trouble getting bank account

AndyNorwich

Hello,
I cannot for the life of me get a bank account and ive just started work and need one. My credit rating is so poor !
Ive tried halifax,hsbc,lloyds,natwest,rbs
Can someone reccomend a bank account id be likely to get please

opinions4u

Try a Basic Bank Account.

All the banks that have declined you for a ful facility have alternative options.

Take a look at the more recent posts in the link above for current thinking on the subject.

book12

Go back to those banks, as they offer good basic accounts. Remember to tell them the name of the account you want to open. You can see them here: http://www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk/pdfs/bank_accounts.pdf

rb10

Try one of these:

Halifax Easycash
Pros: Good online banking, opportunity to upgrade to a full Halifax account in the future (one of the best accounts if you are going to be in credit), Visa Electron card.
Cons: Doesn't report to credit reference agencies (but it will still increase your internal score), you have to use an ATM to withdraw anything up to £300, and the machine to pay in cash and cheques.

Barclays Cash Card Account
Pros: Visa Debit card (although bear in mind that it's restricted, so is fairly similar to an Electron card and won't work in some retailers, e.g. on trains, and at pay-at-pump at petrol stations).

Lloyds TSB Cash Account
Pros: Visa Debit card (although this has the same problem as Barclays - see above).
Cons: You can only withdraw cash from Lloyds TSB ATMs and the post office - you can't use any other bank's ATM.

Natwest Step Account
Pros: Visa Debit card (again, it's restricted).
Cons: Poor internet banking, and poor customer service (obviously this is very subjective, and many people will have no complaints, but this seems to be the general consensus).

Co-op Cashminder
Pros: Visa Debit card (again, restricted).
Cons: Small branch network, and I believe that their online banking is very basic and can be slow to update when you use your debit card.

HSBC
Pros: Good internet banking.
Cons: No debit card, no counter service in branch.

pmduk

As others have said, make sure you are firm about the name of the account you want. If necessary print out the details and give that to the bank staff. They're very good at trying to open up a more upscale account for you, leading to a refusal. There's a separate sticky thread dealing with basic bank accounts which you may find useful.

bev309

Natwest Step Account
Pros: Visa Debit card (again, it's restricted).
Cons: Poor internet banking, and poor customer service (obviously this is very subjective, and many people will have no complaints, but this seems to be the general consensus).

I am sorry, but what exactly is so poor about Natwest Internet Banking? I fail to see! Having had a Step acct for years before, I know how it works, & I can do everything I need to do online, except order a new debit card. :think::silenced:

vaporate

bev309 wrote: »

I am sorry, but what exactly is so poor about Natwest Internet Banking? I fail to see! Having had a Step acct for years before, I know how it works, & I can do everything I need to do online, except order a new debit card. :think::silenced:

Natwest online banking is 1st class!

There is no grounds for complaint.

fawinds

I have an Easycash account and a Step account with Natwest and find Natwest online banking far better than Halifax.

Hithere

I had a problem getting a bank account about 10 years ago, my credit rating was fine but I had been made redundant. I wasn't happy with the bank I was with (they made a huge error on my account & it took months for them to put it right), every where I went to open a new account didn't want to know once I told them I was unemployed eventually I went to Co Operative Bank and they had no problem with it, gave me an account & cheque book straight away, didn't give me a cheque guarantee card at first but after a little while with them I got that as well.
Never had any problems with them & stay with them out of loyalty now.
Also have a relative who has a Step Account with Nat West and they say that is a good account as well.

book12

Hithere wrote: »

I had a problem getting a bank account about 10 years ago, my credit rating was fine but I had been made redundant. I wasn't happy with the bank I was with (they made a huge error on my account & it took months for them to put it right), every where I went to open a new account didn't want to know once I told them I was unemployed eventually I went to Co Operative Bank and they had no problem with it, gave me an account & cheque book straight away, didn't give me a cheque guarantee card at first but after a little while with them I got that as well.
Never had any problems with them & stay with them out of loyalty now.
Also have a relative who has a Step Account with Nat West and they say that is a good account as well.

Even though you are unemployed, you can still get a bank account (assuming you are on benefits - that counts as income).

willo65

Don't mind rb10, he has something against Natwest and never has a good word to say about them also rarely has arguments to back up his statements.