Best online banking?

Kewsea

Hi

I have banked with Smile (Co-Op) for the last 15 years and have stayed with them because their account is simple and, in addition, their online banking was very very simple and easy to use.

Today however, everything changed. I was forced to adopt their changed (updated?) banking system and I hate it. So much so that with the bank's much publicised woes as an added incentive I have decided to move.

Can anyone share a view on which bank has the 'easiest' online banking experience? I am tempted by FD but even theirs looks complex with the 'Digital Signature Key'?

Any help would be much appreciated.

xylophone

You might consider a switch to Halifax (switching bonus) or Lloyds.

Or you might consider TSB or Nationwide.

It seems to me that all the above have easy to use internet banking.

EarthBoy

xylophone wrote: »

You might consider a switch to Halifax (switching bonus) or Lloyds.

Or you might consider TSB or Nationwide.

It seems to me that all the above have easy to use internet banking.

I agree with those recommendations. My personal favourite is Nationwide, -there is a card reader, but you only need it for setting up new payees, or paying someone you haven't paid for a long time.

realaledrinker

Nationwide's app is ace as well with biometric log in (Touch ID)

Kewsea

Thanks for the replies. I did mean to add (apologies) that it's important that I am able to pay money in via a Post Office which pretty much rules out Nationwide.

That's a shame as it does look good.

debtorwithaquestion

If you need EASY online banking, plus post office- then go for Santander. Decent online banking which isn't confusing. No secure key or password calculator needed. App is decent enough. You get Apple Pay, can pay in at post office with funds immediately deposited into account (cash not cheques) and if you go for 123 Lite it costs £1.00 a month with cash back on your direct debits. Win win.

Kewsea

That's exactly what I was looking for thanks - just nice and easy and allows me to credit money easily then send it easily.

Thank you!

teddysmum

I have a regular Co-op account and don't find it or any or the other banks' internet usage difficult. However, TSB pays interest on up to £2000, 5% on £100 of contactless payments per month and another bonus on credit card use.


Log in is by user name and password. New transactions are checked by phone.

Kewsea

I take it you have the recently updated version?

I don't find it difficult, just illogical. The previous version, described my many as clunky, was refreshingly simple to me. The new one is just not intuitive at all and I find myself having to go searching for elementary tasks such as setting up new payees and it's impossible to toggle through accounts from a drop down list as I used to be able to.

Anyway, I already have a second account at Nationwide that I will now use as my main account and use the Santander basic account to be able to credit cash and transfer to Nationwide easily enough via the Post Office.

teddysmum

I'm assuming my Co-op is on the new system, as I only started using their online banking a few months ago (for the bonus).

TomJ

Halifax, Lloyds and TSB allow you to pay into the Post Office using personalised paying in slips which you have to order from them when you're running low; moderately old-fashioned, but not a great hassle. Their online banking services are reasonably good - no need for any card reader, they just text you authorisation codes if you set up new online payments. I'd say at least on a par with Santander, though TSB's was a little flaky as it was getting itsellf re-established. It's up to you whether the interest/rewards with one or some of them outweigh the slightly greater ease when paying into a Post Office using just a Santander card.