Banking Without Borders

Is HSBC Premier the Best Bank Account in the UK?

In this episode of Banking Without Borders, Jonny and Jan break down HSBC Premier — the free bank account that requires £100,000 to get through the door.  We cover the strict eligibility criteria, an honest audit of the bundled Aviva travel insurance and Square Health perks, how the credit card mileage engines work, and why this account is simultaneously the most impressive banking infrastructure in the UK and one of the worst places to park your savings. If you hold HSBC Premier — or you're thinking about opening one — this is everything the marketing won't tell you. In this episode: * The three ways to qualify in 2026 — and the £500 switch bonus on the table right now * What the £1,600 healthcare bundle actually covers (and where the shared allowances catch people out) * The free credit card vs the £290 World Elite — which mileage engine is worth it * The Global Money Account, Nova Credit, and why expats have almost no reason to bank anywhere else * Why leaving your cash in the default savings account costs the average Premier customer nearly £3,000 a year Check out our website DepositScout.com [https://link.depositscout.com/w12Afi] for the latest savings rates.  Connect with us (via LinkedIn) Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/] Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease [http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease] Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at jonny@technicallymoney.com

Revolut Just Raised Prices Across Europe — Is It Still Worth Paying For?

Revolut has increased subscription prices across several European markets — including Germany, France and the Netherlands — while adding a wave of new perks to Premium, Metal and Ultra. But are these benefits actually useful… or are they just designed to justify higher monthly fees? In this episode, Jonny and Jan break down: *  The exact Revolut price increases across Europe  *  Whether Metal and Ultra still offer good value  *  New perks like Super Duolingo, eSIM data, airport fast track and AI website builder Lovable  *  Why some of these “benefits” may really be funnels to spend more money  *  Huge differences between countries and subscription value  *  Why the UK could be next for price hikes  *  Whether Revolut is becoming too complicated for its own good  They also discuss subscription fatigue, hidden value most users never activate, and whether Revolut’s strategy is becoming more about recurring revenue than genuinely improving the product. If you use Revolut Premium, Metal or Ultra — or you’re considering upgrading — this episode will help you decide whether the new pricing actually makes sense. Check out our website DepositScout.com [https://link.depositscout.com/w12Afi] for the latest savings rates.  Connect with us (via LinkedIn) Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/] Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease [http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease] Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at jonny@technicallymoney.com

How to Fly Business Class Without Paying Business Class Prices

In this episode of Banking Without Borders, Jan breaks down how to actually fly business class without spending business class money.   * Why flexibility is the single biggest lever you have — and what that really means beyond just changing your travel day * How airlines price seats based on local purchasing power, and how to use that to your advantage * Why booking business class directly is often the wrong move — and what to do instead * The upgrade bidding strategy, and why you should never bid the minimum * How to build Avios points without changing your spending habits * Why you should pick your airline before your credit card, not the other way around * The one tool Jan actually trusts for finding cheap flights (and why he thinks AI tools are useless for this) Check out our website DepositScout.com [https://link.depositscout.com/w12Afi] for the latest savings rates.  Connect with us (via LinkedIn) Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/] Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease [http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease] Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at jonny@technicallymoney.com

5% Easy-Access Is Back! UK Savings Rates Update - May 2026

In this episode of Banking Without Borders, we cover the May 2026 savings rate update — breaking down where UK savers can earn the highest interest right now, what the Bank of England's latest decision means for rates, and which accounts look better than they actually are. * Bank of England holds base rate at 3.75% — eight to one vote, with one member pushing for a hike to 4% * Why the Middle East conflict has changed the rate outlook for 2026 and what that means for savers * Current account switch bonuses worth up to £500 from HSBC, First Direct, Barclays and Santander — with deadlines coming up fast * Easy access savings topping 5% from LemFi — including a walkthrough of the account opening process, the ClearBank FSCS nuance, and the six-month rate cliff * Best easy access rates from Tembo, Chase, Cynergy Bank, Hanley Economic BS and Charter Savings Bank * Cash ISAs — flexible vs non-flexible explained, bonus cliff warnings on Trading 212, Plum and Tembo, and why the £20k allowance matters more than ever before it drops in 2027 * Fixed rate bonds from Chetwood Bank, Kent Reliance and GB Bank — and why the tiny gap between one-year and five-year rates tells you something important about market expectations * Notice accounts — when they make sense and when easy access is simply better * Regular savers — why 7.1% headline rates are more misleading than they look, and the actual best picks from First Direct, Club Lloyds and Monmouthshire BS All accounts mentioned are available to compare at DepositScout.com [https://link.depositscout.com/w12Afi] Check out our website DepositScout.com [https://link.depositscout.com/w12Afi] for the latest savings rates.  Connect with us (via LinkedIn) Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/] Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease [http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease] Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at jonny@technicallymoney.com

Is AMEX Platinum Really Worth £650?

In this episode of Banking Without Borders, we ask whether the Amex Platinum is still worth £650 a year — and we've read the small print so you don't have to. * The welcome bonus: 75,000–90,000 points, but Amex appears to be A/B testing the offer * The £400 dining credit has six ways to accidentally lose it — including one Jan experienced personally * Why Amex Platinum is a terrible card to actually use abroad * The insurance is the most underrated benefit — but there are catches most people don't know about * Is enshittification real? Harvey Nichols gone, Centurion guest cuts, Lufthansa lounges ending in October * HSBC and Barclaycard offer similar perks at half the price — so why does Platinum still win? * Our verdict: it's not a travel card, not a subscription bundle — it's a lifestyle accessory that only works if you work for it Check out our website DepositScout.com [https://link.depositscout.com/w12Afi] for the latest savings rates.  Connect with us (via LinkedIn) Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/] Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease [http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease] Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at jonny@technicallymoney.com