MSE News: Metro Bank opens its doors today

mouseclick

I found the Holborn branch friendly and helpful, and they didn't try to sell me anything.

I opened the account because of the overseas charging on Nationwide's debit card, I have been with them for 25 years. For me, memories of their old TV advert has really annoyed me http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=la0gB_FJ3gY - it shows they have completely gone against their own principals, so now their promises mean nothing to me.

It is such a shame that Nationwide have taken this decision, that is all I can say.

gt94sss2

The latest edition of Money Box (18:02 onwards) gives details of some Metro bank customers who have had problems using their cards overseas.

As always, its best practice to take cards from more than one provider when going overseas to avoid being caught out like this.

Regards
Sunil

glenn_m

Does anyone have a screenshot of what their online banking looks like? Considering opening a secondary account with them for the fee-free overseas transactions but the quality of their online banking would be a deal breaker for me.

Degenerate

glenn_m wrote: »

Does anyone have a screenshot of what their online banking looks like? Considering opening a secondary account with them for the fee-free overseas transactions but the quality of their online banking would be a deal breaker for me.

Aesthetically it leaves a lot to be desired, with the same garish theme as the rest of the website, and the main landing page too wide, pushing things out of alignment.

Functionally it seems rather good. It has all the functions one would expect, and provides more info than some other banks, eg exact time of day of cash withdrawals.

marklee

Have Metro Bank fixed the problem with their Holborn store yet, whereby passers-by in the street can see everything on the customer service staff's computer screens?

d00fus

Regarding faster payments in case it's of interest to anyone else - I opened an account with Metro last week and I've noticed that the faster payments in do arrive same day, but with quite a large variable time lag, sometimes as long as 8 hours. So I wouldn't expect the near instant transfers some of the other banks provide, at least at the moment.

Calebio

I opened a Metro account when they first opened their Earls Court branch and they were full of promise about managing my banking needs. I am self employed and income can be a bit erratic - I aslo travel a lot and had lots of issues with my previous bank (Santander) with my card being blocked abroad, even when I had told them exactly where I was going.

Metro started off well and I like their opening hours but now 6 months in they are just as useless as any other high street bank. Their internet banking doesn't work properly for certain things (such as setting up regular payments) and when I called them to sort it out they set it up completely wrong (payment starting in Mar 2015 rather than 2011!!). Also their customer service used to be good (probably as I was one of only a few customers) where as now I've not been getthing call backs as promised.

Silvafox

I think as a bank - and to be considered 'seriously' - they need to redo all of their website design. It looks like a real amateur job and installs no confidence in their professionalism from a potential customer point of view. Cheap and nasty is the vibe it gives to me.

[Deleted User]

had problems with some advisors not calling back
8am-8pm customer service is ok
Holborn store needs fixing and Faster Payments coming in 3-4 months time

Nemo.

For travellers metro bank is great. I'm in south Africa and bank rate after commission is 10.3 to pound. Checked visa fx page and rate is 10.9 to pound before commission charges usually 3%. I checked bloomberg and spot tts is 11.1 and on my metro bank withdrawal I got 11.1 so got money Market rate!

So as a second account for travelling great. Got a 250 overdraft automatically when I applied as a buffer in case I miscalculate amount I'm taken out. Of course not profitable for them long term but enjoy while it lasts!