Natwest Moneysense

Inactive

Sorry, But I honestly don't think that any bank could resist the opportunity to flog you something whilst they have you trapped.

Time will tell, I hope that I am wrong.;)

( I have a horrible feeling that I will not be ).

ampersand

I changed to Natwest last year and they have been marvellous for me - others will have their own stories about any and every Bank.
I picked up that mag in Branch last week, while queuing and you'll see that our very own Martin's moneysavingexpert.com is given a strong recommendation for its help.
For some reason, ths impressed me...........

dragonsoup

Lokolo wrote: »

Ok so I saw an advert on TV just a minute ago (damn X Factor) and it was saying that Natwest have a new service which offers people (not sure if you can be a non customer and still go), the chance to have a chat with someone about financial situations.

I think its a brilliant idea and all banks should do it! Although I think a lot less people would come on here.

http://moneysense.natwest.com/natwest/adults.asp

Yup the 1000 advisers have had a combined total of 8000 hours training.... I make that 8 hours or one full day each.

http://www.finchannel.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26579&Itemid=47

Barbie81

Hiya well i work for NatWest and have got the job in my branch as MoneySense adviser. i would like to say that during my training course this week it has been made crystal clear that we are not allowed to reccomend or even suggest products for NatWest or any other bank. we a not allowed to sell ANYTHING even if the customer asks for it, it has to be passed on to a different adviser to ensure that the hlep we give is totally impartial. this has been made very clear so it should not happen what so ever.

i am personaly really excited about taking on the role, as when i was in a sales job before i was always getting told of for spending too much time with customers discussing general finance and money saving. I think it would be great for lots of people from, for example, young people who have maybe just moved out or become parents, to give them general help on how to budget, where to go for help etc, to people who are in a pickle with debts etc.

Kavanne

Nice one, barbie. I am a CA in retail telephony and no plans to introduce moneysense advisors to us yet but it sounds like a great opportunity for you. Good luck!

Mike1989

Have to admit, it looks a nice little feature and my Dad joked last night after seeing the advert that he was going to go into Natwest to see if they were impartial and didn't try to sell him anything. But it seems a good thing to advise people on their finances and advise them on how they can change little things. But question, if a question is asked for example;

Do you have a regular saver/savings account?

Person replies no, would that advisor then say well look at our savings account or look at this best savings account on the market. Or would they jsut say it would be a good idea to get a savings account?

I'm guessing its the latter rather than the other two. But seems good, considering switching to Natwest from the Halifax as I'm not overly keen on Lloyds. But sounds good but I'm sure its not exactly new when it comes to banks offering advise on finances, probably new that they won't try and sell you anything.

Scousebird_2

I think this is a somewhat cunning idea. I can agree that there probably won't be any selling involved in the INITIAL Moneysense appointment, but you can bet your bottom pound that if you are showing as 'yes' for marketing and offers, that someone will be in touch as a follow up to your meeting to 'check on your progress'' after a few weeks of your new ''moneysense'' lifeplan.

The simple fact is that banking is not a charity, it is a business and if banks purely set out with the intention of ''helping'' customers become more financially aware-yes it will generate good press for that company, but people will flock to the branches which is what the business wants. It's a very clever way of marketing-and RBS group as a whole are renowned for clever marketing (take the Churchill Dog for example, a former group product and then there'a Direct Line and the dancing personified phone).

Ultimately, if people believe from the outset that this is an advertisement for customers to come into the frontline of a company that is struggling for business in an already difficult climate and wants to help then partially I could understand this, however, to conclude, Natwest is a business, not a charity and that is why the Citizen's Advice Bureau (which is a reputable charity) has debt advisers that pick up the pieces of people's financial ruin and are somewhat over-run at the moment (in my area there is a 5 week waiting list for advice).

It seems to be a clever way of getting business through the door and showing themselves as socially responsible and stepping out to fix the mistake they made in yesteryear which has caused such outcry and anger in the industry. But I do not think that it is a clear cut as the advert makes out and there will be hidden statergys in there. There has to be so that the balance sheets in the group end the final financial quarter on a plus and not a minus as they clearly have done in the interim!

Sorry to be cynical but it's hard to see it from any other angle and my heart goes to all those fighting to pay their debts these days due to the irresponsibilities of ''advisers'' who should of known better. Yes the onus is also on the customer, but some people trust Bank Officials, and although the industry has had a huge overhaul, this has got rid of some monsters, but there is still a lot of work to be done before banking will become a respectable industry again. And that's a shame, because there are people in branches and banks who want to make a difference. But sales will always overshaddow this, and that's hard to contemplate!

BASFORDLAD

Natwest are not doing this for the good of the customer
they are doing it to make money!!!, plain and simple

Barbie81

BASFORDLAD wrote: »

Natwest are not doing this for the good of the customer
they are doing it to make money!!!, plain and simple

how exactly are they doing it to make money if MoneySense advisers are not allowed to sell any products be it NatWest or other wise?

Barbie81

Mike1989 wrote: »

Have to admit, it looks a nice little feature and my Dad joked last night after seeing the advert that he was going to go into Natwest to see if they were impartial and didn't try to sell him anything. But it seems a good thing to advise people on their finances and advise them on how they can change little things. But question, if a question is asked for example;

Do you have a regular saver/savings account?

Person replies no, would that advisor then say well look at our savings account or look at this best savings account on the market. Or would they jsut say it would be a good idea to get a savings account?

I'm guessing its the latter rather than the other two. But seems good, considering switching to Natwest from the Halifax as I'm not overly keen on Lloyds. But sounds good but I'm sure its not exactly new when it comes to banks offering advise on finances, probably new that they won't try and sell you anything.

Mike 1989 if a customer said that the we would simply suggest that they look in to openeing a savings account and leave it there. Only if the customer specifically says something like " can i get a savings account from NatWest" can we the suggest that they speak to one of our Customer Advisers who can give them some further information about that. if they don't ask, we don't offer.