Top Bank Accounts Discussion Area

PROLIANT

Well i hope everything works out for you but i am happy with what i have got for now, i am 27 and been used to electron cards with the Halifax so having proper banking facilities is good, but i suppose as my credit rating improves over time i can demand better rates and facilities.

steviehud37

HI FLIKEN

I am going to open Alliance and Leicester PREMIER current account because if you go thru Quidco you get £50 Cash back

A&L Premier account dosnt pay 8.5% interest.Although you can apply for 10.5% ISA BUT you got to put your WAGE/MAIN income into the account on a monthly basis.

Hope this is usefull

Stevie

spike274

I'm in the process of switching to First Direct to claim my free £100. Somebody mentioned to me that Halifax are running a similar offer so I checked it out and found it on their website. I might switch to that next for another £100 (and get another £100 from First Direct for leaving!)

http://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/switchingtous.asp

(WARNING: Please read post #9 in this thread - you need to let Halifax do the switch for you to claim the cash).

YorkshireBoy

spike274 wrote: »

Somebody mentioned to me that Halifax are running a similar offer so I checked it out and found it on their website. I might switch to that next for another £100 (and get another £100 from First Direct for leaving!)

http://www.halifax.co.uk/bankaccounts/switchingtous.asp

That's an old offer...last summer?

I think you may be confused with...

Complete and sign 2 forms and credit your new current account with £100.

...which means you have to credit the account with £100 to activate the issue of your debit card.

emma396

Fliken wrote: »

Oh, and can anyone confirm that it's alright to pay in £500 to the A&L account, and then remove it a few days later? Therefore leaving a balance of around -£2495 pretty much the whole year?

yes, i do it. i usually pay in £500 then withdraw £250 at the cash machine and the other 250 goes into my 12% regular saver with them :j

stphnstevey

I was considering the First Direct account. Does anyone know
a) If you have to pay your salary in all can it be any £1500 month?
b) What is the interest rate on this current account?
Thanks

Fliken

I understand to open the 12% regular saver you also need to take out some sort of insurance policy with Legal and General. How much roughly is the cheapest policy that can be opened (I would only be taking this to get the 12% regular saver).

Also, to open the 10% ISA when you open a Premier Current Account seems like a great deal. Then I noticed that half of the previous years ISA funds need to be put into a stocks and shares ISA. Has anyone done this, and if so, are you happy enough with this ISA?

Oh, and can new Premier Current Account holders open both the 12% regular saver and the 10% ISA?

TomJ

Fliken wrote: »

Surely steviehud37's idea of using the A&L account for stoozing makes sense?

Yes, the account has a great 8.5% interest, but if you leave your cash in another account making say 6.5% (Kaupthing Edge), then you will gain slightly less interest than A&L, however you will more than make up for this with the £2500 you've "stoozed".

You'd loose out on around £50 having your cash in K Edge instead of A&L, but your stoozed cash (assuming you get the full £2500 overdraft) would earn you around £162.50! yeehaa :T

AIUI, there's no bar on having both a Premier and Premier Direct account; therefore, assuming you can fund £1000 pm (£500 for each acct, whether directly or by series of transfers), why not seitch to a Premier Acct, getting the free O/D, then open a Prem Direct, earning the 8.5% interest?

YorkshireBoy

TomJ wrote: »

AIUI, there's no bar on having both a Premier and Premier Direct account...

From the first page of the respective application forms...

There is a maximum of either one Premier, Premier Direct Current or Premier 50 Account per customer. Existing Alliance & Leicester current account customers wishing to change their account type to a Premier Direct Current Account should call the telephone number on the front of their current account statement.

...although I understand some people have managed to creep in under the wire!

money_maker_3

Just thought I would let you all know that in Northern Ireland, Halifax have a trial on their switching service that gives you a personal switcher, so you will only have to talk to one person at any time throughout the whole process. I work for them by the way but I am not saying it is the best account as it depends on your circumstances, but it will improve the switching service.;)