Natwest to Santander (Branch Sale Scotland)

Dunedin

Dear Forum,

Apologies if this has been covered before, but I have searched the forums without success. I am a current Natwest account holder based in Scotland (Advantage Gold Account, £12pm), with a Natwest mortgage (Tracker) and Natwest Credit Card (Your Points World Card).

I have been sent several letters stating that my branch is being transferred to Santander in the coming months. Initially the documentation suggested this would only be for the current account, but has subsequently increased to cover mortgages and credit cards too. I suspect English RBS customers are in a similar position. My questions are:

- Are Santander obliged to match my Advantage Gold terms? (i.e. breakdown cover, travel and mobile phone insurance etc.). The last time I looked, similar current accounts were more expensive elsewhere.

- I presume Santander are obliged to honour the terms of my mortgage? Is there an opportunity to renegotiate the terms if halfway through a fix period given the change in provider?

- What will become of my Natwest Your Points? It's not that much of big deal, but I have accumulated about 18000 of these (about enough for a mid European return flight)- will these all be lost if I do not cash them out or again are Santander obliged to continue such a scheme or offer compensation?

- Finally, as part of the "smooth transfer", this week I have received a new Purple Natwest Visa Debit card. This will apparently see me through the transition to Santander. It has a contactless logo, but no information about using this was sent with the card. From reading other threads about this in the forum, I thought no Natwest customers heading to Santander would get access to contactless technology- is this just the default card design now (i.e. not active for contactless) or can I use it?

Many thanks for your help with the above issues, and I hope I have not asked questions previously dealt with.

pmduk

You need to check the terms and conditions of your various accounts. I suspect Santander can change those terms and conditions only in accordance with what is stated therein. From past history they will change accounts to their branding fairly quickly.

Have you considered moving your accounts out of their reach (eg to a Natwest branch in England?) As you say this is also happening to RBS customers with English branches, many of who have opened accounts in Scotland to avoid the Santander shower.

littlepinky84

I am on the natwest standard and got a new card on saturday, does anyone know if i can still only use this card in a natwest or rbs cash machine? or will a santander one work aswell?

Vampgirl

I think you first need to look at the various accounts/products Santander offer, whether they would suit you, and then decide if you want to move to Santander. According to this article here, if you want to stay with NatWest you have proactively contact them and request it - seems they aren't allowed to encourage the affected customers to stay with them.

pmduk

littlepinky84 wrote: »

I am on the natwest standard and got a new card on saturday, does anyone know if i can still only use this card in a natwest or rbs cash machine? or will a santander one work aswell?

Only the Natwest (RBS & Lloyds TSB) Basic accounts have restrictions on ATM usage. I'm not aware of santander accounts having any restrictions at all.

Ramires_2

Dunedin wrote: »

Dear Forum,
- Are Santander obliged to match my Advantage Gold terms? (i.e. breakdown cover, travel and mobile phone insurance etc.). The last time I looked, similar current accounts were more expensive elsewhere.

Basically, any terms and conditions on your account would remain the same, and at present, you would essentially have the same account rather than moving on to a Santander equivalent. With regards to benefits that you talk of, this has not been confirmed. As you can imagine, deals with the companies who provide the cover would have to be renegotiated. In short, everything is subject to change.

Dunedin wrote: »

- I presume Santander are obliged to honour the terms of my mortgage? Is there an opportunity to renegotiate the terms if halfway through a fix period given the change in provider?

Mortgage terms and conditions would stay the same until renewal. Not sure about second part - contact mortgage department and ask.

Dunedin wrote: »

- What will become of my Natwest Your Points? It's not that much of big deal, but I have accumulated about 18000 of these (about enough for a mid European return flight)- will these all be lost if I do not cash them out or again are Santander obliged to continue such a scheme or offer compensation?

Never heard of this, but I would imagine you would lose them. I'd cash them out as when you are with Santander you will be with another bank. IMO it would be like taking in a voucher for Big Mac into KFC.

Dunedin wrote: »

- Finally, as part of the "smooth transfer", this week I have received a new Purple Natwest Visa Debit card. This will apparently see me through the transition to Santander. It has a contactless logo, but no information about using this was sent with the card. From reading other threads about this in the forum, I thought no Natwest customers heading to Santander would get access to contactless technology- is this just the default card design now (i.e. not active for contactless) or can I use it?

Every new debit card issued by Natwest will have a contactless symbol. Indeed, if a customer doesn't want contactless on their card they would have to downgrade their account! You can use contactless on your Natwest (Santander prep) card straight away, and the first time you use it, it should ask you for your pin. If you never use it, it would not be activated therefore no-one can grab your card and use it.

Ramires_2

littlepinky84 wrote: »

I am on the natwest standard and got a new card on saturday, does anyone know if i can still only use this card in a natwest or rbs cash machine? or will a santander one work aswell?

Still only in a Natwest and RBS Cash machine as accounts are all still with RBSG.

Ramires_2

Vampgirl wrote: »

According to this article , if you want to stay with NatWest you have proactively contact them and request it - seems they aren't allowed to encourage the affected customers to stay with them.

True. If you wish to remain with Natwest, you can either call the Branch Sale helpline, or get a branch transfer form in any branch. Same goes for RBS.

pmduk

Ramires wrote: »

Still only in a Natwest and RBS Cash machine as accounts are all still with RBSG.

That's incorrect, only basic accounts are restricted to RBSG atms. The OP refers to a standard account which I would assume to be a normal current account.

Ramires_2

pmduk wrote: »

That's incorrect, only basic accounts are restricted to RBSG atms. The OP refers to a standard account which I would assume to be a normal current account.

I read it as the OP had a basic account, as she says "can i still only use..."!

But yeah:

If basic account - still only RBS & Natwest as Santander can't access your accounts.

If normal CA - as usual can use any machine.