Anyone changed banks recently?

DorsetDude

DorsetDude

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Is it easy?
Who did you go to and why?
Who did you leave?

What are your new lots online banking like?

Im with Barclay and have to use a bleedin plastic card reader thingy to login to the website. I did install their mobile phone app to generate me the 8 digit code needed but only worked twice and now never lets me log in.

If I could switch and get better service and £100 thrown in maybe worth jumping ship I thought?

Cheers
 
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I'm with Barclays and HSBC, the PINsentry with Barclays does my head in. HSBC have a similar thing now too and no mobile app which is annoying. I've always wanted to switch but never got round to it, I'd only switch to someone with a decent iPhone app and easy online banking like Natwest?
 
We are with Barclays (recently changed from Nationwide). I don't have one of those new fangled phones without wires but my wife has an i-phone and it is very easy to check accounts and instantly transfer money from one to the other.


Steve.
 
Unfortunately all banks now have those silly card readers... Real pain if you have a current acct, joint acct, business acct... too much to carry around. Been with a number of banks, my comments...

Nat West - Very good online banking system, naff iphone app.
Barclays - Decent online banking, iphone app is brilliant and works as a card reader so no need to carry one round - My choice of bank
Co-Op - Good online but few branches. Good customer service
HSBC - Business banking - appalling online banking and need reader to even access acct online
Nationwide - Ok, but need customer number rather than acct no to log in so more to remember!!!
Santander - Not sure about new accts but did not need card reader and good online banking.

All much of a muchness really!
 
We're with Santander, who are appalling in branch, absolutely useless. However, mainly everything is done online, so that's fine.
If you have their 123 account, which costs £2/month, you get cashback on paying stuff like utilities via DD - we get about £10 a month back.
There is no card reader/pin generator/eletronic doofus for getting online either (personal account, don't know what they are like for business).
 
First Direct is my preferred bank, has an App, you get £100 for joining, and you speak to someone on the phone straight away rather than a machine, cant fault them yet
 
Wife recently changed her business account from Barclays to Co-Op as part of the FSB's benefits. Free banking, some interest and a £25 cash bonus pa. Has to be done through the FSB so not available to private customers. As Simon points out, one potential downside of the Co-Op is a lack of branches but we have one on the High Street (very near Barclays as it happens) and it's very rare that we need to queue.
She has one of the card reader thingies for internet banking and finds it easy to use - let's face it, if those of you who do online banking didn't use the things and got hacked, you'd be more ponessed off than you are currently at having to use one!
 
In March I switched from Cahoot to Santander for the 3% interest on balances up to £20k and 1, 2 or 3% cash back on many bills. They are both part of Santander, but I'm raking it in on my current account now, beating any savings account for interest quite easily.

I'm also waiting on £55 cash back for the switch, payable through TopCashBack once it turns up.
 
Longimanus said:
First Direct is my preferred bank, has an App, you get £100 for joining, and you speak to someone on the phone straight away rather than a machine, cant fault them yet
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:plusone:

I do the majority of my banking online - I have the Android app, but don't tend to use it.
Service very good, but they don't necessarily pay the best rates.
No security device as yet, not sure if this is a good idea or not.
 
Find Natwest's online banking really easy to use. Only need a card reader when setting up new Payees (which I think's a sensible precaution).
 
First direct for me. Have been with them since 1993 - superb bank and always really friendly uk based people on the other end of the line.

Use the iphone app occasionally, but they also text me every morning with any amounts coming into or going out of the account, so its less frequent i have to call them.
 
Russ77 said:
Find Natwest's online banking really easy to use. Only need a card reader when setting up new Payees (which I think's a sensible precaution).
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Agreed. And their iphone app works fine. I prefer their business accounts app - which also provides access to the personal accounts.

And we've recently opened a Santander 123 account to pay the utility bills. All our major utilities are with the Utility Warehouse and, as Santander cannot differentiate between energy and telecoms on the single UW bill, we get 3% back on the lot :) :thumbs:
 
Co-op or their online arm Smile. Ethical banking over short term personal gain.
 
barneyrubble said:
First direct for me. Have been with them since 1993 - superb bank and always really friendly uk based people on the other end of the line.

Use the iphone app occasionally, but they also text me every morning with any amounts coming into or going out of the account, so its less frequent i have to call them.
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I completely agree with you
I was with First Direct for a few years then stupidly decided to move to Santander, what a mistake, completely useless, within 6 month I was back with FD. A very helpful, friendly and efficient bank.
 
Thrash said:
HSBC have a similar thing now too and no mobile app which is annoying.
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cambsno said:
HSBC - Business banking - appalling online banking and need reader to even access acct online
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Just for info, there is a rudimentary iphone app now, it allows balance and mini statement checks without the need for the little code generator.
 
Another +1 for First Direct. I switched to take advantage of the £100 deal. Was with Santander who were appalling. Truly appalling.

Rates are so low across the board these days that it's all about service for me. First Direct can accomplish everything I ask of them over the phone and they can do it quickly. The only minor issue is that they don't have a high street branch but in 3 years, I've never needed it.

Ian.
 
Does anyone bank with Nationwide?

I'm currently on an older Santander account which is being discontinued from next year and i'm looking for alternatives. One option is just to move to the 1,2,3 account from Santander which would be nice and easy as I assume my internet login details would all remain the same.

However, I think I can get a better deal with The Nationwide and their Flex Plus account. Can anyone let me know what their customer service and their online systems are like?
 
http://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/britains-best-worst-banks-105552663.html

Quote :
"
But the overall winner, for the eight consecutive time, was the HSBC-owned bank First Direct, which scored a grand total of 85%. The bank doesn’t necessarily offer the best products on the market – the 1st Account, for example, now pays 0% on in credit balances, although it does offer a fee- and interest-free £250 overdraft – but it seems its customers are prepared to sacrifice a little interest in return for a great banking experience.
In fact, the online bank has dozens of awards for customer service excellence.
Right now, First Direct is offering a fantastic bonus of £100 to anyone who switches to the 1st Account, although you must pay in at least £1,000 a month and transfer two direct debits or standing orders to qualify.
"
 
Thanks for that but i'm not considering First Direct at the minute.

The Flex Plus account from Nationwide includes free family worldwide travel insurance, free insurance for 4 mobile phones and free roadside assistance all for only £10 a month. This is a big saving on what i'm paying individually for these policies. I'd just like to hear some feedback from Nationwide customers about the level of service they offer and what their online banking is like.
 
Leslie said:
Thanks for that but i'm not considering First Direct at the minute.

The Flex Plus account from Nationwide includes free family worldwide travel insurance, free insurance for 4 mobile phones and free roadside assistance all for only £10 a month. This is a big saving on what i'm paying individually for these policies. I'd just like to hear some feedback from Nationwide customers about the level of service they offer and what their online banking is like.
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Had my mortgage, current account and child's savings account with Nationwide- Moved them all due to service issues. Don't believe all he guff about "On your side"- they are no better than most banks. Wife is with Lloyds giving similar benefits to those you mention. We have joint and my account with FD and service is brilliant. They also have their Directory which once again gives similar benefits.
 
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