Does it matter where branch is on your account details?

wallofbeans

Sandtree said:

wallofbeans said:

Yes, this address is correct. I'd like it to be my local branch though, but apparently the only way to do that is to go into the branch itself and ask them to do it. They can't do it online.

It's weird that they don't just assign the branch nearest to your address when you open the account. Oh well...

To be honest, its weirder that you care which branch notionally holds your account... why does it matter to you?  Unless you are with the likes of Handelsbanken then all decision making and processing etc is centralised anyway so its not like you can go in to "your branch" and see "your manager" and get "him/her" to authorise a loan or mortgage.

The only difference I found with Barclays Premier is that if your assigned branch is local your "premier manager" (aka a sales rep) will call once a year and suggest they come visit you whereas if its not local then they suggest doing the same over the phone.

I did have a local branch originally and a local premier manager but he relocated but "took me with him", then he left the bank and I was oddly assigned to a new premier manager at that other branch which would have been ok but that chap left the company about 3 years before I opened my account.  Occasionally they call and ask if I want to be reassigned to my current local branch or to one of their central premier managers but I always decline both... though someone did reassign me again but this time to the branch manager of this other branch and the one time I spoke to her was regards a complaint and she just said she was promoted 4 years ago so shouldnt have been set as my premier manager... thankfully it went quiet again until 2 days ago.

Surely the weird bit is them assigning branches at all anymore? If they don't matter, why bother at all? And why are other forms I'm filling in asking for my bank branch if it doesn't matter at all. It seems it's an old fashioned idea that needs to be entirely dropped.

wallofbeans

One reason to have your local branch be your branch is that, at least for me, I'd remember which one was my branch if ever asked, and wouldn't have to google it...

Fingerbobs

When I opened my first NatWest account many years ago, I was prompted to select which Branch I would like to use. It defaulted to the one that was geographically nearest to me, but I knew of a much more convenient branch so selected that branch instead. I was annoyed to find, when they opened the account, they had completely ignored my preference, and gone with the default branch instead. Not that it made a scrap of difference anyway as I've never visited the branch.

Barny1979

My Midland Bank branch was the one I did my work experience in Manchester, they (HSBC) then transferred my sortcode to another branch as that closed, then they updated all sort codes about 3-4 years ago. I've not lived in Manchester for 11 years.