First Direct or Smile?

Firkin1

I am looking to change my current account from Santander to either First Direct or Smile due to the high charges from Santander.
Whats the general opinions of these 2 banks? Thanks in advance.

hate-banks

i've had a full current account with Smile for almost 4 years now. They are good with fees, they will not try to overcharge you, plus they don't charge you the first time you go overdrown for instance with in a year.

BUT, what I find unacceptable is that they are an "online" bank and their online website is just CRAP! It's useless, old, dusty and with no great functionality. It really is crap.

I switched to barclays because their online wesbite is MUCH MUCH better and I can basically do anything on it.

Smile customer service is good but I don't find Barclays one worse, just as good.

Hope this helps

Norman-B

I had an account with Smile. Good customer service but I did not like the online way they operate. I have had an account with FD for many years and they are just superb. Fab CS and the online site is very good indeed.

innovate

Not got any experience with Smile but I am with FD. I think you still can get £100 for joining FD, not sure Smile offer any incentive now.

My transfer to FD went flawlessly - they transferred all but one of my Direct Debits. The one they couldn't do was for Council Tax because the Council behaved like dinosaurs but the DD was eventually also transferred.

I am happy with the FD website but have heard from some people that they think it's ancient. It's letting me do what I need to do, and the site's been online whenever I tried to log in.

On the few occasions I had to call CS, they seemed clued up and everything was handled professionally and swiftly.

If you need cash, or want to pay in cash/cheques, just pop into the nearest HSBC branch and they'll deal with it as if you were a HSBC customer.

Their Regular Saver is quite good, but that's the end of the good news on their savings. The rest of their offers have miserable interest rates, so you do better elsewhere with savings.

They haven't ever sent me any marketing bumpf, or tried to "review my account" (i.e. sell me stuff which I probably don't want) - - which I absolutely love!

samwsmith1

I have an account with both (well co-op, but same thing) and I have to say I prefer FD, their internet banking is much better than the co-ops and they allow you to deposit cheques for free through freepost envelopes.
They also don't have any IVRs at all, whenever you ring them within a few rings it's usually answered, apart from once when I got a "Thank you for calling First Direct, we apologise for the delay, please hold and we will be with you shortly."

dixon-bainbridge

Just out of curiosity why are you only considering FD or Smile?

Pugwash69

I've just moved to FD from Lloyds and FD have been great so far. The web site IS plain and simple, but this is excellent on mobile devices when I'm away from my desk.

I was a little worried when I opened the account that I couldn't see my balances online, but it looks like it was the 48hour delay they mention somewhere, as I can now see my accounts.

oldagetraveller

"they allow you to deposit cheques for free through freepost envelopes."
Not in pre-printed a Freepost envelope, but cheques may also be deposited free using a Freepost address for Smile.

VfM4meplse

FD are great, have only ever found them to be so in the 15+ years I have banked with them.

Having said that, HSBC branches are now eliminating their out of hours lobby services (my local closed 2 weeks ago), which is understandable as people abuse the facility. What it does mean is that any deposits, whether cash or cheque need to be sent through the post (unsecure IMO), or deposited in hours during working hours (which a pain if you're far from a branch).

Stuart_W

smile allow cash deposits and withdrawals at the post office counter if that's of any use.

warwicktiger

FD for 18 years, Great!