Best Internet Bank?

GemzyKate

Hi All,

I'm thinking of switching by Abbey accounts to an internet based bank.

The reasons for this are; I cannot remember the last time I actually went into a branch so don't really need that facility and I don't really think Abbey are as advanced or professional as other banks.

I was just after people's personal experience/opinions on the best internet bank?

Thanks!!

never-in-doubt

First Direct is one of the market leaders.

anselld

I second that! First Direct are the most efficient bank I have come across. Everything just works including faster payments both ways. Even the phone banking is quick and efficient.
RBS are also efficient, but I left them in protest when they became government owned.

book12

Cahoot and Smile are not bad either.

rb10

Do you want to restrict yourself to a purely internet-based bank, or would you consider a 'normal' bank that has good internet banking.

If the latter, then it's generally considered that Halifax and HSBC have the best internet banking systems.

djm1972

NatWest / RBS Online Banking (same system) is great, very intuitive to use; but you do need the chip'n'pin reader thing for some operations such as setting up standing orders.

I also have a Cahoot current account as my back-up cash account and whilst it all works fine, there's no faster payments as yet; and the interface I find very cludgy compared to NatWest. It isn't exactly clear what some links mean, there's no differentition between links that just pop-up a help box and links that actually take you to account information for example. I'm sure it's fine if you use it everyday and have a chance to get used to it.

The difficulty with your question is that there aren't really that many people that have experience with different systems, so you're going to need lots of replies to get a feeling for it.

anselld

Cahoot = Abbey = Santander. Suspect if Cahoot are still any good today it won't be long before Santander rectify that.

97trophy

hsbc has the best website that I have seen in the UK.

sweetstudent

I would also motion what the other posters have said!! I bank with HSBC and Barclays and have a IDA with First Direct and HSBC/FD are easily the best! HSBC also have the best Internet Banking Interface, my OH banks with Natwest and she hates the interface!

97trophy

sweetstudent wrote: »

Natwest and she hates the interface!

Yes, it also lacks the functionaly that hsbc's site has.

Bernie

...on month 141!

We've have accounts with Nationwide, Cahoot & Intelligent Finance too.

Smile has been our domestic, general purpose internet bank for years, the others we keep for other specific uses. We've also used Egg and Icici (all closed) and currently have ISA's with NatWest and Lloyds.

All had special benefits at one time or another that led us to open accounts, the useful ones we've retained for internet (Cahoot) and holiday transactions (NWide) or mortgage (IF).

If we had to choose a single bank to consolidate to, it would be Smile.