Can you recommend a high street bank?

sweetstudent

I would say that HSBC is the best, however i also bank with First Direct and if FD offered a graduate account i would switch to them totally!!!!!

lilysgarden

Glad to see I'm not the only one sick to the back teeth with HSBC these days. After over 20 years with them, I'm getting shot of all business with them after the crap service I've had over the last 4 years since I became a student. Before my studies (back when I earnt less than I did as a student with 2 part time jobs and my student loans etc), HSBC couldn't wait to help me out if I thought I might go over my overdraft one month because of unexpected bills etc.

Since being a student, I was told my overdraft was 1k in the first year of uni, automatically rising to 1500 in the year 2 and 2k in year 3. It never went up and in year three when I needed to increase the overdraft for literally two days til my loans etc came through, I wasn't allowed to because I'd gone over my overdraft limit by about 7 pounds for the space of a mere 5 hours until my wages cleared into my bank account. I was then sold a graduate loan and told that after 6 months, if I needed a payment holiday in order to get finances sorted, this would be no problem at all. Now I've asked for the payment holiday, surprise surprise, I'm not allowed. And to add insult to injury, since october last year, they've charged me £475 in charges for going over my overdraft limit, despite me asking for it to be increased or for a payment holiday in order to avoid this happening. Complete joke! So I've now set up a bank account with Lloyds who alot of friends and family are with and have had no problems with and I'm now in the process of moving everything away from HSBC as soon as possible. Wish you luck in finding a better bank!!!

lilysgarden

By the way, to add insult to injury, after visiting HSBC today to see if I can make some arrangements to re-pay my overdraft gradually so that I can get rid of their account asap, the member of staff I spoke to was unable to speak to the branch manager 'without being grabbed by other customers', but she did find time to draw some cash out of the machine for herself. And then sat in front of me saying she couldn't talk to the manager while putting her cash away in her purse!!! Talk about an absolute pee take! Not amused at all.

Sorry rant about how much I hate HSBC right now is over. Good luck to anyone banking with them, hope you get better service than their ex-customers!

sweetiepie2121

Jay_Kay_B wrote: »

I'm currently with HSBC but I'm not very happy with them. The last straw was when they accidently took £500 out of my account. Luckily I noticed the error and contacted them to get the money back.

Can you please recommend a high street bank?

The types of benefits I am looking for are: good savings rates, safety, customer service, minimal bank errors!

Thanks

I recommend Natwest as their threshold 4 an interest free overdraft is 100 pound where as al charge 50p a day while your in your overdraft.Natwest has got good customer service.

97trophy

I like Nat West. I think they have a good range of products.

Dekazer

I moved from HSBC to the Co-op a couple of years ago and so far have had no complaints at all. In terms of direct comparisons, HSBC were better for branches (e.g. for collecting foreign currency in a hurry), for the design of their online banking website, and their secure 'email a question' facility. Co-op are better for telephone and branch customer service (by a country mile), and so far have been much more hassle free in pretty much every transaction

dazeruk

Been with Lloyds since I started working in 1991 and never had a single problem. I get a call each year asking if I want to come and meet with the branch manager, couldn't be more pleasent.

ray123

Have been with Halifax for few years, no real problems.
There account currently pays £5 reward per month...

rb10

dazeruk wrote: »

Been with Lloyds since I started working in 1991 and never had a single problem. I get a call each year asking if I want to come and meet with the branch manager, couldn't be more pleasent.

That just means they want to sell you something, they aren't just being friendly. And I doubt it's the branch manager who'd see you.

G_M

Before making a decision check if they use call centres (most do) and if they are in the UK (some aren't).
Nationwide are good but like all their rates are rubbish now.