Do the banks hold a grudge?

kate1986_2

I was discharged more than a year ago now and at the time of going BR I owed Natwest about £10,000. I always liked banking with them and I'd really like to open a step account. Does anyone know if they only take my credit file in to account, or will they also consider my personal history with them?

I'd like to eventually apply for a current account again so I thought a step account would help with this as they'll be able to see I'm making good money and managing it properly, but I just don't know if their debt being included in my BR will always be an issue.

philnicandamy

Pop in and speak to someone see what they say.....if you apply for the step account though make sure they process your application by hand..otherwise it WILL fail if they use the computer instead

Barclays offered me a basic account they were one of my biggest creditors..didnt go with them though in the end

ZBI

As mentioned above, make sure you submit a paper application in branch which gets sent off for manual processing. You also need to supply your Discharge Certificate along with this.

I have been declined twice for a Step Acc despite having been discharged and cleaned up my credit file... Perhaps you are correct and they do 'hold a grudge' since RBS (part of NatW) were also one of my creditors.

NatWest seem to be a bit unpredictable and a limited few people have managed to get a Step Acc.

In general, you have a greater chance if:

• You have cleaned up your credit file
• Your name is on the electoral register
• You are employed with a good income
• There have not been any recent credit searches made on you (i.e you have not been applying for products elsewhere)

As for how NatWest assess each application - I have no idea!

By the way, if you are declined - do not expect to get any notification of the outcome. On both occasions I did not receive any response and only found out by chasing it up in branch!

Good luck and hope you get accepted. Please let me know how you get on

Marine_life

I don't think they necessarily hold a grudge but they are a business and therefore there is no obligation for them to accept you as a customer.

Whether or not they accept you as a customer will depend on whether they will make any money from you.

hall987

My partner owed money to Santander and they allowed us to keep our current account that has a cheque book and visa. It was admittedly the smallest debt of £450, but it has been great to have a normal bank account:)

fiveyearplan

Your previous good banking history will make no difference to their decision. I had a barclays accout for over 18 years, never overdrawn then missed one dd and everything collapsed! Don't know why I was so sentimental about that account - they certainly weren't!

alastairq

but it has been great to have a normal bank account

sorry to use your particular quote, but it raises a question that, in my old age I fail to find a satisfactory answer to....and that is, exactly what does one get with an 'ordinary'...or 'normal' bank account, that the likes of a Co-op Cashminder does not give the customer?

Aside from a line of credit via overdraughts....which may not be what an ex-BR is wanting anyway?


[As a Barclays customer from way back in the days when they called me 'Mr @@@@t'..when I walked into the bank.....aside from bank charges and an overdraught, I never got anything in terms of service I don't get now....apart from a 'wotchermate' when the Co-op phone answers....]]

Ineedaname

You get the wonders of a cheque book!

But I don't reckon there's anything else to be excited about with a 'normal' bank account.