Best HUMAN bank?

A-Wing

Hi,

I have a few requirements for what I would like for a bank, can anybody suggest the best bank to fit them?

I need a personal and small business account (turnover currently under £100k). Charges and interest rates are not so important to me, although I do need someone human and British at the end of the phone (big problem with someone from HSBC's call centre who couldn't understand English numbers a few years ago). Online banking is also a must.

I am currently with Barclays and they have made too many mistakes which have cost me too much time to fix.

So, does such an entity exist? Or am I doomed to be banking for eternity with a bunch of profit hungry drones?

Regards
Andrew

Phoenix79_2

I've always rated Natwest. Always had very good service but thats been on personal accounts and not business account. UK CS which is a bonus

RichyRich

NatWest is good (but again only in a personal capacity). Just ring 01274 394611 and press 2 and you're straight onto a human being! No stupidly long winded options menus, staff always helpful and polite, if not (particularly) knowledgeable

Rich

Phoenix79_2

You'll get the direct line to your branch as well.

bassl1ne

I feel i have to voice my disagreement with the support for Natwest. As a small business owner i have experienced nothing but problems with my Natwest business account. For instance i attempted to obtain finance for a new van for my business, simple enough you would think.... wrong! I was passed between 3 different departments to attempt to find out who my business manager was, after finding out his name i then spoke to an additional 3 people who were unable to locate him. It then took 3 days to call me back to tell me that i need to speak to a 3rd party company who acts on behalf of Natwest finance...... 3 months later i have still not recieved a call from this company. In my whole 2 years with Natwest i still have not managed to ever speak to my business manager! humm very poor.

A-Wing

Thanks for the comments. Anyone know how the co-operative bank compares with Natwest for customer services / call centres?

Mercenary

I see nobody has recommended First Direct yet in which case I do so now. http://www.firstdirect.com/

A-Wing...if you have read any of the other threads on here you will know that opinion is divided at the moment as to whether First Direct is or is not a bank to be with because of their recent charges brought in for current accounts that have less than £1500 as an average monthly balance.
I and many others would recommend them as having the best UK call centre staff who are definitely human and have a sense of humour, with easy online access and other facilites depending on the particular account.

You do have to jump through some hoops to sign up (now standard for all bank accounts) but they take a lot of security information for the telephone and internet banking facility.
The rates are nothing to trumpet, but the CS more than makes up for it ...for a lot of us anyway . HTH

Here's the blurb from the Bank Account page:
try something different
pocket £50 when you switch your salary/income of at least £1500 per month to us
it's easy - our special switching team help transfer everything
it's official - we've been voted the UK's best online bank
want more? get more with a fee-free £500 overdraft at just 10.9% EAR variable (subject to status)*
earn up to 2.00% AER on credit balances
get mini statements sent to your mobile
talk to a real person 24/7
no wonder first direct is the UK's most recommended bank

A-Wing

Mercenary wrote:

I see nobody has recommended First Direct yet in which case I do so now. http://www.firstdirect.com/

Thanks Mercenary, only problem being that First Direct don't do business accounts.

Mercenary

oops! sorry..... Oh well, at least I tried.

Lazy_Runner

Hi A-wing

Is there a good reason to have both your business and your personal accounts with the same bank?
And would you want to speak to the same call centre staff about both accounts?

Just curious really as I have never had a business account. If I did open a business account, it would have to be a different bank than my current account as my current is with FD.

LR

newfoundglory

Norwich and Peterborough BS

Unusually for a small BS, they provide a full service personal current account with VISA debit card and a business account too. You can call them on 0845 300 2511 - you wont even have to select a number from an automated menu - and the call centre is in Peterborough!

They also provide *excellent* online banking 24/7/365