Best bank account for internet banking + general service

BandJB

dzug1 wrote: »

TBH I've never had a problem with the A&L on line system - IF you understand how it works and know what transactions are coming up you should never get caught out because something isn't showing yet. But if you just want to glance at and assume that WYSIWYG - then no. But that can be the same (in different ways) with other banks as well.

And logging on is a cinch compared to some.

Unless Santander muck them up bigtime I'm probably staying.

Wot he/she said - plus the convenience of access to cash at Post Offices.

michaels

I find A&L fairly good - particularly when compared with Abbey (Santander). What is the betting that when the merger completes online banking will switch to the really useless Santander sort

Cloudane

Funny enough, I tried a payment from A&L to FD and wondered why it didn't appear at the other end pretty much straight away, so I figured this was a good time to test out secure messaging to ask both banks why. A&L's contact form was much easier to categorise (Late Payment vs. FD's "other subject"), they answered more quickly (nothing from FD yet) and gave a very detailed and intelligent explanation which also explained why they dropped the leading 0 from my FD account number.

Of course, the shining part of FD is their telephone service and the fact I can get through to someone equally as intelligent straight away 24/7/365 if it was an urgent matter whilst A&L would probably juggle me around departments for about as long as it took (~4 hours) to respond to the secure message. Definitely happy with FD still (particularly for that reason) - just a matter of curiosity really.

As it turns out the first payment to a new payee is always made with BACS for security reasons, so it'll take 4 days. And to cut a long story short, A&L do funky things with account numbers but it all works out.

Bloomberg

Cloudane wrote: »

Hi

I realise it's not exactly "moneysaving" as I'm not after the best interest deal. Been there done that - went with A&L, enjoyed the year of 8.5% they were doing at the time (it's funny, even 0.85% is unthinkable now!) but I've always hated their internet banking system which is never up to date and the last transaction balance always disagrees with the current balance which always disagrees with (available balance - overdraft). I like to keep on top of things and it just makes it more awkward. Sometimes the "best deal" isn't, if you value your time and hair.

One thing I've been considering is going back to HSBC as they have a good online system (in comparison anyway!), I've been with them for the longest and never had a problem really. But.. meh... overseas call centre on the occasion that you do need to call them is a bit of an offput. They're one of the better ones, but it's still not ideal.

Considered First Direct but I'm not rich enough.. I'd have to pay £10/month, and I don't bank heavily enough to be able to justify £120/year for it really. It's a simple account for little ol' me to run a couple of direct debits and a card. I do want half decent customer service, as the once every year or two I might have to phone them, I still don't want to be wasting my time queueing for someone who knows less about their systems than I do. But based on how often I need to call them, I find it hard to justify basically paying £120-240 for a call.

Heard good things about Smile and the Co-operative (same company)... now I'm not normally a macho kind of person but the Smile site is a bit.... pink

So I'm leaning towards the Co-op, as "Which" gives them a very good customer service rating for internet and telephone banking and their everday current account is no-fee. Basically it seems to be the same as Smile but their image is a lot more professional than silly smiley faces and crazy colours.

Whichever I go for should have an internet banking system that stays up-to-date, same day where possible (HSBC did this, especially for Faster Payments), should have Faster Payments, and be reasonable to deal with when something goes wrong.

Not bothered about overdraft (I prefer to keep a positive buffer) or loan deals (if I need a loan, I'll come here and find the best deal long before considering the bank).

Any opinions? TIA

In my opinion HSBC Premier is first class, there is a UK based call centre which is available around the clock. They give you a relationship manager who together with his team deal with all aspects of your finances. The current account offers a free £500 OD and the credit card has a very impressive 11% APR.

The HSBC internet banking is excellent as has been their fast pay implementation. There is no charge for having the account and it offers worldwide travel insurance amongst many other things. There are however certain qualifying criteria for this account.

muffin_man

I have six current accounts at the moment (don't ask) and others that have been closed, but when it comes to online banking, Natwest always wins out for me.

Yes there's a few adverts for their products down the side of the page, but that has alerted me to bonus rates on savings etc. before now, which I was grateful for.

First Direct, until recently, deleted messages from the secure message area as soon as you read them, and I don't know if it is still the same as I closed the account, but you couldn't set up new standing orders etc. instantly. HSBC send me marketing messages almost weekly. A&L have shocking faster payment limits, and you have to dig through the help section if you want to send a message...no 'contact us' link quickly available. Oh, and Halifax won't let you move values less than £1 between accounts (pennines here and there in accounts that I don't use much really annoy me).