of their finances.

FREEBIES? You get breakdown cover and commission free travellers cheques and currency.

Abbey's overdraft isn't the largest, but if accepted you qualify automatically for the maximum overdraft limit (although you have to be able to make a £500 payment in the first month). They offer an interest-free overdraft of up to £2,000 (£1,000 in year 1) and you could potentially get rates of 9.9% on additional agreed overdrafts. Beware though, they charge you a horrific 28.7% for unauthorised borrowing! You'll get given a Visa Debit or Electron card and online banking is available.

FREEBIES? A £50 cash gift is credited to the account after it has been opened for one month, you also get 2% AER on balances up to £500... Oh and once you have opened your account, you will be eligible to enter the prize draw for a master class with a celebrity!

With Co-op you'll get a £1,400 interest-free overdraft in year 1, rising to £2,000 in year 3. You could also potentially get a rate of 9.9% on additional agreed overdrafts. They'll give you a debit card, cheque book and a £100 cheque guarantee card. They offer online and telephone banking.

Clydesdale don't offer an interest free overdraft! Luckily you can get authorised overdrafts of up to £1000 in year 1 at 7.49%, and in years 2+ you can get the same rate for up to £3000. FREEBIES? Commission free travellers cheques and currency.