Moving our current account after 25 years

Dustykitten

Archi_Bald wrote: »

Are you referring to Santander internet banking? If so, which banks are you comparing them with? you mention smile - surely there is nothing on smile that beats Santander's online banking?

No, my mother used smile, not me. Comparing with Lloyds, TSB, Nationwide, I find those easier to navigate. Not as keen on Yorkshire, Coventry, N&P, Tesco or the Post Office. Have used NatWest and Barclays in the past but not recently.

Archi_Bald

Dustykitten wrote: »

No, my mother used smile, not me. Comparing with Lloyds, TSB, Nationwide, I find those easier to navigate. Not as keen on Yorkshire, Coventry, N&P, Tesco or the Post Office. Have used NatWest and Barclays in the past but not recently.

I am using Lloyds, TSB, Nationwide, Yorkshire (Bank and BS), Coventry, Tesco, Post Office, Natwest, Newcastle BS, Coop, BoS, First Direct, Halifax, HSBC, Ulster, Santander, - - honestly can't say that the online services of any of them have any fundamental deficiencies. Which ones do you think have problems, and what sort of problems?

ManAtHome

I moved to Santander from HSBC (Premier) a couple of years ago - had been with HSBC from when it was Midland. Impressed so far:

I get interest and cashback on the current account whereas HSBC was costing me as their savings interest rates were invariably lower than the competition.

Internet banking around the same with fewer restrictions on transferring relatively large sums (HSBC limit was 10k a day unless you phoned them).

Customer service variable - Branch about the same (good), Santander secure message better (and very good), Santander phone worse (HSBC was very good, Santander very hit and miss).

Extra perk - I can get euros at the Visa interbank rate from Santander ATMs in Spain works for me, may not for you).

junglejame911

ManAtHome wrote: »

Extra perk - I can get euros at the Visa interbank rate from Santander ATMs in Spain works for me, may not for you).

Just curious how this works? You say you can get this rate, do you mean all customers can get this rate? Just by simply withdrawing from your 123 account?

The reason I ask is I'm going to Spain shorty and normally use the Halifax Clarity credit card when abroad. I'm wondering if this makes Santander more competitive for Spain in particular.

Totton

After 41 years with Barclays I recently moved to Nationwide via their switching service. I got from Barclays was a brief letter to tell me the switch had started and I was to contact them if it was an error. We mean nothing as loyal customers to these banks. Nationwide gave me £100 to switch and 5% interest on my current account, I'll switch again next year if Nationwide treat me with the disdain that Barclays did, transferring banks is a walk in the park these days :-)

ManAtHome

junglejame911 wrote: »

Just curious how this works? You say you can get this rate, do you mean all customers can get this rate? Just by simply withdrawing from your 123 account?

The reason I ask is I'm going to Spain shorty and normally use the Halifax Clarity credit card when abroad. I'm wondering if this makes Santander more competitive for Spain in particular.

Yes - has to be a Santander ATM though. Just use like you would in the UK.... BUT Spanish ATMs give you the option to be charged in euros or pounds - you need to take the euros option (up to last month this was a screen detailing the cost in pounds with the options NO for euros, YES for pounds - just say NO..!!).

I use the Clarity for other EU destinations and as a backup for Spain - great card, just slightly more mucking about than using the Santander card in Spain.

Santander Spain T&Cs here http://www.santander.co.uk/csgs/Satellite?c=Page&canal=CABBEYCOM&cid=1237873377908&empr=Abbeycom&leng=en_GB&pagename=Abbeycom%2FPage%2FWC_ACOM_TemplateA2#What%20charges%20apply%20if%20I%20use%20a%20Santander%20Cash%20Machine%20in%20Spain?

theronkinator

junglejame911 wrote: »

Just curious how this works? You say you can get this rate, do you mean all customers can get this rate? Just by simply withdrawing from your 123 account?

The reason I ask is I'm going to Spain shorty and normally use the Halifax Clarity credit card when abroad. I'm wondering if this makes Santander more competitive for Spain in particular.

Halifax Clarity gives the interbank exchange rate anyway, so should just be the same. Although the Clarity, or at least mine does, gives £5 cashback for spends over £300 in a month.