How do you make your banking choice?

[Judgeneo]

I find it incredibly depressing nobody but one in this thread seems to give a damn about ethical practice It's not left wishy-washiness, it's about giving your money to institutions that use it responsibly. How can people in one breath complain about the banks screwing everybody over, then in the next hand over their cash to the cause of the problem.

Some of us haven't really complained about the banks much

 

[One More Solo]

I've banked with Nationwide, Halifax, First Direct and Co-op. They were all much of a muchness but I found the First Direct online banking really poor for such a highly rated bank.

 

[Kemik]

Natwest from when I was a kid.
Halifax for the £10 a month reward. Salary and house bills go in and out of there, then the balance goes to Natwest.

 

[Basher]

Service at First Direct is great, but how often to you really call a bank?

Online services and app are a bit rubbish. I'm looking at moving.

 

[Judgeneo]

Service at First Direct is great, but how often to you really call a bank?

Online services and app are a bit rubbish. I'm looking at moving.

Thats the conumdrum I'm looking at, I don't remember ever calling my current bank (nationwide). I'd be interested is hearing from anyone who has changed from First Direct to another bank

 

[-westy-]

TBH I think there all as bad as each other and don't feel I owe loyalty to any of them as they don't reward loyalty to them.

This. I've always banked with Halifax, but my joint account with my ex was with Natwest. Don't feel a particular loyalty, but I can occasionally get a slightly better deal on some things by mentioning how long I've banked with them etc. Less common nowadays, especially as I now manage my money better so I don't have to argue charges etc, but it still helps

 

[One More Solo]

Thats the conumdrum I'm looking at, I don't remember ever calling my current bank (nationwide). I'd be interested is hearing from anyone who has changed from First Direct to another bank

I much preferred the Nationwide online interface to First Direct's and I had massive issues with their banking app. Their call centre is brilliant but I only ever called them twice, once to switch my account over and once to close my account. Don't understand why you would bank by phone. Co-op's online interface looks pretty ropey so I'll probably move on once I get my £100. The only thing that annoys me about Nationwide is them still not offering contactless debit cards.

 

[FortuitousFluke]

I've just switched from Nationwide to First Direct, I had 5% interest for a year which is about to expire and First Direct offered me £100 to switch. Basically in banking, much like in life, I am available to the highest bidder.

Also got an account with Santander which I use as a personal and matched betting account.

 

[jon86]

... I'd be interested is hearing from anyone who has changed from First Direct to another bank

I am one of those people.

My first bank account was a Lloyds TSB Young Saver account when I was 17. It used to pay a reasonable amount of interest, if I recall correctly.

When I got an iPhone 3 GS in 2009, I looked for mobile phone insurance and opted to upgrade my old Lloyds TSB account to a Lloyds TSB Silver account, to benefit from the cheap mobile phone insurance (that I used several times to get a new/refurb phone - £30 excess each time) and AA cover (that I also used several times).

A few years later I switched to First Direct as they were offering a £100 bonus (and still do) and (at the time) an 8% Regular Saver account.

Several years after that, I started doing lots of transatlantic travel and heard about the Halifax Clarity card. I applied for the card and whilst I did that, I saw that Halifax was offering £100 to switch bank, so I switched.

Even if you move your everyday banking to another bank, it's sometimes still worth keeping your old accounts open:

* First Direct 1st Account - gives me access to the First Direct 6% Regular Saver (I had several 8% Regular Saver accounts before First Direct reduced the interest rate)
* Lloyds TSB Gold Account - gives me access to subsidized/cheap perks like mobile phone insurance, worldwide travel insurance, AA cover
* Halifax Reward Current Account - gives me access to the £5 /month reward

 

[R.O.S.S.I]

Moved from Natwest to First Direct in December to take advantage of their £100 switching bonus. Was contemplating jumping over to Halifax to pocket another £100 from them but FD have been excellent so going to stick with them.

Also have a MetroBank account too for when I go abroad. The fee free withdrawals and use is bob on, shame its not worldwide though now and only Europe.

 

[HaZe71]

+1 for First Direct. They gave me £100 to move.

Same, can't fault them for service. No problems with them at all, probably the best bank I've been with.

 

[Radec]

I bury my savings near an old oak tree by an old wall, under a rock that has no earthly business being there.

Don't recommend it as when I went back to make a deposit, there was a guy in a suit and hat withdrawing my money.

 

[Stuff]

Been with Lloyd's since I was about 14 as that's who my parents were/are with. Never had any issues. Recently opened an account with Barclays to dump savings in, purely based on branch location and accessibility. As of yesterday, I applied for the Amex Gold card, purely to claim the cash back offers (£60 quidco and £100 vouchers for £2k spend over 3 months).