best current account

winkle1

i want to switch my current account from hsbc. which is the best one to switch to?

any tips?

GreyPilgrim

Just switched from Barclays (going to keep that account open as a joint / bill paying account for my wife and I to use) and have open a Lloyds TSB Classic Plus Account. Bumph on the website says:

Lloyds TSB Classic Plus 4.00%
Halifax current account 2.53%
Barclays current account 0.10%
NatWest current account 0.10%
HSBC current account 0.10%

(although I'm sure this is propaganda) - research it yourself first!

Was also bought by the one off £50 credit they give you when you get your salary paid into it (you have to log on frequently too). I am such a consumer w*ore and easily bought...

themaccas

Just been approved for a Premier Direct Alliance &Leicester current account pays nearly 5% interest on balances and 0% o/d for 12 months. Just need to sign the forms and return them....but have been with Halifax for 15 years and its a bit like 'better the devil you know'....
I think we will go ahead with the switch though.

Dr.Lou

Our main account is with Alliance and Leicester (Premier Direct).

Pays 5% interest on credit balances for a year and also offer an interest free overdraft for a year (depending on status). I think you have to pay in at least £500 pm. They have very good linked savings accounts (10% regular saver etc) and it is all done online. Have been with them since Nov and had no probs yet, except its a little slow to set up. They also offer money to sign up if you get a friend to recommend you etc.

The other account we have is with Nationwide and I have found them very good too. Not sure of the credit interest rate around 3+% I think, and you can use the card abroad with no charges. I've been with this bank for about 7yrs and always find them very pleasant to deal with. You can bank at branch or online.

lynzpower

Im dumping LLOyds tsb for Alliance & leicester premier direct as well ( if you want that check out the referrers board, you'll get a bit mre for opening it if thats what you are interested in. Incidentally, I have nothing but good things to say about Lloydstsb, they have been superb with me.

crystal64

I have been with the Nationwide Building Society for 7 Years and found them to be good and the staff very helpful also when abroad using the atm's you are not charged its just like being at home the on-line service is also good.

Ali-OK

Yup, I've gone the Lloyds to A&L Prem Direct route too, but because A&L are a bit slow for switching and nothing has gone smoothly with them, I'm keeping Lloyds open. Also A&L 5% reverts to 3.5% after 12 months, so I might put everything back with Lloyds then, as that's 4%. And I want to keep the "been with bank 21 years" bit for my next 0% application.

I just got in for the £50 rec-a-friend scheme, so am waiting on the dosh now!

lynzpower

Yeah so did I, and also cos Im claiming back a hell of a lot of money back from lloyds and im dreading them closing my account, so got the A&L just in case

holidayqueen

I have to agree with Ali-OK, we have been with A&L now for 10wks and the switching is still not complete.

They are soooo slow.

I rang them again yesterday re d/d's that have still not been switched, and they adv me if the co I pay my d/d to doesn't reply to them they dont foll it up, and I have to do all the chasing myself.:mad:

Might as well have done it in the first place, it would have been quicker!:rolleyes:

lynzpower

i just got my A&L card this morning, do you guys recommend I just do the transfer myself?

holidayqueen

If I knew 10wks ago what I know now, I would have done all the switching of d/d's myself.

I love the account have no probs with it, but its the switching service. When you ring them up it just feels like you're being fobbed off all the time, i've ended up answering my own questions.

The pain of running two bank accs not knowing when d/d's will be switched is a real headache.

Thank goodness you dont change a bank acc very often!.