Bank account with easy access

codetown2

Dear friends,
I would like your opinion on the best bank account with easy PC access.

I use banking mostly to move money between savings and p2p investments, so would like faster payments as a standard. I travel quite a bit (with laptop and internet access).

I used Lloyds for years, but due to managers bad treatment, I have decided to change.
Its online banking is very good in terms of speed of payments, but needs access to your telephone to set up a new payee (so a pain in the back when you are abroad).

I am looking for suggestions of a bank which offers similar speed in payments (FP) and easy access (no card readers/number generators to bring with me, no authentication via phone as I am often abroad), both to the site and the payment ordering..
I don't mind using combination of multiple passwords and/or number grids.

Suggestions welcome.

N1ckS

Try Tesco Bank, the app works well and you can set up a new payee easily using Touch ID on the iPhone.

codetown2

No, This is exactly the opposite I am looking for.
Absolutely no app and no iphone.

I access the bank only using the normal online banking via my trusted laptop.
I am looking for an easy 'normal' pc access (not phone/app access which I will not use)

Just for clarity I will write down some accounts I already took off my potential list and the reason:
- Nationwide - needs a card reader (and card) with you to make payments
- Lloyds - needs access to the home phone to set up a new payee
- Coventry BS - good access but crawlingly slow (no FP, so payments go out the next day, sums received show up very late)
- Santander - needs access to a mobile phone text even to log-in

N1ckS

Ok then, I'm unaware of an account which offers the ability to setup a new payee without either telephone confirmation or keypad.

EarthBoy

codetown2 wrote: »

- Lloyds - needs access to the home phone to set up a new payeen

No it doesn't, you can use a mobile phone instead. When you set up the new payment it gives you a choice of having the code sent to your home phone or mobile. Halifax and TSB work the same way.

codetown2

I still haven't decided on this....

Can anyone recommend a bank with easy online access, reliable faster payments and easy security login?
I can accept something like a landline confirmation code for setting up new payees (like Loyds), but would like easy of use when they are all setup. I would like to avoid card readers to carry with you and difficulties with codes not arriving etc..

If Bank of Scotland any good with these?

Butch_Dingle

First Direct are pretty good. You can setup new recipients on their smartphone app without further verification (if you have chosen the digital security key). In case you lose your smartphone and/or don't have internet access, you can simply call them and they can setup up the new payment over the phone - takes just a min or two. If abroad, they're happy to accept reverse charge calls or they can call you back on a specified number - they will ask for extra security information if calling you on an unknown number. As for logging into the app, i just have to open the FD app on my iPhone X and look into the screen (Face ID)...very slick & easy. Even though I can do the same on the Lloyds, Amex and payPal apps, FD's app seems to have the quickest FaceID authentication

alanq

The only accounts that I know if that have (had?) grid cards were Skipton BS and Coventry BS neither of which perform same-day transfers.

You say that you want Faster Payments. That only requires that funds arrive by the end of the following business day. Only these financial institutions are directly connected to Faster Payments.
http://www.fasterpayments.org.uk/directly-connected-participants

If you are happy to carry a grid card why not a First Direct/HSBC secure key? They are tiny and can be hung on a key chain.

Nationwide does not (generally) require use of a card reader to make transfers only to set up new payees. There is however a risk that one may be required if a transaction is unusual. If making online purchases by card you may need to be able to receive authorisation codes by SMS to type into your laptop.

agrinnall

alanq wrote: »

Nationwide does not (generally) require use of a card reader to make transfers only to set up new payees. There is however a risk that one may be required if a transaction is unusual. If making online purchases by card you may need to be able to receive authorisation codes by SMS to type into your laptop.

While you may be right in both scenarios I have never had to do either in my many years of using Nationwide as my main bank.

ColdIron

codetown2 wrote: »

I still haven't decided on this....

Can anyone recommend a bank with easy online access, reliable faster payments and easy security login?

What are your objections to a Tesco Internet Saver? Easy to operate on a laptop, faster payments and no card reader or phone interaction required for a new payee as I recall. From the savings account it must be a linked account in your name but you can set up quite a few of these, I have 6

datz

alanq wrote: »

The only accounts that I know if that have (had?) grid cards were Skipton BS and Coventry BS neither of which perform same-day transfers.

Danske use a form of grid card for logging in and various actions. It has 90 pairs of single-use codes, and they send out a new card when you get close to using them all up. Maybe problematic if you are away from your registered address for extended periods.

Transfers in and out have always been near-instant for me, but I have never used it as a main account (and only for the monthly reward). Branch network is based in NI, but can be opened over the phone elsewhere in the UK.

codetown2 wrote: »

If Bank of Scotland any good with these?

Bank of Scotland and Halifax are owned by the Lloyds group. Since you have used Lloyds, the platforms and processes are basically identical.