Barclays Basic vs Nationwide Flex Basic

Mollie_Guinness15

I have had a Barclays basic account for 7 years, way before my BR. I am now discharged and considering moving to the Flex Basic. Does anyone have any experience of both and can offer any pros/cons?
My reason is being turned down for the standard Barclays account, I'd like interest on any credit balance and don't want or need an OD facility. I believe Nationwide review every 6 months for upgrade to their standard account.
Also I get Apple Pay with Flex Basic.
Thanks

Johnsmith2016

I have both. I opened them the day i went bankcrupt.

Both offer almost everything a regular account does minus the credit facility and cheque book. Big fan of both for bankcrupts.

Both offer online, mobile app, telephone banking, contactless card.

To use daily I prefer the barclays, i find their app so much better and easier to use for all my needs. Plus they have more branches. I prefer barclays online too, nationwides is very basic imo.

Nationwide accepts apple pay, barclays basic does not.

with the above said, even though i prefer barclays, i am actually using nationwide as my regular current account for payments and paying etc - mainly because i want to build a history with
Them as they will mortgage lend 36 months after discharge. If i wasnt looking for a mortgage i would 100% prefer the barclays. Yes nationwide do see if they can upgrade you every 6 months, this is standard protocol for everyone as they want to move as many as they to accounts were they make money - it doesnt nessecarly mean a discharged bankcrupt stands a better chance of getting a regular account before the 6 years imo

How much interest on balances are you realistically going to make?

[Deleted User]

I've had both - Nationwide seems better because they give Apple Pay/Contactless whereas Barclays don't.

Also as you say Nationwide set a clear 'path' to upgrading - reviewed every 6 months. Whether they do or not is another matter.

Barclays don't offer the path, and if they have refused you after 7 years, Nationwide are worth a shot.

I switched my Barclays to N/Wide a few months ago. Not had any communications from Nationwide regarding an upgrade, but I would be amazed if I got an upgrade within the next 18 months - I only switched for the Contactless/Apple Pay

Mollie_Guinness15

Thank you both for your comments. I must admit, contactless payment and Apple pay are the big carrots attracting me to move, but like JohnSMith I do like the simplicity of the Barclays online and mobile banking.
Also interest will be negligible, but the future mortgage consideration worthy.
My brain says stick with Barclays but the geek in me wants to play with Apple Pay!!

Johnsmith2016

Barclays does offer contactless just not apple pay.
Like I said nationwide dont want anyone on the basic account who is anle to get a normal account, so they will try upgrade anyone where they can - doesnt change a person from being an ex bankcrupt so may not actually upgrade you in reality.

Helpmeoutofthismess

I switched my Barclays cash card account to nationwide in December for the contactless/ Apple Pay and haven't looked back! Tbh, I do prefer the Barclays mobile app but the nationwide app is fine and I do like the quick balance option it offers. I was happy with Barclays but I always felt uncomfortable speaking to the branch staff as I owed barclaycard money when I went bankrupt and I could see those accounts were still on my record 😳😳 I have never had a nationwide account before so it was a clean slate. Hopefully nationwide will upgrade me one day but I'm not really worried about it as I never want an overdraft again anyway!

I'd go for it, Apple Pay is brilliant 😀

H x

owlet

I'm one year after discharge and opened my barclays basic after discharge. I've just been sent a new debit card, which is contactless - I hadn't requested it either.

I banked with nationwide for over ten years before my br & I can honestly say that I never had any problems with them & staff were always helpful. I'd love to get back with nationwide & once my credit files are clean I'll give it a go. They were a creditor in my br so probably won't have much luck for a few years.

Johnsmith2016

Have you tried get the basic nationwide one?

owlet

Johnsmith2016 wrote: »

Have you tried get the basic nationwide one?

Was this for me? I haven't tried yet because nationwide are on my hit list for credit file clean up. I'll wait until I've had time to do that properly, then might well do.

Johnsmith2016

I had debts with nationwide and barclays which were included in my Bankcruptcy. I opened a basic account with both the day i went bankcrupt and told them. It was fine

[Deleted User]

Although Nationwide were a creditor in Bankruptcy, they've accepted me for Basic account only.

They are realistically going to be my main shot at a mortgage (if I hold out until 3 years discharged) - otherwise it'll be sub-prime like Accord etc. So I personally think starting to build a history with them ASAP, even if it is on a basic account, is good.

I hope they'll soon tell me to shove off onto a full account - you are correct that it doesn't change someone from being an ex-bankrupt, but responsible use of that gives slightly more weight to internal applications.

Also doesn't their 'worst' full account come with free travel insurance? I'd be happy to even have that. I'd prefer the 5% interest one, but the travel insurance is better than a slap in the face - especially if they are using turfing everyone away from basic as a 'game' (so overdrawn/bounced DD = charges).