Help me find a new bank.

bolo

Not had a single problem with nat west for the last 10 years or so and they do have a good high st presence. Having used internet banking with Nat west, Abbey, Hsbc, Natinowide, A&L and lloyds i personally think the nat west one is the best. would not recommend A&L as they have poor customer service. I also have a M&S cashback credit card like pheonix. I don't really keep enough money in my nat west current account to worry about the credit interest rate in this account.

Scar_3

Thanks.

Looks like I'm going to Natwest and Nationwide to tlak to them, see what they have to offer.

Gordon_the_Moron

Scar wrote:

Thanks everyone for your detailed replies!

I have heard a lot of good things about Nationwide but I don't know where my nearest store is to go hav e a chat with them, which is a downside for when I need to go pay money in. At least with HSBC there is one 5 minutes from my house, and yes there are always quees (sp?) but it doesn't bother me as I've never had to wait more than 5 minutes (apart from once, but I went during lunch hour a couple of weeks ago, people were all prepping up for Xmas I think!)

My salary varies, and currently on average I am paying in less than £1000 a month, however I work P/T and I'm job hunting for something more perminant, so I will end up with more money going in. So, currently this could create a problem.

So, looks like Lloyds is out - although my mum uses them and they haven't always been great, although she used to work for them (21 years ago), as did my dad so she has loyality there. Don't want to bank with First Direct seeing as they're part of HSBC I believe? And they have introduced that monthly charge too haven't they? Am I right in thinking that Abbey and the Royal Bank of Scottland are a big pile of poo as well? I have a close friend whose with the Halifax and he has no problems, although he's never really needed to I guess. If something happens I want to know that I'd be delt with by someone who could relate to my situation, hence why I want British people not foreign call centres.

Other thing - do Natwest still fund animal testing does anyone know?

Enough of my jibberish!

PS - Pheonix, I'm not too far from you judging by your location, any ideas where there actually is a Nationwide bank?

http://www.multimap.com/clients/places.cgi?client=nationw_01 - Just enter your postcode to find your nearest branch

If paying in is the only thing you need a branch for and you haven't got one nearby you could open the Nationwide account and when you need to pay in pay into HSBC then transfer online to Nationwide, then you never need to visit a Nationwide branch. I've got a Coventry Building Society account but I've never visited a branch.

CopperPlate_2

Should recommend smile. Always going on about how convenient it is being able to pay in cash (which clears instantly) at the local Post Office - being able to pay in cheques or post cheques too. Reasonable rate of interest and quick and efficient service when you phone them or send them a secure message. Don't have overseas call centres or staff that don't have a clue what they're talking about so that's all a plus.

cahoot I wouldn't touch with a barge pole. The same goes for Halifax/Bank of Scotland. Shambolic. first direct are good too, although they are taking a battering just now (although it does seem to have subsided over the last few weeks )

CopperPlate_2

You should be able to find out more about ethical banking via ethiscore.org:

https://www.ethiscore.org

Select the free reports and then internet banking.

Kilty_2

Interesting to see how Co-Operative Bank fair compared with other banks, considering they are supposedly the "ethical choice"

CopperPlate_2

I know but Ethiscore factor in the supermarkets selling wood from unsustainable sources, goods with palm oil in them, etc, etc. At least the co-op make a stand with their own brand products - what suppliers choose to do can only be influenced by the group to a certain extent. They aren't a mega-huge group in comparison to Tesco, Sainsbury's or Asda. I understand why Ethiscore have done it - for transparency, in much the same way as first direct was given a poor score due to HSBC and their apparent involvement in areas where Ethiscore rates them badly, but the co-operative bank and smile both refuse to fund un-ethical organisations. Surely that should be looked at standing alone, rather than the fact the supermarket arm sells wooden garden furniture which doesn't come from a sustainable source or sells L'Oreal products which have been allegedly tested on animals. No supermarket could hope to survive on a national basis if it acted totally according to Ethiscore's mantra. At least the co-op are doing something positive.

Scar_3

Thanks guys! I'll have a look at that link you provided. x