Running out of options for mobile banks - request of recommendation

Stuartsm23

Hi,

I'd like to try to move to another bank from Barclays due to the fact that my bank's branch is only open 3 days a week and I have to travel at least over 30 minutes to get to the next branch which is honestly ridiculous.

I've looked at mobile bank apps like monzo , cashplus , starling bank etc. Monzo has been recently put on BBC Watchdog so that's put me off, Cashplus doesn't offer the switch scheme which is no good and starling bank don't seem to do ISA accounts which unfortunately I do have one with Barclays.

I'm running out of options of possible banks - In my town, we've got the one only bank which is Barclays and that is practically it.

Can anyone please recommend me a good bank? I do prefer one where I can split my bills so that I can make sure that I know I've got the money to pay it all off without me realising I might not have enough to pay rest days later - preferably looking for a free-fee one if possible.

eskbanker

Surely if you intend to move away from the only bank with a branch near you then you're effectively opening up the field to everyone except Barclays? In other words, you don't need to go all the way to app-only banks but can simply use any of the mainstream ones, even though they don't have branches local to you (they'll all have apps if that's how to choose to operate them, or more generic browser-based online banking). Your nearest post office should have facilities for paying in cash, etc, if that's important to you - what do you currently use branch facilities for?

There's no need to use the same bank for a cash ISA as your current account, so you can mix and match to your heart's content and go with best current account provider plus best ISA provider separately.

Read up on options at:
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/compare-best-bank-accounts/
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/savings/best-cash-isa/

Ben8282

Do you not have online banking? All the real banks offer it so you don't need to look at the sort of app based bank (Monzo, Starling) and prepaid credit card provider (Cashplus) that for some reason you have found it necessary to mention by name. As these banks don't have branches not sure why they even came to mind considering that your problem appears to be the limited opening hours of your local Barclays branch. How would moving your account to one of the providers that for unfathomable reasons you have chosen to name and consider possibly assist with your problem?
How about Natwest or HSBC or Lloyds or Halifax or Nationwide or Co-Op bank or Santander or TSB to name a few REAL banks that have REAL BRANCHES and would therefore surely be at the top of the list for someone whose problem is being caused by limited branch opening hours?
The above mentioned banks are all good but if they have no local branch it would be better surely just to stick with Barclays and arrange online banking?
No bank will offer this splitting bills facility. You will need to budget your finances or ask Barclays for an overdraft facility.

born_again

https://www.barclays.co.uk/ways-to-bank/mobile-banking-app

You are saying that the reason is because the branch is only open 3 days, and is the only one. Seems a odd choice for a reason. When you are requesting mobile app info & Barclays have one.

Are there other reasons to want to move?

18cc

Can I only add that you should really not make your banking choice based on BBC Watchdog in fact I wouldn't make any choice based on that program !

monzo are a very good bank and I don't think you would be disappointed

Brewer20

Surely you could do your banking business when they are open (Barclays) and how do you pay your bills?


I've not had a local HSBC branch for around 4 years, we manage without and use the PO for anything else and pay bills online or DD.


You don't say how you want to use the bank so others can help??

Ben8282

18cc wrote: »

Can I only add that you should really not make your banking choice based on BBC Watchdog in fact I wouldn't make any choice based on that program !

monzo are a very good bank and I don't think you would be disappointed

But they don't have any branches do they?

Eco_Miser

Stuartsm23 wrote: »

I'd like to try to move to another bank from Barclays due to the fact that my bank's branch is only open 3 days a week and I have to travel at least over 30 minutes to get to the next branch which is honestly ridiculous.

In my town, we've got the one only bank which is Barclays and that is practically it.

You've still got an open bank branch in your town (congratulations, I haven't), yet you want to move away from that bank.
That is honestly ridiculous.

If you need branch banking, base your search on your nearest high street branches; if you don't, the number of days Barclays is open is irrelevant.

Stuartsm23

Brewer20 wrote: »

Surely you could do your banking business when they are open (Barclays) and how do you pay your bills?


I've not had a local HSBC branch for around 4 years, we manage without and use the PO for anything else and pay bills online or DD.


You don't say how you want to use the bank so others can help??

I'm just wanting to use a bank that can help me budget properly as I've nearly got into an overdraft twice by constantly spending. - I'm just wanting a mobile app & telephone-based bank.

colsten

Stuartsm23 wrote: »

I'm just wanting to use a bank that can help me budget properly as I've nearly got into an overdraft twice by constantly spending. - I'm just wanting a mobile app & telephone-based bank.

Banks won't magically do your budgeting - you need to do that yourself. Every bank now has a mobile app, and you can also call every bank. Some of the traditional banks also offer telephone banking - though telephone banking is quite dinosaur-ish compared with app banking.

If you want a banking app with budgeting features, you could look at Starling. I think it's much better though to use an independent budgeting app like YNAB or MS Money as that means you aren't locked into any given bank.

Perhaps you need to review your actual requirements again. You started off saying you want to leave Barclays because it's difficult to use their Branch. Now it's all about mobile apps and telephone banking. You can get both with Barclays - so what's the problem? Are you perhaps looking for a justification to switch banks for an incentive? If so, you don't give anyone any reason for switching, you just do it.

System

Probably Nationwide or Virgin Money offer the best Current Account / ISA combo

Just some thoughts:

• Nationwide don't offer full Post Office access (withdrawals only.
• VM is full service, has budgeting and offer cheque imaging.
• Monzo has budgeting, ISA but doesn't offer Post Office access.
• Starling offer Post Office access, budgeting but no ISA yet.

I would suggest retaining Barclays as a backup - can be used in Branch and Post Office plus app cheque imaging.