Handelsbanken: worth a try?

Uxb

slass78 wrote: »

and now have all our current/savings accounts with them.

If you have your savings accounts with them you are a nut job - or you work for them

opinions4u

They don't publish their rates and fees online

Basic transparency would be a minimum ethical standard to expect, surely?

JuicyJesus

macfamilyent wrote: »

The only thing that is different is there not HQ driven. The branch and it's manager have the final decision to lend (anything under <£1-3m) and who they open the accounts for.

The branch has far greater power over lending, and setting of interest rates and not a distant department.

This said, I don't bank with them - so can't comment on the service from that view.

It all sounds very nice and "old fashioned", which to some people is a positive, but personally while a lot of credit scoring based decisions are/might be inscrutable or non-obvious, I would far rather my applications be assessed against an impartial scorecard of a bank's criteria rather than have a branch manager decline me for a loan because my hair's scruffy and I've turned up in jeans and a T-shirt.

At least if you're declined for "credit scoring" you know it isn't because you didn't shave that morning or you happened to be born the wrong colour for the bank manager.

SammenForLivet2

JuicyJesus wrote: »

It all sounds very nice and "old fashioned", which to some people is a positive, but personally while a lot of credit scoring based decisions are/might be inscrutable or non-obvious, I would far rather my applications be assessed against an impartial scorecard of a bank's criteria rather than have a branch manager decline me for a loan because my hair's scruffy and I've turned up in jeans and a T-shirt.

At least if you're declined for "credit scoring" you know it isn't because you didn't shave that morning or you happened to be born the wrong colour for the bank manager.

Just to reassure you, they do use credit scoring as part of the application process (although, for most of their clients - they don't need it).

The main benefit is that you have a personal contact in the branch, and you simply contact them to do any transactions - and they can be more helpful, when it comes to things like going over-drawn.

This said, I too prefer a non- judgmental computer looking over my application, rather than a real-local person, due to the convenience and speed of applications.

slass78

Ha, wish I did work for them but sadly no, am just a real life satisfied customer. With an offset mortgage, which is why all my savings/accounts are with them.
xxx

Archi_Bald

Yeah, you have totally convinced everyone now that you aren't working for them.

Why would you want to work for them, as a matter of interest?

Dr_Cuckoo3

Archi_Bald wrote: »

Emphasis on old fashioned - - - anything and everything I hear or read about Handelsbanken reminds me of banking with Natwest in the 1980s.

I have no personal experience with Handelsbanken, but any banking from the pre-internet age doesn't figure particularly high on my list of favourites.

remind us - who recently applied for a Clydesdale Bank account ?

innovate

Dr_Cuckoo3 wrote: »

remind us - who recently applied for a Clydesdale Bank account ?

Not sure what you are asking.

Clydesdale offer a 4% AER Internet current account, with all the details available on their website. If your CRA files are in order, you can apply without ever going near a Branch, and you never need to go into a Branch to operate their online accounts.

What does Handelsbanken offer? There is literally nothing of substance on their website about their products. You must appear in Branch for an assessment by some "manager" who needs to know all about your financial affairs.

Clydesdale may be a bit behind the times with their banking offers, but at least they don't have to hide them in a branch. However, comparing Clydesdale with Handelsbanken is comparing apples with pears. They are aiming at quite different markets.

Handelsbanken is lot more akin to the big banks we had in the 1980s.

Dr_Cuckoo3

innovate wrote: »

Not sure what you are asking.

Clydesdale offer a 4% AER Internet current account, with all the details available on their website.

Handelsbanken is lot more akin to the big banks we had in the 1980s.

They are both dinosaurs , if Handelsbanken were to offer something higher than 4% I know where you will be heading

We are reminded of your glowing review of Metro Bank some time ago (lasted 1 day)

Heng_Leng wrote: »

A true dinosaur of the banking world

System

And their current account uses an HSBC sort code so in my mind it is as if you're getting in effect an HSBC account with an added layer of bureaucracy, nosiness and 'if the face fits' decision making.