What's the quickest & easiest current account to get online?

aliasojo

Which accounts tell you at the end of the online application process if you've been successful and don't require any further interaction to process an application. (Apart from perhaps sending in a signed form or suchlike.)

I've opened loads of accounts over the last year but can't for the life of me remember which were the most straightforward and quickest.

This is for new unencumbered account opening, not for switching. (Yet! )

MrSilk

In my experience, Nationwide, Barclays, Halifax and Bank Of Scotland all told me my account sort-code and account number at the end of the application, Santander & Natwest didn't.

Make sure you are on the Electoral Roll before hand, so they can electronically confirm your identity, this will ensure you're told if you are accepted at the end of the application.

At the moment, Halifax are giving away a free £100 as an incentive if you switch to them upon application

Good luck!

InsideInsurance

As long as they can ID you online via the CRAs then almost none should have any extra processes/ steps unless they are really ancient back end.

Nationwide, Natwest, Barclays, HSBC, First Direct have all had straight through processing for me. Handlesbanken is the only one that I;ve considered applying to that want face to face meetings etc but then their proposition is slightly different

colsten

I find Natwest has the most simple and no-frills current account application process but I am an existing account holder, which might makes things speedier.

aliasojo

'OH' has just applied and been instantly accepted for a Nationwide account but wasn't told his account number. I'm sure when I applied yonks ago I got my account number there and then.

Can he open 3 other accounts now or is it best to wait until the first is up and running? (The other 3 to be used as sacrificial accounts btw.)

InsideInsurance

aliasojo wrote: »

'OH' has just applied and been instantly accepted for a Nationwide account but wasn't told his account number. I'm sure when I applied yonks ago I got my account number there and then.

We had 6 accounts with Nationwide as they didnt originally enforce the 1 account only rule on the high interest for FlexDirect. Some of those we got the details immediately, some it came through a few days later. Likewise a couple turned up in the online banking almost instantly and others took a few days.

None required anything else from us so whatever it was that caused the varience is all back office

colsten

aliasojo wrote: »

'OH' has just applied and been instantly accepted for a Nationwide account but wasn't told his account number. I'm sure when I applied yonks ago I got my account number there and then.

Can he open 3 other accounts now or is it best to wait until the first is up and running? (The other 3 to be used as sacrificial accounts btw.)

If he already has online access, the new account should show immediately online. If he needs to wait for online access, things could take a while.

pmduk

Lloyds TSB gave me an account number immediately, NB this was before they split, things may well be different now.

Archi_Bald

ComebackGirl wrote: »

Sorry to hijack the thread but do any of these account require a minimum deposit each month?

no

ComebackGirl wrote: »

Is it possible for someone to open a new bank account without moving DD's , wages etc ?

yes

Any specific reasons for your questions?

TheEffect

Barclays and Nationwide have always given me my account number and sort code immediately.

NatWest, Halifax, Lloyds and HSBC have all taken longer.

IMO Barclays are one of the best at opening accounts. I applied on a Monday during the day, was given my account number and sort code, and received my debit card Tuesday, followed by my pin a day later.

Nationwide take a little longer getting your card and pin out to you.

apollo_

When I applied for my TSB account, I was given my account number and sort code immediately. I was also able to log on to my online account, although I couldn't do anything on it until a web security key arrived alongside the card and PIN a few days later. My Santander account was longer, I had to wait for an email to say that I had been accepted.