Handelsbanken

Catbells

Was talking to someone yesterday whose kid was at school with the Middleton sisters. They were nicknamed the Wisteria girls for their desire to social climb - sorry its just gossip!:)

Cliecost

JuicyJesus wrote: »

Generally their rates are poor. The safer a bank are, the less desperate they are to attract money, so their interest rates reflect that lack of desperation.

You don't go to somewhere like Handelsbanken for rates. You go there because you don't like the main banks.

This was one of my reasons, I don't like the main banks. They're all pretty much the same.

Another reason is that my credit rating isn't the best because of bad decisions I made when I was younger. I'm better off now and have a higher disposable income and will be looking for a mortgage soon, so wanted a bank that takes everything into account and can make a logical decision based on my not my credit score.

I also thought that moving my current account to them would help them get to know me.

System

I'd be very surprised if they offer you an account then - my credit rating is top notch and it was just one returned direct debit some months ago (due to a bank error) which they spotted on my statements that had them 'concerned'. The account manager told me they wouldn't be able to offer me an overdraft even if they did accept me as a customer.

It really isn't sour grapes, but I wouldn't touch them with a long barge-pole after that. Made me realise that 'old-fashioned' banking really has its drawbacks. Apparently perfect bank wants perfect customers then crows about how good it is. Hmmm.

northerner77

Do we learn anything new about them from this latest newspaper article (Grauniad)?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/sep/14/handelsbanken-sweden-customers-first

innovate

Not having bank staff motivated with commission payments is a laudable approach - -- though surely they have some sort of performance measurement system that eventually filters down into remuneration?

Anyway, the one sentence that stuck out for me is:

You've got to understand your customers' needs, their dreams," said Bouvin.

There is just no way ever that any banker will ever know anything about my dreams!

alanq

innovate wrote: »

- -- though surely they have some sort of performance measurement system that eventually filters down into remuneration?

From the article
" And there are no bonuses or sales targets which might encourage risk-taking. Instead a profit-share type operation – known as Oktogonen (after the bank's octogon logo) – was set up in 1973."

innovate

alanq wrote: »

From the article
" And there are no bonuses or sales targets which might encourage risk-taking. Instead a profit-share type operation – known as Oktogonen (after the bank's octogon logo) – was set up in 1973."

Ah right, I missed that. So they are just a bunch of sales people, too

Paul_Herring

innovate wrote: »

Ah right, I missed that. So they are just a bunch of sales people, too

No - you didn't refer back to the article - the following sentence:

Guardian wrote:

If the bank has achieved a better return on equity than its peers in any year then a contribution is made into Oktogonen which is then tied up, largely in Handelsbanken shares, until the recipient turns 60.

livingthedream1

After looking around the high street i will be moving my bank account to them. I like the fact that i can call in to their office and talk to my account manager - unlike at HSBC when at lunch time last week i had to either call an Indian call centre or go to the branch (like i decided to do) and wait for over 50 minutes in a waiting area in a large understaffed city centre branch. My lunch break was wasted because 80% of the people in front of me were clearly people not at work who could have gone in to the bank at any time of day but chose the busiest. As for their rates - their published rates are only a guide, customers are offered lower rates where the risk reflects it - each customer has their own tariff of charges. I like the fact its not on the high street, one of the big 4 and the fact that i will save at least £50 per month on HSBCs charges when using the card abroad! Thanks Handelsbanken

innovate

lol, the things people sign up to MSE for!