Basic Bank Account Thread

speedie007_2

Hi all I'm finding it very hard to get a basic bank account I'm now trying the Co-Op and have applied over the phone dose anyone know how long they take to get back to you??

Thanks speedie007

stereoscene

hello gang. im gonna apply for the halifax acount. anyone know how long it takes to go from a basic to a standard account?

thanks in advance

book12

stereoscene wrote: »

hello gang. im gonna apply for the halifax acount. anyone know how long it takes to go from a basic to a standard account?

thanks in advance

If you use your Easycash Account for at least 6 months (make sure the account is is good condition without any bounced SO/DDs, overdrawn, etc...), you could try upgrading to a standard account.

cifpower

IIRC Halifax do not do direct upgardes from their basic account like some other banks

stereoscene

cifpower wrote: »

IIRC Halifax do not do direct upgardes from their basic account like some other banks

thanks. worth going for the natwest step instead?

book12

stereoscene wrote: »

thanks. worth going for the natwest step instead?

Could do. They provide a better debit card (VISA debit) than the Halifax Easycash account (they offer VISA Electron). The Halifax Easycash offers limited branch service, which is not good.

Also, another choice is to go for Barclays Cash Card Account. Despite the name, it does have a debit card (VISA debit). All you need is one piece of ID. You get account details on the same day. PIN and card in 2-3 days time. Internet/banking details within a week.

More choices here: http://www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk/pdfs/bank_accounts.pdf

edinburgher

Could anyone advise a basic account that offers decent online banking?

I currently have:

A&L account - not bad, can make payments online, but can only set up 8 payees, can't set up DD online or delete payees and can't do Standing Orders.
Co-op account - fairly low functionality - have to call them to set up DDs or Standing Orders (but can set up Standing Orders).

Ideally I'd like to be able to make payments online, set up payees, DDs and SOs myself from the online banking portal (like a real account). Thoughts welcomed :beer:

gilligansyle

edinburgher wrote: »

Could anyone advise a basic account that offers decent online banking?

I currently have:

A&L account - not bad, can make payments online, but can only set up 8 payees, can't set up DD online or delete payees and can't do Standing Orders.
Co-op account - fairly low functionality - have to call them to set up DDs or Standing Orders (but can set up Standing Orders).

Ideally I'd like to be able to make payments online, set up payees, DDs and SOs myself from the online banking portal (like a real account). Thoughts welcomed :beer:

STEP account from NatWest - not sure its officially a basic bank account, but it has no overdraft facilities and no cheque book.

It does have
Solo card
Telephone and online banking
DD's etc and decent online banking - can set up payees, SO's and cancel DD's online. I didn't think you could set DD's up yourself with any account, doesn't the originator have to do that? But I may well be wrong!

book12

edinburgher wrote: »

Could anyone advise a basic account that offers decent online banking?

I currently have:

A&L account - not bad, can make payments online, but can only set up 8 payees, can't set up DD online or delete payees and can't do Standing Orders.
Co-op account - fairly low functionality - have to call them to set up DDs or Standing Orders (but can set up Standing Orders).

Ideally I'd like to be able to make payments online, set up payees, DDs and SOs myself from the online banking portal (like a real account). Thoughts welcomed :beer:

Halifax and Barclays have good online banking. See here for the demos: http://www.halifax.co.uk/aboutonline/demos.asp (Halifax), http://www.barclays.co.uk/online/demo/(Barclays). I hope you like it.

See here for more details about their banks accounts:

• Halifax - http://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/easycash.asp
• Barclays - http://www.personal.barclays.co.uk/BRC1/jsp/brccontrol?site=pfs&task=homefreegroup&value=12866

For the Halifax account, you can apply online or get an application pack in branch. It can't be opened in branch. For the Barclays account, you can open it in branch, and you get the account details on the same day. You only need one piece of ID to open it.

I'm not sure about how good he other online banking is like with other banks though. I only bank with those two banks, and only can tell you that.

book12

gilligansyle wrote: »

STEP account from NatWest - not sure its officially a basic bank account, but it has no overdraft facilities and no cheque book.

It does have
Solo card
Telephone and online banking
DD's etc and decent online banking - can set up payees, SO's and cancel DD's online. I didn't think you could set DD's up yourself with any account, doesn't the originator have to do that? But I may well be wrong!

Natwest now offers VISA debit cards now, not Solo.

The Step Account is a basic bank account.

The originator sets u the DD's, not the account holder.