How should banks address customers by default?

gsmh

I really dislike the Mr, Miss and Mrs titles. They mean nothing. I am a teacher and would much prefer the students referred to me by my first name, but, of course, it's not possible in most schools. Some feel it shows respect to use these titles, but I always found it interesting when I worked in a secondary school where teachers were referred to by the title, but some support staff referred to by their first names, there was absolutely no difference in respect at all. First name all the way for me. I especially hate it when I see 'Mr' in print on a bank card. I'm more than a decade over 50 too

veryintrigued

Some people will be faux offended however others try and refer to them.

That's the world we're increasingly in.

Shakin_Steve

Even when using the live chat facility on the Barclays app, the advisor always refers to me as Stephen. Although I would prefer Mr Surname, I am not really offended by it.

[Deleted User]

If I'd spent the time and money and energy to getting a PhD, I'd like all my stuff to be Dr, I'd use it on an email signature too and would respect the wishes of anyone who wanted that title. When emailing our customers at work, I always start formally with "good morning first name" unless we know them to have a title e.g. we work with some actual doctors so they get "Good morning Dr xxxxxx". If they reply with "Hi Farfetch" I will reply to their emails as "Hi first name"

I would suggest this poll would be better if it had under 30 and under 50 as a split, I am under 50 but I don't even notice what the banks write on the statements as I view them online and scroll past the top page immediately anyway, I check my details on the apps far more regularly.

I checked and Halifax emails have "Dear Mr xxxxxx", NatWest have "Hello first name" on offers and "Dear first last" on my statement alerts, Sainsbury's have "Dear Mr xxxxx" on offers and "Dear first  middle last>" on statements.

bradders1983

I prefer all my staff at the bank to be wearing tuxedos, top hats and monocles, and I always complain if they are not.

IvanOpinion

bradders1983 said:

I prefer all my staff at the bank to be wearing tuxedos, top hats and monocles, and I always complain if they are not.

Don't forget the catflap on the managers office door so that you assume the correct position as you enter the office to get a loan.

gsmh

IvanOpinion said:

Don't forget the catflap on the managers office door so that you assume the correct position as you enter the office to get a loan.

Very fitting for Handelsbanken!

kaMelo

IvanOpinion said:

bradders1983 said:

I prefer all my staff at the bank to be wearing tuxedos, top hats and monocles, and I always complain if they are not.

Don't forget the catflap on the managers office door so that you assume the correct position as you enter the office to get a loan.

I think titles are outdated, there are some for whom it's an ego massage rather than a way to address people. I am no feminist however I do think it's one way in which females are disadvantaged. Miss/Mrs defines marital status whereas Mr. is just Mr. 
You could of course use "Ms" but that risks being judged too.
Do away with them. Simply Joe/Jane Bloggs is fine with me.

theoretica

I would far rather have no title than the wrong one - Firstname Lastname is probably my preference for professional written communications from strangers.

I was interested at how annoyed I got recently at encountering a form which would not let me proceed without choosing a title and only gave a choice of three, none of which are mine (Mr, Mrs, Miss).  I was in a bad mood already as it was Scottish Power taking over from Tonik who went bust, so not a form I had even chosen to fill in.

mrkds

I'm glad that in a time of national lockdown, pandemic thretening to cripple the NHS, mass unemployment and a crashing economy, people still find time to get their knickers in a twist over how how a bank addresses them. It's good to have perspective!