Santander/A&L to NatWest transfer: positive story!

eskbanker

There's a lot of flak dished out on here to the likes of Santander and NatWest, usually entirely justified, so I just thought I'd give some credit where it's due!

Opened Alliance & Leicester cash ISAs at the start of the 2010/11 for myself and OH, so needed to move the funds on at the end of the bonus period and decided to transfer to NatWest. Put the transfer forms in the post last Monday (including reactivation forms since I hadn't subscribed to NW for a couple of years) to NatWest and by Friday the money had already been passed from Santander to NatWest. I know that transfer times are now mandated to be better than they used to be but have to say that this exceeded my expectations, especially in the midst of the year-end frenzy.

I won't get too smug until my Santander 2011/12 application has been approved but am pleasantly surprised at how smooth this has been so far (*tempts fate*)

matthew74

Did exactly the same last week, sent the forms to Natwest and the transfer had taken place within about 7 working days ,very impressed.

I have noticed a considerable improvement in Natwest since they were semi-nationalised.

edinburgher

I'm a big fan of Natwest (joined them about a year ago after leaving Santander).

Their branch staff are helpful and reasonably friendly (whereas the Santander staff were uninformed and surly in my experience) and if I have to level any criticism at them, it'd be that they're a bit keen on trying to sell you add-ons when you call telephone banking. Still, all banks are the same in that regard and a polite 'I haven't got time to discuss it' is enough to stop all but the most enthusiastic agents in their tracks

I was in a complete daze after leaving Natwest for the first time - I'd had current accounts etc. for 13 years but could swear that it was the first time that a member of staff in a bank had actually properly listened to me and acted in my best interest.

So kudos to them for that!