Bank account to fill the gap

HSBC is targeting gap year students with a new bank account.

08:49 18 August 2004

With A-Level results looming HSBC is urging school leavers to consider its gap year bank account.

This year, more than 25,000 leavers are expected to defer their place at university and take a year off before heading back to the books.

That's one in ten pre-students who will use the year to travel or save some money before starting their course.

Currently, HSBC is the only provider of a gap year bank account. It offers one free BSM driving lesson and 15 off the next five lessons booked, along with commission free foreign currency and traveller's cheques.

In addition, the account allows those off on a gap year to get up to 20 per cent off Lonely Planet travel guides, as well as a 1,000 overdraft.

Girls outnumber the boys, with the male-female ratio for gap year students sitting at 6:4.

The average amount spent on a year off is 3,000 and, according to STA travel. Australia topped the list for most popular destination last year.