Bank accounts

Glaucus

Glaucus

Glaucus

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Joined
11 Mar 2004
Posts
76,637
Wanting to change bank accounts but cant see any way of finding out who will be best.

One thing I want to know is security, not how safe it is, but what stupid hoops you have to jump though, its one of the main reaosns I left HsBC as you had to carry the card reader all the time, even just to login, coop was much better and as intrusive as I want it to be.
Which was able to log on and transfer money to pre set up acocunts, adding a new account required the reader. I cant even find this on bank sites unless im being blind.

The other thing im struggling to find is info on weather you can do a foriegn bank transfer online and the fee/exchange rate.

The other thing of interest is free withdrawls abroad, I know Metro bank do it, but any others, and I cant find what security metro bank has online.

So does anyone know any sites that offfer proper bank account comparison and not just basic tat. Or failing that can you list your bank acocunt security and if it has foreign account transfer, thhose are the two most important bits.

So any ideas. I really dont want to phone up/go in every bank asking questions.
 
I'm with Barclays and they do have the card reader thing for online, however they also offer a smartphone app that does the same job. Also handy for transferring money between accounts on the go.

According to the website, foreign withdrawals get a 2.99% transaction fee, plus £1.50 cash fee if the ATM isn't a Barclays one, on top of whatever the ATM owner charges.

More info - http://www.barclays.co.uk/Helpsupport/Usingcashmachinesabroad/
 
First Direct. No brainer.

No card reader, just a username, 3 letters/digits from your password and the town you live in. Straight it.

I have transferred some money outside of the EU, I'm struggling to remember but I'm pretty sure I had to call them. That's the great bit about FD though, you very very rarely need to call them, but when you do there are no options, someone just answers. In my experience that one person can do 90% of anything you could ask. The service is just excellent.

Sorry I don't know the answer to free withdrawals abroad with them though.
 
First direct can you make payments to ther peoples acocunts online?
Reading the pdf it says telephone banking, but surly every bank offers thatg online?

International payments are phone only.
 
Yes you can, and it's instant too, not like some that take a couple of days still.

It's just great.
 
First Direct are introducing a reader (with the option of using the smartphone app as a 'digital secure key') though, which really sucks.
 
SKILL said:
First Direct are introducing a reader (with the option of using the smartphone app as a 'digital secure key') though, which really sucks.
Click to expand...

Did not know this.

I was really hoping they'd leave that bandwagon alone :(
 
Orch said:
Yes you can, and it's instant too, not like some that take a couple of days still.

It's just great.
Click to expand...

Aren't they all near enough instant now? I thought it changed quite a while ago.

In terms of NatWest, you need a card reader to change things in your account and to add Payees etc, other than that you don't need one. Not that I've come across anyway.

Also, the App is fantastic although I don't know about WP8 or other charges :D
 
Lloyds TSB here - no reader for transfers/login.

for login - just username/password + 3 letters
when setting up new recipient - automated phone call with 4 digit code
 
Natwest is one that does have a good wp8 app

Halifax are terriable and cant get anything right, they couldnt even read the application and then it went down hill from there.
 
Orch said:
Did not know this.

I was really hoping they'd leave that bandwagon alone :(
Click to expand...

They sent me a letter about it a week or two ago, then earlier this week I got an update to the terms and conditions that details it, still not actually needed yet though but not sure when that'll change.

I'm not sure the app will work if/when I root the phone, or change the rom, how much of an annoyance is that gonna be.

And yeah, I was hoping they wouldn't bother, got one for my Natwest account and whilst it's limited to things like paying new people etc it can still be irritating. I'm not even sure what it's supposed to fix, I guess just people who are dumb enough to give their details out to a phishing email, and maybe to allow for any potential security breaches, but the downside is the majority of people get an extra pointless stage in doing online banking, yay.
 
Does it say in the letter when you need the card reader? If its just to chnage details create a new payee i dont mind. Its when ou cant even log in or use existing payees that brealy annoy me.
 
kefan77 said:
Lloyds TSB here - no reader for transfers/login.

for login - just username/password + 3 letters
when setting up new recipient - automated phone call with 4 digit code
Click to expand...

Lloyds TSB are in my experience/opinion, the worst high street bank available.

If there personal banking site is anything like they're business banking version, well it's crap.
 
Orch said:
Lloyds TSB are in my experience/opinion, the worst high street bank available.

If there personal banking site is anything like they're business banking version, well it's crap.
Click to expand...

I've been with them for about 7 years and I don't really have anything bad to say. Unlike HSBC from which I left those 7 years ago.

I also have Barclays as backup account, but don't use it too often (partly because of the reader)
 
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