First Direct?

Aquamania

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Why can't you give your own money to whoever you chose? Why does it matter if I want to give £1500 in cash to a Cats' Home?

I'd at least ask them why they needed to know.

You'd be better off (or rather the cats home would be!) donating to a cats home using another payment method.

Depositing cash into most business accounts is very expensive by comparison. Nor would the cats home have the security issues in handling such large amounts of cash nor (depending on method of payment) have to send someone to the bank to deposit the money.

The bank are interested in knowing so that they could explain the better alternatives open to you. (and hopefully catch those being seduced by the scammers out there)

Bykerlass

Thank you all. I may be an "old wee Grannie" though would like to think I would not fall for the usual scammers patter:) I have no problem with my bank trying to "protect my interests" I do however object to being questioned in front of other customers as to what I'm spending my money on. I was sorely tempted to tell them it was to pay for a male escorts services:)

seven-day-weekend

When we sold our Spanish house, the Co-op Bank kept informing me that I had 'substantial funds' in my current account, as if I hadn't noticed.

It stayed there for a few weeks while we decided upon a suitable home for it. They must have informed me six times!

I suppose it's quite good that they are protecting my funds really.

Bykerlass

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

When we sold our Spanish house, the Co-op Bank kept informing me that I had 'substantial funds' in my current account, as if I hadn't noticed.

It stayed there for a few weeks while we decided upon a suitable home for it. They must have informed me six times!

I suppose it's quite good that they are protecting my funds really.

LOL yes I guess it's good they are protecting your funds. I think for me it was the intrusive questioning in a bank full of customers.

System

There are similar HSBC / First Direct money withdrawal threads every few weeks practically. They seem to assume you've been scammed or up to no good if you want more than £1k in cash.

Their US branch was found to be laundering large amounts of Mexican drug cartel money. Shortly thereafter, their UK branch started demanding proof of where largish cash withdrawals were going and closing various accounts.

I would personally keep the HSBC account (as you've had it so long) but move to another bank that is less intrusive.

Pincher

The obvious thing is to do a bank transfer, or write a cheque.


The fact that they want cash means they don't want it to be traceable.


Therefore, get £900 over the counter, and the rest through ATM.