Who Do You Bank With (and why)?

EPL

Santander. Been with them for years ever since they were Abbey National.

rb10

Bloomberg wrote: »

I use Barclays [...] They have an excellent showcase of products.

Barclays have excellent advertising. All their adverts are really good at making people think they could get something unique and special from Barclays, when in reality, their products are, at best, average. Lloyds TSB were pretty good at this style of marketing too.

Unfortunately that does mean a lot of people are taken in, and truly believe that Barclays "have an excellent showcase of products". All credit to Barclays for getting people to think in this way.

Bloomberg wrote: »

Finally I think that it is very sad that people appear to be so swayed by the joining incentives. A one off gift does not compensate for years of bad service. People should look at their requirements and comare these to what a particular bank offers. If it so happens that the bank which is best for them offers an incentive then that should be regarded as a bonus.

Agreed. But I think one of the main culprits leading people to think in this way is this very website. What does the Best Bank Accounts page promote?

It's always pushing the £125 from First Direct.

Never mind that you could get £100 from Halifax and then £5 per month after that - so you'd have matched First Direct's £125 after five months and be ahead of it after that.

anotheruser

Archi_Bald wrote: »

You shouldn't have Lloyds lumped together with TSB, or First Direct with "other branchless"

Added Lloyds and TSB together as they have only just split up so at the moment, I would suggest they will operate in more or less the same way.

First Direct because it doesn't have high street branches, so made sense to add other branch-less banks for that option too.

Limited poll options means sacrifices, plus the way the poll is structured will get me the results I am looking for.

Only one option to vote yes, because the poll would get too populated with results if people voted for all the different banks they use. So pick the one which stands above the rest, whether this is your wages account, bills account, the most respected, the easiest, the one that gets you most money, advises you the best, there must be one that stands higher than the others.

innovate

Bloomberg wrote: »

Finally I think that it is very sad that people appear to be so swayed by the joining incentives.

LOL, whose signature says "Money talks, are you listening?"

innovate

No BoS or Clydesdale on the list? Post Office? M&S?

emma-uk

Halifax. Never had a bad experience with issues raised and always had great customer service in our local branch. Good internet banking and mobile app. No O/D or extras on account so not paying g them yet I get £10 a month from them in rewards.

GetRealBabe

Hi

Halifax for the £5.00 reward and Santander-like others been with them for ages.(from Girobank, Alliance & Leicester to Santander).

dzug1

SailorSam wrote: »

Your poll only lets us choose one.
I've got different accounts for different things.

Maybe that's because it asks for 'main account' ??

You-kip

Lloyds I like because you get a debit card which you can use in shops etc and also I like lloyds because you can actually get your wages paid into your account and have direct debits coming in & going out.

Also you get card that you can take money out machines that are built in the walls.

Not sure if other banks are any different or there may be one or two that pays a few pennies for having money in your account l.

mrsscattercushion

Santander. Was with Alliance and Leicester before the take-over, was initially very dubious due to the reviews of poor customer service but have to say never had a problem so far either online, phone or at the branches...

Enjoy actually getting interest and benefits on a current account too