Current Account

Holiday

Do any of the NI banks have an internet current account which pays a decent rate of interest?

Any suggestions?

coolsteel

I use Smile Internet Banking, very good customer service, interest rates are good, not the best but up there. You can use any post office to withdraw or insert cash, interest is callculated daily, you can also use most other banks hole in the walls @ no charge.
Have a look here see what you think.
http://www.smile.co.uk/bank.html?loc=t

Coolsteel :cool:

talksalot81

Does it have to be an NI bank, or just a bank with branches in NI? I have recently changed to alliance and leicester which pays 5% odds on the current account and there is the refer a friend incentive so you can get at least £50 just for opening the account and funding it £500 a month.

110frankie

I've been using Smile as well. Quite impressed.

duffster_2

Holiday, I would advise to steer clear of the 4 NI Banks. Vote with your feet and take your money elsewhere. Take a look at the 'super-complaint' currently being investigated against the local banks and go with someone else. I find Nationwide great as their online banking system is fast, efficient and can't be recommended highly enough. As with any building society, they look after their customers better than banks. They even change over all DDs, etc on your behalf and FREE if you move. I joined online and you can also join over the phone....v.easy.

Holiday

I do bank with Smile at the moment but I find that if you want to do something out of the ordinary then they are not so good. I also find their way of paying in cheques a bit hit and miss. They have recently "lost" one and it is proving to be a major headache to have it replaced.

I take what you say about the mainstream NI banks but had totally forgotton about Nationwide, A&L and I guess Abbey.

Perhaps will give one of them a go.

talksalot81

My girlfriend was with abbey and found them to be totally incompetent. Late last year, someone breached security and cleared out her account (we are convinced it could not have been her fault). Although they were good about it, they resultantly had to change her details. As a result of their failings, she had numerous people on her back because her direct debits were not properly transferred. They were totally useless about sorting it.

She is now with halifax.

leftieM

I'm with Cahoot and my husband is with the Halifax. Both are good. Cahoot have good rates of interest and their website is easy to use. The Halifax has lower interest rates but they do have branches here so that is a plus to many people. I was with the BOI and my husband was with the NB and both were really expensive - no interest for current accounts, the BOI website is primitive, they both charge for everything...the main advantage is that we can use BOI/ NI cards in the Rep of Ireland to withdraw euros without being charged a fee.
(How they missed that one I don't know!)

Ronn1e_2

I fully endorse everything Duffster said. I'm with the Nationwide and am very happy with the service and interest rates.

thetope

Nationwide all the way. their excellent foreign money policies means any trips across the border don't cost you any withdrawal fees or commission for cash.
i joined nationwide online, took them about a fortnight to transfer all my direct debits... my boyfriend joined abbey at the same time and it took them 4 months and a lot of hassling to do all the direct debit transfers.

southantrim3

I'd also go with Alliance & Leicester. Been with them for about 4 or 5 years now and haven't had any trouble with them. Their interst rates are about as good as you can get and you can access their facilities several ways. You have a choice of going to your local branch, using the telephone service (which is my preference) or using the internet.

The staff are friendly, efficient and reliable, there are no fees when your in credit and if you introduce someone new both you and them get £50 creditted to your accounts after a few weeks! Can't beat that.