Best Online Banking - System

MaxG

Systems tested : HSBC, Natwest, Nationwide, Halifax :beer:




Halifax

• Easiest to Login to - username, password, and security question
• Nice Layout, and easy to use - everything is there for you
• You can name accounts, call them whatever you like
• Single card and pin, no old fashioned paper 'paying in' books required

HSBC

• To login you need - ID Number, D.O.B, and 3 randomly selected digits of your pass number
• Fairly decent system
• You Must have a book, or use paying in slips. Cards alone are not good enough to use over the counter, nor in some of the machines.

Natwest

• To Login, you have to remember about five different pieces of information, I have only signed in once or twice, when I set the account up
• Solo Debit card provided for easy transactions

Nationwide

• Several pieces of information are required to sign in, but it asks for 'Memorable data', so you have the choice (at point of sign in), which one to use, and PC can remember it, if required

• Great online software, easy to use

• No paperwork is required, it is all cards

• Debit cards are only available to over 18s, most banks offer them at a much lower age

* Review Information *

Easiest Sign in - Halifax
Best Software - Halifax and Nationwide
Best paying in / out - Halifax
Best state of branch - Nationwide and Halifax
Best Customer service - unsure

Leave any feedback below

:money:

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Lokolo

HSBC you only need paying in slips for cheques... you don't need one as you can fill them out in branch....

I prefer HSBCs online system to Halifax and Lloyds.

I also prefer HSBCs paying in system.

But I do not have a current account with Halifax so not sure about their paying in systems, never needed to use them nor would I want to.

never-in-doubt

what is interesting the OP quoted the thread as Best Online banking so why should it matter about HSBC's strict paper policy? Thats face-to-face, not online (last time I checked I never had a virtual reality chat at my screen with a human from HSBC)....

Seriously though, HSBC is one of the best banks and also has one of the better and easiest (user friendly) systems. Yea you have to await for online number but this is secure! I mean who else would remember or be able to hack into a 12 digit code.... IB9513842639

Its quite hard isn't it......

Natpest - well I won't even go there and Lloyds is basic whilst Halifax is ok to an extent but isn't half as good as HSBC.

As Lokolo says, you can still get any slip in branch.....

flutterbyuk25

I think HSBC online banking is brilliant. I love that I can see all 4 of my accounts (current, 2 x savings and CC) immediately. It's so user friendly.

I also use Halifax online banking for 3 accounts (current, ISA and CC). It's ok but nowhere near as good as HSBC. And it really really really annoys me that deleted payee's still appear on your payee list!!

x

mrmajika

I'd say the LTSB system is one of the best. A nice clean layout, real time balances. You can see all account balances on the one screen and easily move money between your pots. You can set up Standing Orders online, create, pay and delete payments (unlike First Direct!). Up until about 18 months ago I'd say it was the best internet banking out there by far.

BUT.....

their Faster Payments system is a joke. It's been pulled for over a year now and still now sign of it returning.

ashknowsbest

barclays is good, have to use pinestry which is easy.

They are just updating there online banking, you can preview it online now

never-in-doubt

ashknowsbest wrote: »

barclays is good, have to use pinestry which is easy.

They are just updating there online banking, you can preview it online now

Only problem is, you're on holiday and want to check banking - costs a bomb to ring Uk so you go online at internet cafe - oh shoot - you can't cos they won't allow you to connect a usb cable...... main downside to barclays is their toy kiddie calculator! a 16 digit security log-in I.D would suffice :rolleyes:

Extant

never-in-doubt wrote: »

Only problem is, you're on holiday and want to check banking - costs a bomb to ring Uk so you go online at internet cafe - oh shoot - you can't cos they won't allow you to connect a usb cable...... main downside to barclays is their toy kiddie calculator! a 16 digit security log-in I.D would suffice :rolleyes:

You don't need to ring the UK, you just select the option that you don't have your reader and authenticate with your Connect card.

You don't need a USB cable anywhere - I really don't know where you got that idea from. PINSentry doesn't connect to your computer, it just generates an eight digit code from your PIN.

A sixteen digit security log-in is one factor authentication (something you know) and is inherently less secure than the two factor (something you know and something you have) PINSentry.

medic1978

HSBC and Natwest best. With both, easy to see balance of all accounts and easy to transfer between them. Setting up payees and deleting them when no longer needed is a doddle. With Natwest you do need the card reader for setting up the first payment/SO but not after that. Faster payments also works perfectly with both.

Halifax is ok, faster payments not reliable. One good thing is that SO seem to be sent via faster payments which most other banks don't do yet.

Don't like LTSB. Payments can usually only be set up to be sent the next day at the earliest via BACS, unless you ring them and hope its sent via FP. ALso don't like it that you can only schedule payments for up to 30 days in advance, with Natwest is several months or more.

My main current account is actually First Direct because of offset mortgage. Online banking wise nowhere near as good as HSBC. Can't delete unsued payees which is a real pain. Also SO can only be set up by sending them a message but haven't found this a major issue. I use Natwest for ad hoc single payments when needed- at least I can delete them when not needed. Good thing is that faster payments between FD and Natwets are pretty much instant

Aegis

The issue I have with halifax is that it requires you to type in your full password each time: a keylogger's dream situation. Most organisations seem to be moving towards a selection of characters from the password, which means that even if your computer is invested with spyware the details aren't going to be easily tracked down in full.

For a really good login and password process, look at Hargreaves Lansdown. It asks for your username and DoB, then asks for 3 characters from your password filled out using drop-down menus. Once you want to make a transaction you then need a totally separate password to authorise the purchase/sale. The accounts are then really easy to use.

Of course, HL is a fund supermarket rather than a bank, but still excellent service.

Nationwide are just awful in my view. Halifax was nice aside from the issues I highlighted above. I work for HSBC, but quite like the internet banking they provide. Not as big a fan of the stockbroking service, but for about £12 a trade I guess I wouldn't expect much!

username

.Natwest

• To Login, you have to remember about five different pieces of information, I have only signed in once or twice, when I set the account up
• Solo Debit card provided for easy transactions

It's 3 pieces (the customer ID number [which I write down in a diary as it's your DOB + 3 random digits], the PIN and the password).

First Direct

To login you need 3 pieces of information, your username, memorable answer, letters from your electronic password and an answer which you set up when you first join FD.