Recommendations for a current account from a smaller bank/BS.

vacheron

Hi all.

Following the sudden and unexpected cancellation by Lloyds of my wife's current account. (Read the whole ridiculous saga here if you're interested in the details). We are now looking for a new current account for her.

We would like to avoid any of the big banks and instead look for a smaller independent Bank / Building Society. We are hoping (perhaps optimistically) that a more "personal" company could be made more aware of the fact that she sometimes she receives gifts of money from her parents overseas, and that a smaller organisation may be able to exercise a little more common sense should such payments occur.

She really doesn't need any bells and whistles features. All we really need is listed below.

• 28 year old full time mum.
• No income at present but plans to resume work when the little-un is bigger so monthly minimum monthly deposit requirements are not suitable at present.
• Currently Non-UK citizen (but will be in the next 12 months).
• Account will need a Debit Card and the ability to arrange Direct Debits.
• Account will never be overdrawn so will never need an overdraft facility.
• No chequebook required as both our joint accounts have one anyway.
• Ability to manage account online, but would prefer to apply in a local branch if possible. Anyone with a branch within 30 miles of Newcastle Upon Tyne would be fine.

Can anyone recommend any smaller companies with a more tailored approach to their customers requirements, ideally from personal experience?

May be hoping for a lot, but thanks in advance.

badger_

Credit Union?

vacheron

badger_ wrote: »

Credit Union?

I know of them, but never really looked into them or what they do, so will do that.

Thanks.

Dr_Cuckoo3

Cumberland Building Society offer a basic current account but you are slightly outside their area and the account requires funding of £200 per month

Yorkshire Bank - I haven't read any similar complaints on this forum , but have read similar in respect of Barclays and Nat West (accounts closed due to no longer meeting their criteria)

Norwich & Peterborough no local branch

Metro Bank - direct debits not permitted on basic accounts and no local branch

Nationwide Building Society

Islamic Bank of Britain - no minimum funding if opened with £500 ,account offers - direct debits , internet banking , debit card - open account by phone - they have an arrangement with Lloyds TSB so you can pay in cheques there

http://www.islamic-bank.com/personal-banking/current-account/

Islamic Bank of Britain appears to be the best choice out of the above


You could wait for Virgin (Northern Rock) to launch its current account in the near future - they will be Newcastle centric


Credit Union current accounts charge a weekly fee and do not offer internet banking

gt94sss2

I suspect you may find that smaller banks/building societies are not as used to dealing with international transactions or may charge/have poorer exchange rates.

They will rely on other bigger banks to act as a middleman.

Regards
Sunil

badger_

Dr_Cuckoo3 wrote: »

Credit Union current accounts charge a weekly fee and do not offer internet banking

Sorry wasn't aware of this, I'd just heard they were a good alternative.

Dr_Cuckoo3

badger_ wrote: »

Sorry wasn't aware of this, I'd just heard they were a good alternative.

That's fine - some credit unions hide the fee in the small print

I don't think any credit unions offer a current account without monthly/weekly fees


£3.25 flat fee per month - plus additional £4.75 if more than 9 transactions are made
http://www.leedscitycreditunion.co.uk/content.asp?section=150

The White Rose Credit Union Current Account will cost just £1.00 per week. This will be taken from your account each Friday
http://www.whiterosecreditunion.co.uk/content.asp?section=57

There is a charge of £1.50 pence per week to cover the cost
http://www.northwalescu.co.uk/current_accounts.php

http://www.capitalcreditunion.com/content.asp?section=114

Hidden in PDF application form

ffacoffipawb

vacheron wrote: »

Hi all.

Following the sudden and unexpected cancellation by Lloyds of my wife's current account. (Read the whole ridiculous saga here if you're interested in the details). We are now looking for a new current account for her.

Sorry I can't help, but I hope you are looking for a new account for yourself as well. I certainly wouldn't give my business to an outfit that treated my wife like that.

[Deleted User]

I use the Coventry Building Socity and they are great

innovate

vacheron, if I were you, I would take the case straight to Mr Antonio Horta-Osorio's office. Email to use is -- antonio DOT osorio AT lloydsbanking DOT com -- (I have to use silly DOT and AT since MSE won't allow the posting of email addresses)

He'll of course not deal with the issue himself, but his Executive Office will. Your original account of what happened is pretty good, needs very little modification to ask Mr Horta-Osario for his comments on the actions of his employees.

Unless there is something you haven't told us about, I would be majorly surprised Lloyds Executives would support what has happened with your wife's account. They are most likely perfectly unaware that some of their employees take the law into their own hands, and they most likely do not appreciate some small-minded jobsworths further down in the hierarchy.

Of course you could take your business elsewhere, regardless of how the Lloyds Exec Team respond. But may be they can resolve the matter to your satisfaction, and at least pay you compensation for the inconvenience and distress they caused.

As to using a "local" bank: I am not sure one of those will serve you any better. There's a good chance you'll meet even bigger biggots in an organisation that just has regional presence. You might be a lot better off sorting things with Lloyds -- they are overall quite a reasonable bank (though every company has the odd idiot working for them, and it seems you have been unfortunate enough to be confronted with the Lloyds idiot).

Lastly: worth keeping an eye on your/your wife's credit records - - just in case Lloyds have reported anything negative.

vacheron

Thanks Dr_Cuckoo3 for all the extra info. I guess that rules out the credit unions which is a shame because I do like their business approach.

gt94sss2 wrote: »

I suspect you may find that smaller banks/building societies are not as used to dealing with international transactions or may charge/have poorer exchange rates.

They will rely on other bigger banks to act as a middleman.

Regards
Sunil

I don't think that will be a problem as all of the funds are coming in to her account and are converted at her fathers side.

How it works is that her father puts his bank card into an ATM, types in the 16 digit number on my wife's debit card and it tells him how many pounds that will equate too and what the charge is (usually about £7 to him) then that exact amount appears in her account within 24 hours.

I wish it was so easy to do that over here!

ffacoffipawb wrote: »

Sorry I can't help, but I hope you are looking for a new account for yourself as well. I certainly wouldn't give my business to an outfit that treated my wife like that.

Fortunately I don't bank with them. Having seen her online banking I found it far too limiting and dated compared to mine.

However if I had been with them then yes I certainly would have been closing all my dealings with them too!

innovate wrote: »

vacheron, if I were you, I would take the case straight to Mr Antonio Horta-Osorio's office. Email to use is .....

I certainly think I will be sending in a complaint letter, so thank you for the contact details.

We're really not looking for compensation, however when I think about it I did have to take a half day off visit the bank with her. This incurred costs of 1/2 days holiday, £4.80 parking, petrol costs and the £40 I spent on a meal and drinks in town at to cheer her up a bit and calm her nerves before she went to be judged as to whether she could adequately justify having £1044 of her own current account money returned to her!