Current Account / Bank Recommendation please!

Maz

Maz

Maz

Soldato
Joined
18 Oct 2002
Posts
7,387
Location
Newcastle.
Evening Ladies and Gents.

I was previously a very happy HSBC + First Direct customer for about 9 years, for reason I can't really go into I'm having to close those accounts.

So I signed up with Alliance & Leicester and WHAT A MISTAKE!

Right so to stop me making the same mistake again, I am asking you for advice on which bank I should open up my new current account with.

The reason I now detest A&L are:

1) Cash Withdrawal Limit = £250 and it can't be changed!

2) Faster Payments are for any amount to recieve, but only upto £250 to send!

3) Phone Banking is rubbish, rubbish menu and have to hold for ages to speak to a customer service representative.

4) Not a lot of branches, and none near me.

5) Online Bank screen does not update in real time, it updates once every 24 hours - I mean HOW RUBBISH is that?

Right so my requirements are:

1) Internet + Phone Banking.
2) £500+ Daily cash withdrawal limit.
3) Must be on Faster Payments Scheme.
4) Easy to use phone banking, with lots of available CSRs to talk to.
5) Loads of branches nationwide.
6) Real Time online banking that updates immediately.

So guys, what do you recommend?

Thanks
 
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I have been considering a second current account and the various options offered by Citi Bank are keeping my attention. There aren't a lot of branches but how often will you need to go into one? I have been with First Direct for years and have only needed to visit a HSBC branch to deposit cash.

It's a pity you cannot keep your First Direct account though. They have been beyond awesome for me:)
 
Not sure if this is helpful but i have a current account with Lloyds TSB and they've been brilliant. I've lost my card 3 or 4 times and every time it has been replaced without charge :) Not sure about the other stuff as i just use it to collect money from my part time job and spend it online :D
 
I need access to branches for paying cheques in.

Anyone able to help with the 5 points I listed as requirements?

Thanks
 
Having used Natwest, Barclays, Lloyds and Nationwide I'd say Lloyds - their online banking is fantastic and phone banking is helpful too. Wouldn't bother with the branch folk though.

Mind you Barclays phone banking people say the same - I was in town and had to get important documents straightened out with the bank. I called phone banking first and suggested I went to the bank but they said don't bother, unless there's a business manager there they'll be scared and pass you on to us anyway. Fine by me, they did what I needed in time and saved me a trip to the branch at lunch :)

Edit: If you're after a business account I'd suggest Barclays, they've been very good for us. Never queue for phone banking, they can always help, and their merchant options are nice and easy.

But you know what they say about banks...they give you an umbrella when it's sunny then take it away when it rains :)
 
If you do not require a branch network (i.e. paying cash in) then I would recommend Cahoot. Great, secure online banking, consistently high rates, real time online updates.

If you do need to pay in cash however, this is not the account for you. Cheques can be paid in via post.
 
melbourne720 said:
I would have said First Direct, but I've found Lloyds also very good.
Click to expand...

I've found First Direct to be excellent, but I've found Lloyds to be terrible. They are fine for day to day banking, but any time I ask them to do something out of the ordinary they just screw it up. I ask them to send a dollar amount overseas and they send sterling instead , I ask them to transfer the deposit for my house purchase and they forget to do it, nearly giving the guy selling to me a heart attack because he's got a bridging loan.

Also, although the are part of the fast payments trial, they will only do a fast payment if you specifically tell them, which means you have to ring them to do it, although they don't tell you this is the case.

The personal banker from one of their branches keeps calling me because I once paid a cheque in at his branch. I've told him to stop and I've tried to complain, but you can only complain to him, there's no escalation route and apparently 'the computer keeps telling him to do it'.

I hate them with a passion, but the Mrs likes them.

First Direct on the other hand, have been fantastic. You can to everything over the phone the call centres are UK based and it's all very straight forward. They are very good.
 
I cant big up the co-op/smile bank enough..

I treated me well when I was a student and in debt and the features that you get if you sign up to they top package makes it worth while alone, like break down cover, mobile phone insurance, lost key cover and discounts.

They have a UK based telephone system that allows their CSRs to know who you are straight away.

Not to sure what faster payment scheme is thou but they seem to have it and best of all its Ethical banking!!

Edit: 0.5% cash back on smile credit card, be warn thou the co-op branches always tell me that they "shouldn't" deal with smile account issues and the smile telephone staff are always helpful they do seem less experince but I've only needed to call them twice.
 
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