Good Service at a bank - is there such a thing?

jmslondres

I am looking to move banks. I have a large lump sum that I am putting into a high interest account. So this 'new' account would be only used for day to day banking. T

The key is to have a bank that actually provides good service. I have only lived in the UK for 7 years and have tried Barclays & HSBC - which are terrible (to put it mildly). I have used Nationwide for my credit card and seem very good. Any other opinions for a day to day current account?

Main problems encountered: staff unable to help/answer questions (ie. vicious circle of being passed to other departments), lack of genuine care to assist (as per 1st issue), poor response times (via email), unhelpful answers (again the vicious circle), blocking accounts when I am out of the country (even tho advance notice is given over the phone & in writing - and when I call they say 'oh yes there is a note on your account saying you are out of the country'), etc. Hope this gives more help insight!

Please know - the intention is not to rant. So no comments about why they do these things are necessary. I would just like advice on which banks seem to do a good job when it comes to "Service".

Thanx,

thatsean

What sort of access to do you prefer? Branch, internet etc? I can recommend Coventry Buidling society, they offer a very high standard of service through their call centre, and have functional, if not brilliant internet banking. Branches are located in the Midlands as you might expect.

MrsManda

I've never had any problems with Nationwide or Halifax though I know others have. I've used Halifax for various things for years and I have my main account with Nationwide. Find their staff in branch very helpful, usually get through almost immediately when I use their call centre and most things can be done via their website.

Lokolo

I've been with HSBC for 10 years now and only ever had 1 problem when they blocked my card when I was trying to buy a computer on Ebuyer. Rang them up, they unblocked my card and I put the purchase through.

blueberrypie

First Direct have an excellent reputation for customer service. No branches, which might be a difficulty, although I understand you can do cash transactions through a branch of HSBC.

Bloomberg

jmslondres wrote: »

I am looking to move banks. I have a large lump sum that I am putting into a high interest account. So this 'new' account would be only used for day to day banking. T

The key is to have a bank that actually provides good service. I have only lived in the UK for 7 years and have tried Barclays & HSBC - which are terrible (to put it mildly). I have used Nationwide for my credit card and seem very good. Any other opinions for a day to day current account?

Main problems encountered: staff unable to help/answer questions (ie. vicious circle of being passed to other departments), lack of genuine care to assist (as per 1st issue), poor response times (via email), unhelpful answers (again the vicious circle), blocking accounts when I am out of the country (even tho advance notice is given over the phone & in writing - and when I call they say 'oh yes there is a note on your account saying you are out of the country'), etc. Hope this gives more help insight!

Please know - the intention is not to rant. So no comments about why they do these things are necessary. I would just like advice on which banks seem to do a good job when it comes to "Service".

Thanx,

I have never had a moments bother with HSBC. Whichever bank you decide to choose there will be good and bad stories.

exel1966

Good Service at a bank - is there such a thing?

Just about every bank out there provides good service to the majority of it's customers most of the time. Ok, maybe Santander are an exception to the rule.

The trouble is you only tend to hear the negative rather than the positive. Most customers will have problems with their bank at some stage, many of those problems will be the customers fault though lack of understanding or flouting the T&C's, some simple human errors, some misadvice.
There's no such thing as perfect bank and in my case of having up to 18 differing bank accounts with over a dozen organisations, none is better or worse than the other. I never have problems with any of them, but then again I take the time to find out how things work by asking questions before and not after the event when it's too late.