Which Bank (personal, not buisness)

[Tom]

This is not buisness related before this thread gets moved. :)


I am looking at changing my bank as for some reason my debit card keeps getting rejected and my card has been cloned many time and its starting to get on my nerves. I don't know if I can name the bank but what bank would you say is worth going with??? or, who do you bank with.

[Excalibur]

For every person who says XYZ bank is pants, someone else reckons XYZ is superb. I fell out with Natwest, and am happy with HSBC.

[Penfold42]

I've just changed mine from Lloyds ...because they want to start charging the business.....:mad: ....to the Abbey...where i have no charges....:)

[Dragonfly]

I too have had fall outs with Lloyds and am with Barclays only because HSBC refused to give me an overdraft

[Shaun]

Personal - Llloyds TSB
Business - Abbey

[Shakermaker Promotions]

Personal - RBS
Business - Alliance & Leicester

[Penfold42]

Business - Alliance & Leicester

Do they make charges....out of intrest...:)

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I only opened it the other week mate as I finally got my finances in gear in my personal account. It was recommended to me by the missus who knows all that stuff.

[Penfold42]

I only opened it the other week mate as I finally got my finances in gear in my personal account. It was recommended to me by the missus who knows all that stuff.

OK thanks....so we are still in the ''Honeymoon period''....:)

[Shakermaker Promotions]

I guess so!

[Excalibur]

I too have had fall outs with Lloyds and am with Barclays only because HSBC refused to give me an overdraft

When I fell out with Natwest, HSBC actually opened up my account in debit, with an overdraft.

[Vectis]

Personal - Intelligent Finance (part of HBOS). Been there 8 years, well happy.

Business - Abbey. Because I use them as a cheque clearing 'mule' and they don't charge me for that.

[Tom]

Ok, so from what I can see, HSBC offer a overdraft limit. On my current bank they have given me £600 overdraft that costs me nothing, even if I'm at the limit.

Do the banks you (anyone who want to post) use offer this aswell or do they charge???

[Jiggles]

Im with HBOS :sofa:

[A1DL]

Barclays

[DazzyD]

I fell out with both Lloyds (or TSB as it was at the time) and Barclays (they can't accept when they're wrong!) so I went with the Co-operative Bank who, I must say, have the best customer service of (most) companies that I've ever dealt with (and not just banks!).

I also have an account with the Nationwide but I've just noticed something with my account that warrants a complaint.

[Vectis]

Barclays (they can't accept when they're wrong!)

Sorry to go slightly OT but I've got a festering sore that is Barclays.

I once had one of their customer service advisors sacked after presenting head office with a recording of her calling me a "lying b'stard" over a direct debit that had been set up on my account that I hadn't authorised :eek:

Never again, not even with someone else's bargepole.

[discomobiledj]

Nationwide and halifax for me, can't say anything bad about them.

[A1DL]

I have to say that over the past ten years I have always found Barclays customer service to be nothing short of excellent. Being able to meet/speak to my Account Manager whom I know personally, on either her direct office number or mobile, to me is very valuable, as I haven't the time nor inclination to liaise with faceless clerks in call centres in the Far East, whom know nothing about my businesses.

[DazzyD]

The problem with my Nationwide account is they seem to have gotten their dates mixed up. I had a direct debit set up to come out on a certain day. I banked a cheque to clear the day before the direct debit and I confirmed with my Online Banking account that the cheque did clear that day. However, I got a letter saying the direct debit had made me overdrawn and I'd be charged for the pleasure. The statement I received actually said that my cheque had cleared two days after it really had (as per online banking). Something isn't right and I'm awaiting their reply. It seems to me that they've delayed the cheque in order to charge me for going overdrawn and I have the print-offs to prove it. Just waiting to see what happens!

As for Barclays, I really can't go in to much detail with that one just yet! ;)

[Daryll]

HSBC for me

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I use Barclays for everything - it's easier to move money around.

[501damian501]

hsbc for business
lloyds tsb for personal and savings account.


Do they make charges....out of intrest...:)

i believe they offer 2 years free business banking.

[rob1963]

Personal: NatWest
Business: NatWest

I might have to think about moving my business account, though, as September's charges were over £24...and that's half a disco deposit.

:bang:

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Personal: NatWest
Business: NatWest

I might have to think about moving my business account, though, as September's charges were over £24...and that's half a disco deposit.

:bang:

Is that for a month? :eek:

I moved from Nat West quite a few years ago when I was turning over very little amount and being charged a ridiculous amount as they worked out charges on the amount of money going in and out of my account.

[KrazyKaz]

Nationwide for me.

Had account with Lloyds & First Direct but Nationwide are much better by far IMO :)

[soundtracker]

Having worked for three of the big four, they are all much of a muchness, its usually a case of what you gain on the swings, you lose on the roundabouts. At the end of the day none of them give a toss about you as an individual, just what they can make out of you.

[rob1963]

Personal: NatWest
Business: NatWest

I might have to think about moving my business account, though, as September's charges were over £24...and that's half a disco deposit.

:bang:


Is that for a month? :eek:


Yes.

I've just checked my account, and I got the figure a bit wrong in my previous post, so I must have mixed it up with something else. It was actually £22.47...but still an awful lot, in my opinion, and more than I think I should be paying.

It's because in addition to a flat account maintenance fee, I'm charged for every item going through my account, and September was a very busy month, with lots of deposit & balance cheques received & paid in. I remember I seemed to be visiting the bank on an almost daily basis at times.

:(

[rob1963]

Having worked for three of the big four, they are all much of a muchness, its usually a case of what you gain on the swings, you lose on the roundabouts. At the end of the day none of them give a toss about you as an individual, just what they can make out of you.

As another ex-banker, I couldn't agree more.

[Steve the DJ]

Having worked for three of the big four, they are all much of a muchness, its usually a case of what you gain on the swings, you lose on the roundabouts. At the end of the day none of them give a toss about you as an individual, just what they can make out of you.

And as someone who started working for the Building Society's back when they actually cared I can assure you all that now they are nothing but Banks under the surface and have entirely the same attitude.

Personal: Cooperative Bank
Business: Abbey

[soundtracker]

And as someone who started working for the Building Society's back when they actually cared I can assure you all that now they are nothing but Banks under the surface and have entirely the same attitude.

Personal: Cooperative Bank
Business: Abbey

Agreed, I've worked for two PROPER building societies as well!

[wensleydale]

for various reasons i've got accounts with most of the big banks and use my hbos, first direct and nationwide accounts most.

it depends what you want out of it.
Nationwide is great for using their cards abroad, First Direct is good if you want to speak to a person, and their branches are also quite good (coin sorting machines in most for example).

I use the HBOS the most though as I can do virtually all activity online without actually speaking to a person, and you can pay cash and cheques in at cash machines.
Given that most peoples grievances seem to be with humans rather than processes this gets around it.
They also pay decent interest on current accounts so if you have a healthy average balance over the year you can get about £50 interest which is a lot more than you would with others.

Best to go for one that fits your requirements rather than based on experiences of others as these are all purely a personal thing.

[rob1963]

Given that most peoples grievances seem to be with humans rather than processes this gets around it.

Rich,

I think most people's grievances are with the LACK of humans!

That's certainly the case in MY local branch!

[wensleydale]

Rich,

I think most people's grievances are with the LACK of humans!

That's certainly the case in MY local branch!

i diasagree- most problems are caused by people from what I can make out- so my view is if you can do everything you need to on the internet any problems you create are of your own doing.

but as i pointed out, if you want to speak to someone first direct are very good in that respect.
I cant see people in branches being a major issue- if so why would so many banks no exist without branches.

[rob1963]

i diasagree- most problems are caused by people from what I can make out- so my view is if you can do everything you need to on the internet any problems you create are of your own doing.

but as i pointed out, if you want to speak to someone first direct are very good in that respect.
I cant see people in branches being a major issue- if so why would so many banks no exist without branches.

I agree it's best to do what you can yourselves. I have online banking & use it do do as much as I can.

However, there are certain transactions that MUST involve a visit to my branch, and I'm not a happy bunny when this involves queuing for 20 minutes.

[wensleydale]

I agree it's best to do what you can yourselves. I have online banking & use it do do as much as I can.

However, there are certain transactions that MUST involve a visit to my branch, and I'm not a happy bunny when this involves queuing for 20 minutes.
Like what?
As I said in my previous post if you can have internet banks such as Smile why do you ever need to go to a branch?

[rob1963]

Like what?
As I said in my previous post if you can have internet banks such as Smile why do you ever need to go to a branch?

The main ones are drawing out more cash than my card limit, and also paying in a cheque when I want an instant receipt for it in case of problems.

[wensleydale]

The main ones are drawing out more cash than my card limit, and also paying in a cheque when I want an instant receipt for it in case of problems.

fair enough, although i think there are ways around these/they arent real problems.

my original point was that tom should think about what his needs are rather than going on comments of "my bank is great" - as proved different people have differing opinions.