Natwest Current Account - Is it any good?

noizeuk

innovate wrote: »

I don't remember it quite like that. Didn't it take RBS quite some time to acknowledge there was a problem, and didn't it take Stephen Hester several days to make a statement? Scores of people reported they had no money for days. I also seem to remember that customers of their Ulster Bank arm were left dangling for weeks. In comparison, the LBG problem was minute, so it's understandable that the LBG response was a lot lower key than the RBS one.

The issue was picked up relativly quickly internally however it was difficult to establish if anything had been fixed or what exactly were affected. Example, the Back Office system was intermittent while adaptations and fixes were applied. The BACS and FP files were to be identified, quantified and remedied in a manner which incorporated day to day running of the bank once the FP service was back up. So yea, I guess it's difficult to make a public statement without all the information because if you send PR in dribs and drabs people interpret things differently.

Not to say the scale wasn't huge, it was but atleast they were proactive!

Lloyds however, nothing on their website on the day (I checked) and very little in the news!

NW are as good or as bad as any bank. UNDERSTAND the terms and conditions and you can have free banking. Its as simple as that.

Why people blame banks for things they agree to in the first place is beyond me.

innovate

noizeuk wrote: »

Lloyds however, nothing on their website on the day (I checked) and very little in the news!

It was a minute issue they had, in comparison to the RBS one -- the vast majority problems was just some delays to FPs, well within the legally imposed time limits.

However, the ensuing panic by users just showed once more that none of us should have all their eggs in one (bank's) basket. A 2nd current account at another financial institution. and one or 2 credit cards, will significantly lower the need to panic when the chips are down. The only thing you can be certain about is that IT / infrastructure problems will occasionally happen, thus it's best to be prepared for them.

Miss_Havisham

Am I right in saying that Nat West / RBS still have UK call centres ?

stclair

Miss_Havisham wrote: »

Am I right in saying that Nat West / RBS still have UK call centres ?

Yes............

pmduk

innovate wrote: »

I don't remember it quite like that. Didn't it take RBS quite some time to acknowledge there was a problem, and didn't it take Stephen Hester several days to make a statement? Scores of people reported they had no money for days. I also seem to remember that customers of their Ulster Bank arm were left dangling for weeks. In comparison, the LBG problem was minute, so it's understandable that the LBG response was a lot lower key than the RBS one.

Natwest were admitting there as a problem as early as 4am. (I was up early that day as I was planning to travel to a different part of the country.)

If people were left with no money they had only to visit their local branch, which stayed much later than usual, and I'm aware of several people that did. Sadly it was only then I found out that my local branch had closed down a couple of months prior. ( But they immediately paid me a generous £50, when I suggested good practice would have been to notify local customers.)

juanmanuelmarquez

from the responses i have received on this topic, natwest seem pretty much like any other bank - other than my bad experience from santander. (see other post)

i will probably join or maybe switch to natwest or halifax...

KTF

Define 'good'. Their online banking, bundled extras, branch hours, products offered? What do you mean?

juanmanuelmarquez

KTF wrote: »

Define 'good'. Their online banking, bundled extras, branch hours, products offered? What do you mean?

the overall package, any overdraft charges? charging for having a cheque book? branch hours? do they have enough storage for change? customer service? uk call centres? internet banking facilities? the new emergency cash withdrawl without card? do they open on saturdays? etc...

chicken_licken_3

I use them for our 'bills', all fine, we literally only use it for DD's so we have the normal purple card and we don't pay a fee.
Never had cause to complain, can generally always talk to someone on the phone fairly quickly if necessary.
We use them as we have a village branch open three days a week. I like them but hubby won't switch from Lloyds (soon to be Co-Op)

Sharon87

juanmanuelmarquez wrote: »

from the responses i have received on this topic, natwest seem pretty much like any other bank - other than my bad experience from santander. (see other post)

i will probably join or maybe switch to natwest or halifax...

I recommend Natwest over Halifax, especially if you will ever need an overdraft. Halifax will charge you crazy money for going overdrawn, whether authorised or not! Whilst Natwest usually have a £100 interest free overdraft if you've been there for a certain length of time.

Also the customer service is a lot better with Natwest in my experience.

Both online banking with them are pretty good. Halifax was better before they took on the Lloyds banking system though.