Best online banking interfaces?

terakris

I like halifax' as its pretty straight foward and always done the job nicely, but a few more toys would be nice.

Ive seen my other half using the new nationwide system (she is staff so gets access early) and it looks pretty good with some nice features.

alanq

My order of preference for online interface

Nationwide
NatWest
First Direct

Chorlie

I use Barclays, Halifax, Lloyds & Nationwide, also Natwest in the past.

I find Barclays and Natwest the worse, very clunky with to many adverts, I find the layout not very logical to use. I think Lloyds is the best closely followed by Halifax, they both seem clear with good layout without as many adverts (or at least not so in your face / in the way adverts), I really like that they state the interest rate you're getting on your saving A/c which Barclays & Nationwide don't which just makes it harder to compare rates. So for me it's:-


Lloyds
Halifax
Nationwide
Natwest
Barclays

ChiefGrasscutter

anjak-j wrote: »

My one big complaint with Halifax's interface is the sign in with the memorable information. Drop-downs are not particularly accessibility friendly - I find them quite tricky on days my hands are sore and shake a lot - and the placement of the 'continue' button on the far right is counter-intuitive. I much prefer the systems I've seen on other sites where the memorable information characters are typed into input boxes instead.

I quite see your point - and quite a few banking/building Soc' online sites do this.
The reason it's done this way is for security
Typing in letters on the keyboard runs the risk of keyloggers capturing the details and if your PC is comprimised sending them off to scammer etc. Having drop down boxes where nothing is actually typed on the keyboard makes it more secure.

(ING have something similar, they have a keypad appear on screen to enter up the memorable numbers by mouse click and they have the positions of the numbers on the onscreen keypad constantly changing to eliminate any possiblility of a mouse logger capturing the position of the mouse and hence deducing what the number was that was clicked on).

jjlandlord

I think Halifax is pretty bad. My favourite is HSBC.

spadoosh

I like halifax, seems to work good and do the essentials, would be cool fi there were a few more toys on it but does the job. Also the new interface took a bit of getting used to definately better though. Although dont like the extra security information they ask for, now have to go through 3/4 pages before getting to my accounts!

Personally don't like RBS however only used the business side of it and that stupid bloody calculator they give you is just annoying what is the point?!

chexum

ChiefGrasscutter wrote: »

Typing in letters on the keyboard runs the risk of keyloggers capturing the details and if your PC is comprimised sending them off to scammer etc. Having drop down boxes where nothing is actually typed on the keyboard makes it more secure.

For what its worth - my browser actually lets me type letters when these dropboxes are clicked on. I prefer keyboard to mouse, the login is actually easier - click on first dropbox - enter letter, tab, enter letter, tab, enter lettern, tab, tab (to go to "continue"), space.

Beats mousing around any time...

anselld

You can't completely detach online interface from other aspects of the account in my view, eg
Halifax - unreliable Faster Paymemts with silly limits
FD - 50 limit of SO via FP, and you can't delete payees once created

Best overall - LTSB. - similar interface to Halifax ( in fact the same now I think) but with fully functioning Faster Payments system

InNeedofHelp

I use

Halifax
First Direct
TSB
Santander

Out of those here's my view in the order of how i rate them:

1. Nationwide - by a country mile!!!!!! If you have a problem you can call them, but you can also private message them & they'll get back to you. I love this feature. Very handy if you don't have time or simply don't want to call. Not only this, everything is laid out well. Application processes have always been smooth, but here's the real clincher for me...
...I set up transfers 12 months in advance. In January, i can set up x-amount of payments to go from my account, from my gf's to my account no problem. I can set up payments in December if i wish. We play the lotto & take turns in paying each week. I get it all on my account, but set up transfers to automatically pay me from her account ............ THROUGHOUT the year. And i can then forget about it. Brilliant. Can i do this with Halifax or others? Nope. If it exceeds 31 days then forget it. It's the reason i still have a Nationwide account.

2. Halifax & TSB - they're essentially the same layout. Clean enough, better standing order / direct debit order than Nationwide, but can't beat Nationwide for advanced transfers.

4. First Direct - don't use them much, but from what i have it's pretty straight forward & also has the nice private messaging service.

5. Santander - not the best. Took a bit to get to grips with it. I'm only using it for their 5% on £2.5k.

rb10

spadoosh wrote: »

I like halifax, seems to work good and do the essentials, would be cool fi there were a few more toys on it but does the job. Also the new interface took a bit of getting used to definately better though. Although dont like the extra security information they ask for, now have to go through 3/4 pages before getting to my accounts!

By '3/4 pages', I assume you mean 'two'? One to put in your username & password, and one to put in your memorable info.

anselld wrote: »

You can't completely detach online interface from other aspects of the account in my view, eg
Halifax - unreliable Faster Paymemts with silly limits

I believe that the Halifax FP limit is now £25k ...

Besides, all banks/building societies have to send all payments by FP from January.