Child & Co branch code now under RBS HQ

[Deleted User]

Some may recall there is a branch of RBS which had a special set up, meaning anyone who opened an account at this said branch is a customer of Child & Co bankers, private bank and received branded Child & Co card and cheque book instead of the normal RBS ones. A few years ago there was a lenthgy thread on the bank. Last year there were reports on here that the sort code selector on the RBS application site was being withdrawn meaning it was only possible to open an account at Child by going around the houses either visiting branch or filling in a transfer form from RBS. I am not sure if it has finally been withdrawn.

Sadly the sort code which used to be assigned to Child & Co retail customers has now been transferred to RBS HQ. The change happened in April 2021. The end of a quirky and interesting fluke which we happened to find. It was good while it lasted! It remains to be seen what happens when existing customers receive a new card etc, will they get an RBS card or continue to receive the Child one. Actual private customers have their own sort code. Time will tell but I suspect as it is now an RBS code the card will be an RBS one. They are changing to MasterCard from December. If anyone has managed to open an account at the branch under the Child brand since May 2021 would be interested to know.

gsmh

I opened my RBS account using the Child & Co sort code on May 18th 2021 and I was sent a Child & Co branded debit card and somewhat later a Child & Co cheque book. I also just entered my sort code into  a couple of online sort-code checkers and the result was Child & Co.

[Deleted User]

gsmh said:

I opened my RBS account using the Child & Co sort code on May 18th 2021 and I was sent a Child & Co branded debit card and somewhat later a Child & Co cheque book. I also just entered my sort code into  a couple of online sort-code checkers and the result was Child & Co.

So it looks like they are still sending out the cards.

It was the address which changed on the sort code.

SebH

The Child & Co sort code has always been nominally at Fleet Street, but with an official branch address in Chatham (a generic RBS customer servicing centre).

If you check the sort code account details at Starling’s website, you will see what I mean.

I don’t believe anything has changed in terms of account servicing, unless you know something we don’t.

https://www.starlingbank.com/resources/banking/bank-accounts-explained-sort-code-account-number/

gsmh

Yes, we all know we don't really have a Child & Co account, but it's nice to have the branded debit card and cheque book. You also get the Child & Co branding in Apple Pay. My tiny mind is very happy with that!

[Deleted User]

I am sure the address was the actual branch address before. It states there was a change in April 2021.

Come on you got to admit the card looks good.

SebH

[Deleted User] said:

I am sure the address was the actual branch address before.

It never was, not even for private customers at the private banking sort code.

[Deleted User]

SebH said:

[Deleted User] said:

I am sure the address was the actual branch address before.

It never was, not even for private customers at the private banking sort code.

I must be seeing things 

SebH

Where did you see this reference to a change in May 2021?

I haven’t seen any change to that effect and I believe that the Starling sort code database, especially, would be up to date since they are a bank themselves (so would presumably always have a current copy of the sort code database).

[Deleted User]

It was on one of those sort code checker sites.

Incidentally I found this forum

https://fintechforum.uk/t/royal-bank-of-scotland-accounts/411/332

It appears RBS did indeed withdraw the branch selector and some people who selected the Child branch had the application rejected as it was not their local branch. The selector is still live but hidden and RBS is blocking applications which go via the old form. So it is indeed, pretty much over unless you live in London or get through the net. Even people that had the account opened then had them closed down with the reason given "customer misconduct" with the fraud team asking why the branch was chosen.

SebH

None of that would affect existing account holders anyway, plus that really has nothing to do with the sort code (it was more of a business decision to not allow “backdoor” applications).

Sort Code checker websites can’t be relied upon. The original sort code can never be changed because it would also affect genuine private customers who opened their accounts many years ago (originally, what is now the “personal” sort code was a shared sort code used by all Child & Co clients; there is now a separate “private” sort code for newer customers).