The Best Bank

Idiophreak

Now *surely* this has been discussed before, but unsurprisingly I guess it gets lost on this site when you try searching for "best bank", "which bank" etc...Can someone point me to any discussions on the subject?

Looking to change banks and just wondering which one people feel is best, in terms of

MoneySaving (overdrafts, interest rates etc - the stuff that Martin's article talks about)
Ethics
Online Banking (security, ease of use - the little barclays boxes are a nono)
Customer Service

That kinda thing - surely there should be a sticky somewhere on this kind of discussion?

Cranston_2

Idiophreak wrote: »

Customer Service

First Direct for service.

no comment on your other requests

terafarma

Idiophreak wrote: »

Now *surely* this has been discussed before, but unsurprisingly I guess it gets lost on this site when you try searching for "best bank", "which bank" etc...Can someone point me to any discussions on the subject?

Looking to change banks and just wondering which one people feel is best, in terms of

MoneySaving (overdrafts, interest rates etc - the stuff that Martin's article talks about)
Ethics
Online Banking (security, ease of use - the little barclays boxes are a nono)
Customer Service

That kinda thing - surely there should be a sticky somewhere on this kind of discussion?

NATIONWIDE BUILDING SOCIETY'S FLEX BANK-ACCOUNT ticks all the boxes for me. Superb internet banking with added ease of use, competitive overdraft interest rate, fee-free overseas use, etc ........

Customer service might not be excellent if you're willing to overlook it, but their other services are, in my own personal opinion great. The choice though is yours to make.

Goodluck.

PROLIANT

Idiophreak wrote: »

Now *surely* this has been discussed before, but unsurprisingly I guess it gets lost on this site when you try searching for "best bank", "which bank" etc...Can someone point me to any discussions on the subject?

Looking to change banks and just wondering which one people feel is best, in terms of

MoneySaving (overdrafts, interest rates etc - the stuff that Martin's article talks about)
Ethics
Online Banking (security, ease of use - the little barclays boxes are a nono)
Customer Service

That kinda thing - surely there should be a sticky somewhere on this kind of discussion?

If you are looking for Ethics and stuff try the Co-op Bank, they only let you in if you are over 40, drive a Rover and go to church every sunday, oh and no "knife and fork hair cuts" allowed!

Mark7799

Idiophreak wrote: »

Now *surely* this has been discussed before, but unsurprisingly I guess it gets lost on this site when you try searching for "best bank", "which bank" etc...Can someone point me to any discussions on the subject?

Looking to change banks and just wondering which one people feel is best, in terms of

MoneySaving (overdrafts, interest rates etc - the stuff that Martin's article talks about)
Ethics
Online Banking (security, ease of use - the little barclays boxes are a nono)
Customer Service

That kinda thing - surely there should be a sticky somewhere on this kind of discussion?

I don't think there is one that ticks all the boxes. It may be a case of assessing the importance of each characteristic - e.g. if you use mainly on line banking, can you downgrade the importance of customer service? if you are reasonably competent at money management and know that you need to keep your own records of whats in and out of the account and not spending money that isn't there:p then the MoneySaving aspect may be less important.

CLAPTON

just some thoughts

some would take the view that all banking is unethical as one of its primary goals is to get people into debt

and nationwide have those silly boxes as does natwest and of course barclays

security and ease of use are often a contradiction in terms (cf those silly boxes), verified by visa etc.

Mark7799

CLAPTON wrote: »

just some thoughts

some would take the view that all banking is unethical as one of its primary goals is to get people into debt

and nationwide have those silly boxes as does natwest and of course barclays

security and ease of use are often a contradiction in terms (cf those silly boxes), verified by visa etc.

Strange - I thought banking was to look after my money:o

Agree with your comment about security and ease of use though:D

Idiophreak

Yeah, I guess I wouldn't want an online banking system that was easy to get into, that kinda defeats the point

Thank you all for your input..I guess I do need to give thought to which of my criteria are most important...As Mark says, I'm generally *ok* with my money, so the MoneySaving side isn't that important to me (in a current account, anyway), customer service is probably the least *and* the most important factor - I guess you never need good customer service until something goes wrong...Good online banking is the most important thing for me, then...with ethics as a nice to have...

Anyway, of the suggestions so far: I'm really not putting up with a silly box, so that rules out Nationwide, Natwest and Barclays, seemingly..any others?

First Direct I quite fancy, but aren't they a part of HSBC? It's HSBC I'm leaving due to their utter moronicism, so think I might be happier further away...Guess that leave's the co-op then...

Jonny0000

Idiophreak wrote: »

Now *surely* this has been discussed before, but unsurprisingly I guess it gets lost on this site when you try searching for "best bank", "which bank" etc...Can someone point me to any discussions on the subject?

Looking to change banks and just wondering which one people feel is best, in terms of

MoneySaving (overdrafts, interest rates etc - the stuff that Martin's article talks about)
Ethics
Online Banking (security, ease of use - the little barclays boxes are a nono)
Customer Service

That kinda thing - surely there should be a sticky somewhere on this kind of discussion?

Not sure about overdrafts. In terms of online banking, HSBC offer a secure service with all account options. For ethics Co-op stand out with their policies, and I have heard good things about First Direct for customer service.

For an interest rate comparison you should probably research on the day you want to open the account. At the moment there are current accounts that offer up to 6%.