Here are the best ways to choose a student bank account:

1. Beware of the student bank account 'freebies'. There are plenty on offer this year, but don't be seduced by freebies! Offers including free products, travel discounts, cash rewards and "exclusive" deals may sound tempting, but you need to be smart. Over the course of your degree, a student bank account offering a freebie worth £20 might not help you as much as one with a larger interest-free overdraft.
2. Go for the largest student overdraft. An arranged overdraft is a common way of borrowing money through your current account. The best thing about student bank accounts is that money borrowed through an overdraft has 0% interest. As long as an overdraft is interest-free, you pay back no more than you borrow. And given that making ends meet at university can be difficult, having the extra security of a larger interest-free overdraft feels like a smart decision for most students. Even if you don't need the full overdraft, you could potentially transfer some of it to a savings account. You can then make money by earning interest on the borrowed amount while you're a student. Beware that the 0% interest period is not forever! It only lasts a certain number of years after you graduate, after which the interest charges set in. So make sure you've repaid it before then.
3. Is the overdraft 'up to' or 'guaranteed'? The advertised student 0% interest overdraft is usually the maximum they offer (hence the "up to" wording). For many banks, this amount is only available in your final year at university and only to students with a decent credit rating (see below). Our comparison below of the best student accounts takes into account the likelihood of you getting the full amount from each bank.
4. Know the repayment conditions. You probably won't have to repay your overdraft for a while after you graduate, but a sudden demand for £3,000 could be quite a shock. Plan ahead and don't treat it as free money. This starts with understanding the conditions.
5. Know your credit rating. Student account overdrafts are a form of borrowing, so you'll be credit-scored when applying. The quality of your score can determine how big an overdraft you're offered. Raise your chances of approval by knowing your own credit score and taking steps to improve it. Start by getting a free credit score from Experian, the largest agency used by banks.

Sources

Save The Student
How to choose a top student bank account

By Save The Student
Save The Student is the UK's leading student money website, helping you budget your money, make sense of student finance, look for part-time jobs, find extra funding and more. Founded in 2007, the website provides free and impartial guides, tools and verified deals to tackle the real-life money problems students face at university.