Which UK banks behaved best in the crisis?

The_pc_tech

If you do go with co-op for your current account be prepared for completely disinterested Customer Services who act like they are doing you the favour by even picking up the phone.

Banked with Smile from 2004 until 2009 and they were good to begin with but went downhill

I damaged my shoulder so was off work and couldn't sit in front of a PC for a while.

My salary was going in but their system decided to stop paying some bills I paid by standing order and the first I knew of it were calls from the likes of my ISP asking why I hadn't paid my subscription.

I rang smile and asked very calmly and politely what had happened and was met with a 'so what' attitude, no explanation or apology.

So when I was just about to go back to work I moved to First Direct who are miles better customer service wise although their interest rates aren't great and the Internet Banking could do with some work but they have said they are planning some work to update it.

However, they are part of HSBC so that might make the OP disqualify them.

gt94sss2

Heng_Leng wrote: »

HSBC was bailed out by it's main Asian operations.

No, it wasn't. Its existing shareholders took part in a rights issue.

If I recall correctly, HSBC tend to have very conservative lending rules-they were one of the few banks who lend less than they have in deposits.

HSBC's problems have largely been due to a company they brought in the US but even then, its always managed to be profitable. They have also had allegations of poor money laundering procedures in the US/Mexico - part of that is , I think, that US regulators see foreign firms as easy targets for large fines. Its UK business wasn't affected.

Regards
Sunil

Money-Saving-King

Bit of an odd thread this. If you think about it most banks that have been shamed/fined etc have now tightened up their acts. Choosing from the others could mean you're more likely to be choosing from the next bank who tries to bend the rules!

Thrugelmir

• LTSB and HBOS would have also needed individually bailed out if they hadn't merged.

Lloyds would have remained profitable if it hadn't of merged.

The_pc_tech

If I remember correctly it was the Government that steamrollered Lloyds into taking on HBOS to prevent a repeat of RBS.

Thrugelmir

Nationwide is cleanest of the major banks. Still being a mutual.

Though there is disharmony over the Chief Execs pay packet.

The_pc_tech

There's also the Coventry BS