The Perfect Bank Account?

Rob&Liz

I know banks are there to make money out of you and very good they are at it too if you give them a chance, but what are the ingredients of a perfect bank account and who comes closest?

The MSE article on bank accounts makes a big fuss about interest rates, which are of course important but I don't think they are the be all and end all. Flicking through the forums there is a reasonable amount of discussion about customer service, with FD being mentioned a lot and about "piggy-banking" with IF being mentioned a few times on here too.

If I were to design a perfect bank account it would

• have a good interest rate (but not exceptional as that won't last),
• it would have piggy-banks or jars that I could sweep in and out of with rules like if balance is lower than x get money from savings pot y, and if balance is higher than x move extra to savings pot y etc
• have pro-active customer service, that even FD will not do, where they can see what will happen on my account before it happens (DD's about to fire, cheques about to clear etc) and tell me if I need to act
• have an access to an old-fashioned bank manager for that old fashioned advice when I need it - or just someone to talk to when it all gets on top of me. (I think I would welcome an forced annual review even - may be I'm wierd)
• be possible to use it as an offest against your mortgage
• be nice if you could get it to track your spending against your budget - but this might be asking to much?

What have I missed? What would you like in there and which bank/account comes closest. I guess I'm looking for the holy grail - a bank that helps me manage my money not a bank that is keen to take money off me by selling me things and hiding behind T&C's designed to jump on me if I slip up!!

Rob

Homework

Marketing directed to you based on your circumstances - not being sent leaflets on loans or asking you to upgrade at the counter when they've already told you they won't upgrade your from a basic account. At the same time knowing that you need insurance and child saving accounts and advising you on offers.

Phone line access to the branch when required and call centre staff who can understand accents on the phone.

robpitt

Right now I'd settle for anything that means I don't have to carry the blasted Barclays PinSentry device ( a calculator sized piece of hardware ) in order to use online banking!

MarcoM

and have a bank that offers you a review of your account PRIOR to you
withdrawing 100k and not after........