Who Do You Bank With (and why)?

System

I've had accounts with most banks over the years. I sometimes dip into my overdraft at the end of the month. The new charging structure of many banks now where you pay a fixed fee for accessing your overdraft makes this expensive so I steer clear of these for my day-to-day banking.

Currently I'm with Metro Bank although I don't live in London. I like the online banking service and the no-nonsense approach - you use your overdraft and just pay interest on the debit balance. I like the way I can use the card for overseas transactions in person or on the net without fees. The one negative is that faster payments take an hour or so to appear.

I have a Santander 123 account and use this to pay my utility bills where I get cash-back. I've looked at First Direct (had an account with them many years ago) but apart from being good on the phone I don't understand their appeal - high charges and mediocre online banking don't cut it with me.

I still have mainly unused current accounts with Cahoot, Lloyds and Natwest. The Natwest account has saved my bacon a few times when I've gone out and left my wallet at home. I do a faster payment into the account (from Santander where faster payments are instant) and then use the GetCash facility to withdraw cash from a Natwest, RBS or Tesco cash machine without a card. Can do this on the Natwest mobile banking app on my phone.

EKEA

I bank with Natwest.

CharllieSays

I have current account, ISA, Business Saver and Flexi Saver accounts all with HSBC. I was with Natwest for a few years from 16-20, but they screwed me over and were utterly useless when my card was stolen. Since changing to HSBC I have had my details stolen twice online and both times HSBC noticed immediately and froze the account/card, notified me, and went about getting my money back very quickly. I find their online banking very easy to use, have never had any difficulties getting hold of a customer service person when I needed advice, and generally have no complaints. I've been with them nearly a decade now and happy to stay put.

However, I've heard they can be the complete opposite if you go into the red with them and can make life very difficult. And I'd agree with the banking app issues (although I don't have an internet phone, so this doesn't concern me). So I guess it depends on your personal needs.

Archi_Bald

CharllieSays wrote: »

I have current account, ISA, Business Saver and Flexi Saver accounts all with HSBC. I was with Natwest for a few years from 16-20, but they screwed me over and were utterly useless when my card was stolen.

And now you are getting screwed over by HSBC, who are paying just about the worst interest on current accounts (none), ISA (1.7%?), Flexi Saver (0.1%?), and Business Saver (equally awful interest rate). So easy to get loads more elsewhere.

You are the dream customer of HSBC - swallowing everything they feed you.

You could do massively better if your forgot about the concept of "my bank" and shopped around for better deals.

anotheruser

A quick bump for this as there are only 9 days left to vote!
Thanks to the 127 people who have already

wiseshark

I have three current accounts and various products with each, all unrelated banks.

Over the past 25 years, I have been with almost every bank in the UK. I use them for what I can get when it suits me and then dump them when something better arises. I don't believe in loyalty as you only ever get screwed.

Having said that, I have been with the Halifax for years as they have been pretty good to me. Should they ever mess me about, they will be dumped too.

davethorp

Santander because their 123 account pays me £10 a month to bank with them. I also have a student account with them for the £1500 overdraft and the free railcard

carousels

Halifax.

I used to have a bank account with Halifax when I was a wee kid. I remember having a paying in book which was wisely looked after by my mother! I also remember going in to the bank every week to put in half my pockey money for safe keeping! And I remember getting cards and gifts from them on my birthdays.

When I become a stroppy teen, I decided to change my account to Natwest. They were okay, I suppose. There were a few times when they screwed up and/or accidentally charged me when they shouldn't have and after a lot of complaining, they refunded the charges. I guess I got tired of having something that wasn't really doing in for me, so a few months ago I went back to Halifax.

It was like seeing an old friend. The staff were very welcoming and friendly. I am a student taking some time off from my studies so I don't have a lot of income at the moment as I am travelling/working part time. So the fiver a month wasn't something that swayed me over seeing as I don't qualify for it. But to my surprise, they gave me the £100 even though I don't have an income of £750 going into my account every month. Plus they gave me a generous overdraft which was free to use for 6 months. Both the online and telephone banking are great and every time I've had to ring customer service, they've been nothing but courteous and a delight to talk to. Overall I'm a very happy customer!

wiseshark

solentsusie wrote: »

Nationwide - Now my main account as after a number of years of having a not so perfect credit score they gave me a full on Flexdirect account with absolutely no problems when other banks were rejecting me - I have read on here lots of comments about them being one of the more stringent banks when it comes to credit scoring. Everything going fine with them so far, opening of account speedy and everything received in a timely manner. Online banking clear and easy to use as well.

RBS - Select Account but only with full authorisation card. Pay currently going into this account but will be switching it to Nationwide. RBS refused to change my name on my account when I reverted back to my maiden name unless I came into a branch to do it which was a lot of hassle so haven't bothered as will be closing it. All my other accounts were happy to it by post with original documents.

NatWest - My 'spending' account whilst in financial difficulties. Only a blue card rather than the coveted purple though!

Currently reassessing my banking so interested to see the opinions of others as to customer service and ease of use.


Why is the Natwest purple card coveted?

InsideInsurance

Barclays is our main current account, wouldnt particularly recommend them but everyone else seems just as bad so better the devil you know.

Have a now defunct product which includes a number of add ons of which we actively use the European RAC cover, World Wide Travel cover, Mobile phone cover for our 3 mobiles, cover for iPads, 1 years extended warranty on everything over £100

Does come with airport lounge access but very rarely use that these days as tend to have other better methods of getting in.

Have tried to switch before, looked at FD, Lloyds, Handelsbanken, Citi, HSBC and Natwest but the service during the presales/ account opening process was so terrible I dread to think how bad it'll be after they actually get your money