Ethical banking

Linda32

I've changed to Smile recently and havn't had any problems at all, website clear and easy to use. I've only used the "branch" once, which is the Co-op bank and the staff were helpful and friendly.

Much nicer than Lloyds who I was with before who were only interested in selling me a loan or credit card.

pboae

I bank with the co-op, and I've always been happy with the service. We've just changed to one of the paid-for accounts (because the breakdown cover and travel insurance make it worthwhile) and that comes with a free overdraft, but before that we never had one. When we opened a joint account (about 9 years ago) we just said we didn't want one, and that was fine, same thing happened when I opened my own account about 3 years ago. I wonder if they have changed the poilcy recently or if you just got an awkward git when you were trying to sort it out?

melancholly

i've just been looking at the ethical rating of the banks (thanks for the link rag_doll). i'm with A&L and they score very well - but unfortunately their environmental rating is awful. smile appears to have mixed ratings - i guess different categories will be important to different people:
http://www.ethiscore.org/scoretable.aspx?id=250073&free=true

i do remember a news story last year where co-op decided they would no longer allow a group who made very anti-homosexual comments to bank with them. it was nice to see them make a stand over it (and they had the support of their customers) but they got very bad press over it. i thought about changing to them but their customer service doesn't get very good reviews and they don't have easy to get to branches.

ailuro2

smile is just the online bank version of co-op.All the same companies, CIS insurance

melancholly

ailuro2 wrote:

smile is just the online bank version of co-op.All the same companies, CIS insurance

thanks - how dumb do i feel not knowing that

ailuro2

You're welcome- I only know because we got our mortgage from Co-op because smile didn't do mortgages when we took ours out, but had a link to their sister company.
Same products, different colour website.Smile is a bit hip and funky too- they have polls and things to keep readers amused/involved.