Is there a decent, reliable bank out there? - Page 2

Blighter · 12-12-2010, 03:25

I've been with HSBC since the Abbey annoyed me and have never had an issue with them.

Garp · 12-12-2010, 07:11

Nationwide. One huge advantage being that they're not a bank but are a building society. That means they're non-profit. Any and all profits feed back into the building society for the next year. Interest rates will tend to be higher too. In general I've found that Nationwide continues to see me and treat me as an individual rather than a number.

BBx · 12-12-2010, 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blighter

I've been with HSBC since the Abbey annoyed me and have never had an issue with them.

Me too. I also have Fraud protection.

BB x

semi-pro waster · 12-12-2010, 11:24

I changed to NatWest after Santander/Abbey were useless for me (still don't have a replacement bank card from them although I'd start the process again to get a new one) and they've been fine so far. I'm sure NatWest have their faults but there's lots of branches close to me and they've managed not to annoy me yet so they'll do until I hit a problem they don't sort.

Joe 90 · 12-12-2010, 12:27

The Nationwide seems like a good idea. I've not had a building society account since The Leeds was taken over by Halifax. I'll have a look into that. Thanks for your input, might have a gander at Natwest but I applied for an account with them online not long ago and after sending back various forms didn't seem to hear anything more from them :/

Desmo · 12-12-2010, 12:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jingo

Natwest : Branches everywhere, staff who are helpful and failing that- managers who will ensure things get done.

I've used them for personal, joint, business and savings accounts for many years and can't think of a single time I've been inconvenienced.

Same here. Been with Natwest since I was about 13 and never really had any major problems with them. Having said that, I don't expect too much from banks anyway so maybe my levels of expectation are so low that they'll never let me down no matter what they do

Mark · 12-12-2010, 14:57

Had no trouble withdrawing up to £1,000 over the counter from Lloyds. Did ask lots of questions when I did that, but rightly so. I did have my card with me at the time though which probably helped.

Despite having a generally good experience with them, I do wonder about First Direct given that I do the vast majority of stuff online/over the phone. Nationwide is also an option though they just closed my old account (due to disuse).

Roberta · 12-12-2010, 22:11

Was with Alliance & Leicester who were fab. Unfortunately they are now Santander, who are dire.

Jonny69 · 12-12-2010, 22:39

I've got a joint account with Santander and this was probably the single most stupid financial decision I've ever made. They are useless. The customers there are all scum, presumably because Santander were the only ones that would give them accounts, the staff are useless and can't resolve any problems in-branch anyway (you have to phone through to telephone banking) and their account opening procedure involved an inordinate amount of unnecessary and pointless jumping through hoops. Their charges are also astronomical.

Savings accounts are all online with various banks that I never have to deal with. Current account is with HSBC who have always been good to me and always resolved problems swiftly and professionally. Not had any fraud problems though, so can't comment on that. My other half usually comments that they aren't as good at Natwest as they are at HSBC, if that's any help

Mark · 13-12-2010, 18:05

Doubt you'd catch the Santander lot doing this...

Shame.

12-12-2010, 03:25	#11
Blighter Dubious Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Northampton Posts: 1,571	I've been with HSBC since the Abbey annoyed me and have never had an issue with them. __________________ Look at your signature, now back to mine, now back to yours, now back to mine. Sadly, yours isn't mine. But if you stopped writing about other things and made this your signature, yours could be like mine. Look down, back up. Where are you? You're on Boat Drinks, reading the signature your signature could be like. I'm on a computer. My Blog \| More Outdoors \| MSN \| Email \| Call Me

12-12-2010, 07:11	#12
Garp Preparing more tumbleweed Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Hawaii Posts: 6,038	Nationwide. One huge advantage being that they're not a bank but are a building society. That means they're non-profit. Any and all profits feed back into the building society for the next year. Interest rates will tend to be higher too. In general I've found that Nationwide continues to see me and treat me as an individual rather than a number. __________________ Mal: Define "interesting"? Wash: "Oh, God, oh, God, we're all gonna die"?

12-12-2010, 11:24	#14
semi-pro waster Provider of sensible advice about homosexuals Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: London Posts: 2,615	I changed to NatWest after Santander/Abbey were useless for me (still don't have a replacement bank card from them although I'd start the process again to get a new one) and they've been fine so far. I'm sure NatWest have their faults but there's lots of branches close to me and they've managed not to annoy me yet so they'll do until I hit a problem they don't sort. __________________ "Your friend is the man that knows all about you, and still likes you." - Elbert Hubbard

12-12-2010, 12:27	#15
Joe 90 Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chester Posts: 2,345	The Nationwide seems like a good idea. I've not had a building society account since The Leeds was taken over by Halifax. I'll have a look into that. Thanks for your input, might have a gander at Natwest but I applied for an account with them online not long ago and after sending back various forms didn't seem to hear anything more from them :/ __________________ 360 Blog \| Join GiffGaff \| Twitter

12-12-2010, 22:11	#18
Roberta Pole Model Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 5,986	Was with Alliance & Leicester who were fab. Unfortunately they are now Santander, who are dire. __________________ I fell out of favour with Heaven somewhere, and I'm here for the hell of it now...

12-12-2010, 14:57	#17
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Had no trouble withdrawing up to £1,000 over the counter from Lloyds. Did ask lots of questions when I did that, but rightly so. I did have my card with me at the time though which probably helped. Despite having a generally good experience with them, I do wonder about First Direct given that I do the vast majority of stuff online/over the phone. Nationwide is also an option though they just closed my old account (due to disuse).

12-12-2010, 22:39	#19
Jonny69 Noob Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Socialist Republik of Kent Posts: 5,032	I've got a joint account with Santander and this was probably the single most stupid financial decision I've ever made. They are useless. The customers there are all scum, presumably because Santander were the only ones that would give them accounts, the staff are useless and can't resolve any problems in-branch anyway (you have to phone through to telephone banking) and their account opening procedure involved an inordinate amount of unnecessary and pointless jumping through hoops. Their charges are also astronomical. Savings accounts are all online with various banks that I never have to deal with. Current account is with HSBC who have always been good to me and always resolved problems swiftly and professionally. Not had any fraud problems though, so can't comment on that. My other half usually comments that they aren't as good at Natwest as they are at HSBC, if that's any help __________________

13-12-2010, 18:05	#20
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Doubt you'd catch the Santander lot doing this... Shame.