Current account advice

neilp

I am looking to switch to a current account, which I would want to manage online, while having the facility to pay in and withdraw money at a branch if necessary.

I opened an account with Smile a few months ago, which I have been trying out before moving completely. I have been very happy with it, both in terms of online facilities and phone customer service, and am contemplating using their switching service early in the new year. However, I have noted that Alliance & Leicester and Coventry Building Society have accounts with significantly higher interest rates, so am wondering whether to move to them instead.

High rates are important to me, but, given that I move excess money into ICICI and investments, and keep very little spare cash in my current account, good customer service and reliability are equally if not more important. I want to ask people's opinions on the quality of service A&L and Coventry BS provide - I have read threads on this forum that suggest that both have been lacking in this area.


Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.