Top Bank Accounts Discussion Area

JimmyTheWig

FlyingArrow wrote: »

I just need an account that will take in monthly salary, pay DD's/SO's and also if they are still around provide me with a chq. book as well as being able to obtain cash from the wall. No frills required but maybe able to do some banking online as well.

You don't mention overdraft, so I'll assume you don't need / want one.
You mentioned having been made redundant, so you won't be paying in lots each month - which rules out the best in-credit deals.

I would say that they're all a much of a muchness from your point of view.
Either go with one who you have had a good service from in the past, or the one that is most convenient to get to.
If you've got a few in your town then let us know which they are and we can give opinions. But in terms of the actual accounts there'll be little to choose between them.

FlyingArrow

I was made redundant, but I have a job to go to next month, thank goodness. (Mortgage and all need to be paid)!!
We have all the usual banks and building societies in town, but our finances (I am married/homeowner(just)/family/other usual bills) and want to have a fresh start. Due to the bank charges (Santander) our overdraft is getting bigger and not getting cleared!!
I just want to open an account with the cheque I have now received and start from there and be able to get it all straight. One lives in hope.

blueberrypie

FlyingArrow wrote: »

I was made redundant, but I have a job to go to next month, thank goodness. (Mortgage and all need to be paid)!!
We have all the usual banks and building societies in town, but our finances (I am married/homeowner(just)/family/other usual bills) and want to have a fresh start. Due to the bank charges (Santander) our overdraft is getting bigger and not getting cleared!!
I just want to open an account with the cheque I have now received and start from there and be able to get it all straight. One lives in hope.

You talk of a "fresh start" and "start from there", but you still have the debt of the overdraft - and if there is nothing being paid into the overdrawn account regularly, the bank is very likely to demand that you pay the overdraft off, in full, within a few weeks. You need to have a plan for paying the overdraft off.

If you're struggling - and it sounds like you are - it would be a good idea to do a Statement of Affairs and post it on the Debt-Free Wannabe board.

JimmyTheWig

Why not use the cheque to pay off the overdraft?

AnonymousForObviousReason

ncb862010 wrote: »

I changed my current account from Natwest to Halifax rewards current account on the 26th May 2010. I received £100 instantly and my credits & direct debits have all been switched over to this account. I was wondering whats stopping me from switching my current account again, but to Santander who are offering £100 plus 5%?? Many thanks

The bloody awful service and hassle trying to sort it out. Look at the posts on this forum to see quite a high number of examples.

escapekey

Peace-n-Love wrote: »

Hi,

We are in the process of switching current accounts from Natwest to the Co-op Bank due to the higher charges -in some products-, hardly any interest on our balances and the rather annoying device you need to use with Natwest to make any transfers. Apart from that (and some issues with the bonuses RBS splash around every year), Natwest is been fairly good over the years.

Also, the idea of banking with someone a little more ethical sounds fair. We don't use the overdraft facilities much but let's say they come handy 2 or 3 times out of 12 a year.

Has anyone have something to say about the Co-op Bank? Interest on some of their credit cards look lower than most and 0% up to £200 overdraft but I'm not sure about the interest they pay on savings or current accounts.

Any comments please?

Hi,
Had terrible trouble with Co op bank, unbelievable inefficiency and poor customer service. They sent me a debit card that would not work in the P.O. , when I complained they insisted it should work. That was until a P.O. member of staff told me that Co-op bank had issued a lot of debit cards that didnt't work in the P.O.... Then the Co-op admitted this and sent me a new card which they suddenly blocked and I got stranded one weekend with no cash, again they insisted it should work, but it didnt. They finally sent me a replacement that would only worked in ATMs and not in any shop.... They lost a cheque I'd posted to them, blamed the Post Office, then it turned up in one of their offices 4 months later (by which time I'd had it cancelled). I could go on...
The co-op bank was a disaster for me, thankfully I hadn't closed my account with Alliance and leicester so returned to them in under a year.

brynthe_blade

I had a £1000 overdraft with LLoyds, but needed to switch as my loans were with them.
I was under the impression that if I paid in over £1000 wages in (which I do) to my new Santander account, they's match the overdraft. However, I've phoned them loads of times and been told different things I need to do. I've just discovered the account I have isn't even allowed an overdraft on it.
So I am basically stuck. I need an account that I can have a largish overdraft and quite quickly. I have £8 until next friday and the baby has no nappies or food.
Please advise?

black_taxi_2

vantage lloyds

£3000+

2.37% net

is that £5.92 a month?

irrelevant

Hi All.

Can anybody advise on how many current accounts the various banks will allow you to have? For cash-flow and other paperwork requirements I have to keep money in separate "pots". I recently tried to open a fourth account with the Halifax, and got turned down, as they set a limit of three.

I've no loyalty to the Halifax, and would be happy to switch, if I can find the right one! I do not need overdrafts on any account - balance is ~1K in each - but they need to be joint, and we do need cheque books and a comprehensive online banking facility.

Thanks,

rb10

irrelevant wrote: »

Can anybody advise on how many current accounts the various banks will allow you to have? For cash-flow and other paperwork requirements I have to keep money in separate "pots". I recently tried to open a fourth account with the Halifax, and got turned down, as they set a limit of three.

Why not open a variable rate websaver (or a similar savings account) instead? There's no credit check for this.