Urban75 Home About Offline BrixtonBuzz Contact

Bank recommendations please

Co-op for all my current account needs. They have better ethics than most other banks which sits well with me... also, they've been faultless in their service - their online banking is simple and straightforward, and they have 24 hour, easy to acces (no ridiculous combination of passwords and numbers to remember) telephone banking too.

I don't use Co-opfor Savings anymore though - their ISA deal is a bit rubbish. for that I'd recommend the Post Office (Bank of Ireland) 6.75% for the first 12 months and then 6.25% after that...

i'm a credit card slut so can't really help you there - i go where the deals are best - i dont' really need a great service from a credit card company...
 
I've always preferred Building Societies as opposed to banks. I'm with Nationwide who have always been good, or Brittania is good too
 
Onket said:
See post #21.
Click to expand...
They may ultimately be one and same, but I've not dealt directly with HSBC, but have with First Direct. The latter have not (yet) given me cause for concern, although I've no doubt that may be in part because I fall within their cherry picked target market. First Direct make no bones about their remit - they're only interested in people who make them money (pay in enough each month, have loans/mortgage with them, etc). If you don't meet the grade, they'll charge you extra because, in short, they don't want you as a customer. All of which is thoroughly wanky and unashamedly capitalist. On the other hand, truth be told the same is true of all banks. It's a somewhat naive fallacy to think that any banks are nice, touchy feely, charitable organisations, there to help out in times in need. Utter bollocks. They want lucrative customers who'll make them money with the minimum of administrative overhead. If I didn't have a steady job and a steady income, I'd be wary of First Direct. But while I do, I'll stick with them - everything can be done online or over the phone, they answer their phonelines immediately (every time, without fail), and in my experience their customer service is well above average. If I get made redundant tomorrow, I might move to the Co-Op.
 
Halifax charged me 63 pounds for going 1 pound over my overdraft limit.:mad:

So not them.

I cried after I got off the phone to them I was so frustrated.:o
 
electrogirl said:
Halifax charged me 63 pounds for going 1 pound over my overdraft limit.:mad:

So not them.

I cried after I got off the phone to them I was so frustrated.:o
Click to expand...

I still have an account with natwest and they recently charged me £128 for going £5.50 over my overdraft

cunts.
 
Right, from a combo of personal experience as a customer and working in banking research for a while:

Barclays and HSBC - most corporate, least customer-centric of the main banks.

LloydsTSB/RBS - more customer-centric than the above - mainstream, middle of the road.

Co-op/Smile - the obvious ethical choice but I haven't got any experience of their service, although supposedly good

Nationwide (and other Building Soc's) - very customer focussed which translates into aspirations for good customer service and some good features, but occasionally let down on logistics (eg long waits on telephone)

First Direct - like Eastender says, basically a premium service for premium customers. Hard to beat their telephone banking service but don't expect tea and sympathy if the going gets tough (it's basically HSBC after all) Great if you're financially secure, otherwise approach with caution.
 
Nationwide - Can't go in there without someone trying to flog you insurance especially when they decide to lay it on a bit thick and start guilt tripping you. Long queues. Completely vague policy about withdrawing large amounts and generally clueless staff both on the phone and in branches. Really really dislike them a lot they used to be quite good

Smile - No problems really good, went into co-op bank the other week and it was the first time I had to queue ever

HSBC - Needed a £200 overdraft for a week, insisted on filling endless forms and going into branches which I didn't have time. Slow cumbersome and beauracratic. They even lost the paperwork when I tried to close down the joint account with the ex
 
beeboo said:
Hard to beat their telephone banking service but don't expect tea and sympathy if the going gets tough (it's basically HSBC after all) Great if you're financially secure, otherwise approach with caution.
Click to expand...

:D:D I guess that's where I went wrong with them - not tea just some empathy :) Incidentally - I think Smile beats F/D for their phone service marginally.
 
matrix_22 said:
I guess that's where I went wrong with them - not tea just some empathy :) Incidentally - I think Smile beats F/D for their phone service marginally.
Click to expand...
Do they manage to avoid the infuriating habit of ending every conversation by saying "...and is there anything else I can help you with today?" :mad:

I only phoned up to check a bill had been paid, but now you come to mention it, I might buy some life insurance while I'm at it, thanks! :rolleyes:

That may seem a bit whiny, but it's the machine-like way they always ask it that gets me - especially when they're the ones that phone me up! That really does my head in - the bank phones me up to check on some transaction or other, and after dealing with their enquiry, they then ask me "...and is there anything else I can help you with today?" :confused: You phoned me up you cretins! Why the hell are you still asking that?!?!?! :mad:
 
matrix_22 said:
Is that true?? I had the impression Smile had that recommendation (at least from Which) for at least the last couple of years?
Click to expand...
That's what it said about them in Wikipedia. It doesn't say who recommended them though.


I've just filled out a Smile application. :)
 
Smile - the people on the end of the phone are people, will chat to you, don't oversell (they generally come across all reluctant and say something along the lines of "of course, I have to ask you if" and you say "not interested" and they say "fine" and everyone's happy and gets on with their day).
Current account is great, rates on ISA and savings aren't great but are improved if you run them in conjunction with a smile current a/c. Don't bother with the credit card, better to be had elsewhere.

As for Lloyds TSB - two oversized barge poles whipped together, nor a sizeable cash inducement could get me to return to their rubbish service. Ever. Ptooey.
 
Maggot said:
So You worked for HSBC and you're tarring First Direct with the same brush?
Click to expand...

They are the same company. They are tarring themselves with their own brush.

Anyway, I just left my account open with 1p in it. That'll learn em. Ho ho ho.
 
Ive had a completely shit time with Barclays and Lloyds in the past, so about a year ago I started banking with the cooperative bank. I chose them because of the ethical stuff, and I have had no problems. I recommend :)
 
Smile have rejected my application cos I've got a bad credit record. :(

This must be old stuff cos I've been quite good at paying my debts recently, is there a way to improve your credit record? Maybe this should be in another thread.
 
Maggot said:
Smile have rejected my application cos I've got a bad credit record. :(

This must be old stuff cos I've been quite good at paying my debts recently, is there a way to improve your credit record? Maybe this should be in another thread.
Click to expand...

1st place to start is go to credit expert and pay your 5 quid or so (can be got cheaper elsewhere I think!) and get a credit report done.

This should highlight where and why your score was bad. It will also offer advice on how to improve your rating.

Smile can be fuckers for this at times though. I recently applied for my 1st credit card with them. My salary and bonuses etc all go through Smile and have done for 8 years, I've never missed a payment or been overdrawn and at the time had quite a healthy lump sum in the account... I only wanted a CCard to improve my rating for when I apply for a mortgage next year... the fuckers turned me down!!! Till I phoned them and asked for a human to actually look at my account history and then they granted me one. It was at the start of the credit crunch malarky when I applied though (that was their excuse) :)
 
Maggot said:
Have been there. Cheers.

I got my credit report for free, but it costs £6 to find out my credit score. Should i do that too?
Click to expand...

I would. So you know how much you need to improve and where. Worth it in the long run if you've got the cash.
 
Over 10 years with First Direct and never a problem. As already pointed out, their interest rates aren't that great though, and in terms of interest I know I could get a better current account, but frankly I can't be arsed to switch for the sake of making a couple of quid a month in interest. I keep my savings in other places for better interest anyway.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Tree Identification please
Replies
18
Views
271
Brainaddict
B
danski
Sun shade/fishing umbrella recommendations
Replies
6
Views
156
danski
danski
gentlegreen
Please help choose me a front door...
2 3 4
Replies
101
Views
2K
pesh
pesh
isvicthere?
Air fryer/shepherd's pie advice, please.
Replies
5
Views
179
Epona
Epona
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Recommended me a pub in Croydon for an evening meal on Sunday
Replies
0
Views
76
ATOMIC SUPLEX
ATOMIC SUPLEX
Back
Top Bottom