quick question, is it better to use a bank with a local branch?

happymummy

Or are online accounts just as good?

I need to open a new (basic) account soon but I live in a small town with limited options. I currently use hbos, my other choices if I want branch facilities would be rbs, Lloyds, Clydesdale or Abbey.

I rarely visit my hbos branch so I guess it doesn't really matter?

FattyBettyBoo

I guess the only reason you'd need to visit a branch is if you need to cash a cheque, put a large amount of cash in or top up your account with cash if it was short. These things happen to me sporadically, but just enough to justify having a bank close by

grumbler

Well, recently I had a problem with my Lloyds Vantage account. The telephone CS kept sending me to the branch and it took a lot of efforts to start the enquiry over a phone. They promised me to send a letter and after two weeks I have not received anything yet.
Just shows how useless telephone CS sometimes are.

Also, if you fail security checks when calling any bank (that is easy to do because of some stupid questions they ask sometimes), the only way to 'reset' this is to go to a branch.

Daniel_Elkington

Depends whether you will get charged for using a cashpoint, if not then the branch is effectively useless. I find them most unhelpful when it comes to dealing with errors.

happymummy

It's swings and roundabouts really isn't it, different people with favour one or the other for different reasons.

I mostly use online or telephone banking atm but its nice to know the option of going in to see a real person is there if needed.

I'll have a bit of a surf and see what's what with the accounts available with the banks who have local branches and take it from there I guess.

Gromitt

I have a mixture of both, and use the advantages of both. If I want to cash a cheque or deposit cash, I can use a local branch and then transfer the funds to whichever bank I want them in via faster payments.

Idiophreak

I visit branches to pay in cheques, that's it.

I bank with first direct and they're far more help over the phone than Barclays or HSBC ever were in branch...

pmduk

The answer will vary for different people. I suspect you've answered your own question, by saying that you rarely visit your current bank., I'd check whether your new account has Post Office access here

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happymummy

Just looked at Clydesdale bank website, they charge £34.50 for every unpaid dd or such like, won't be going there then!!

BASFORDLAD

Clydesdale bank seem quite backward and old fashioned, very much a branch bank

agrinnall

I haven't had to go into a branch of any of the banks I have accounts with for many years (apart from Metro Bank, who only open accounts in branch, but I'm not expecting to need to visit again now it's open). I do everything online, at an ATM, or if necessary by post.