New Bank/BS needed!

ferry

Basically I'm looking to move away from Barclays after 25 years with them as they have decided to retract a lot of thier products being made available to me without reason..
Anyway,I'd like recommendations please on accounts I can open online,apply for an overdraft facilty at the same time,offers a debit/cashtill card and has an online account serviceing facility.It'll be just for a personal account.
Equally important is the smooth transfer of all my direct debits.
We have a Woolwich BS at the top of my High Street,but just wanted to get some other ideas...

Cheers
T.

ferry

Just realised that Woolwich is part of Barclays!
I assume then they'll basically be offering the same products..?

regularsaver1

Woolwich branches are closing soon

techno_geek

Try Halifax's offer: switch to them and get £100

More info on this board...


Or Nationwide - you can apply online for any of their products including their FlexAccount and overdraft.

ferry

Thanks guys.
Will be switching to Halifax as it offers the best all round deals...

Many thanks

ferry

regularsaver1 wrote:

Woolwich branches are closing soon

Hmmm..are they becoming Barclays brances or just closing down..?

regularsaver1

well in Halifax branches they have posters saying "is your woolwich branch closing?" so maybe some are closing and some are changing to Barclays

ellielou_2

I wouldn't touch the Halifax with a barge pole - they charge extortionate fees when you go over your limit, you can only take out a maximum of £1,500 of your own money a day (not good if you have a builder to pay in cash!!), cheques take 10 days to clear and in my experience the staff don't have a clue - the computers run the place!

However, The Co-operative Bank are fantastic - no charges for going over your limit (although they do work on 3 strikes and you're out method), cheques cleared in 2 days & all the staff are really helpfull and know what they are talking about.

However, I don't think they have branches 'down south' as I overheard a student say in a shop que the other day 'it's a Northern thing.' but you can apply & conduct your account on line.

Moonbeam

ellielou wrote:

I wouldn't touch the Halifax with a barge pole - they charge extortionate fees when you go over your limit, you can only take out a maximum of £1,500 of your own money a day (not good if you have a builder to pay in cash!!), cheques take 10 days to clear and in my experience the staff don't have a clue - the computers run the place!

However, The Co-operative Bank are fantastic - no charges for going over your limit (although they do work on 3 strikes and you're out method), cheques cleared in 2 days & all the staff are really helpfull and know what they are talking about.

However, I don't think they have branches 'down south' as I overheard a student say in a shop que the other day 'it's a Northern thing.' but you can apply & conduct your account on line.

Sounds like you had a bad experience....

The best way to avoid the fees is not to go over your limit - at the moment all banks charge fees for these things, but they are avoidable....

10 days to clear a cheque...depends what account you pay it into - HBOS cheques can clear instantly and others can be only 3 days.....

You can take out as much money as you want to so long as you have enough in your account - not sure where the £1500 comes from....

And some of the staff are extremely helpful....myself included:D

thumshie

ellielou wrote:

... you can only take out a maximum of £1,500 of your own money a day (not good if you have a builder to pay in cash!!)...

All banks have a maximum you can take out over the counter 'without notice'. Nationwides is £500!!!!
https://nationwide.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/nationwide.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_sid=EGN5pZui&p_lva=43&p_faqid=534&p_created=1146583290&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9ncmlkc29ydD0mcF9yb3dfY250PTM0JnBfc2VhcmNoX3RleHQ9Y291bnRlciB3aXRoZHJhd2wmcF9wYWdlPTE*&p_li=1

Other banks set the limits at a 'branch level'..

As for co-op branches 'down south' there's a few:
http://www.co-operativebank.co.uk/servlet/Satellite?cid=1077091167977&pagename=CoopBank%2FPage%2FtplPageStandard&c=Page

regularsaver1

Moonbeam wrote:

Sounds like you had a bad experience....

The best way to avoid the fees is not to go over your limit - at the moment all banks charge fees for these things, but they are avoidable....

10 days to clear a cheque...depends what account you pay it into - HBOS cheques can clear instantly and others can be only 3 days.....

You can take out as much money as you want to so long as you have enough in your account - not sure where the £1500 comes from....

And some of the staff are extremely helpful....myself included:D

In Halifax branches ona daily basis you can get £300 from machine, £1200 at counter. Any more just need to let them know the day before so that they can be sure there is enough cash in the bank - believe me I''ve seen someone draw £87'000 in cash