Best alternative to Halifax with following criteria?

[Deleted User]

Emmia said:

Deleted_User said:

First Direct offer an interest free overdraft which is probably better than bouncing payments - even if not charged by the bank. 

But, they can be fussy in terms of who is acceptable as a customer, e.g. in terms of credit score.

So can any provider. The key difference with FD is they don't offer a basic account option and the account has an automatic overdraft.

Rob5342

I've never understood the concept of a basic bank account. Why do they offer a distinct basic account that doesn't have an overdraft facility instead of just having an current account and not offering overdrafts to those that don't qualify. 

p00hsticks

Rob5342 said:

I've never understood the concept of a basic bank account. Why do they offer a distinct basic account that doesn't have an overdraft facility instead of just having an current account and not offering overdrafts to those that don't qualify. 

I think it's a bit more than not offering authorised overdrafts, there are a number of other restrictions on a basic bank account that are designed to prevent you unintentially going overdrawn - for example you may only get offered a cash card to withdraw money from an ATM rather than a debit card, or if you do get a debit card it'll be one that always needs an authorisation from the bank. And you wouldn't get a cheque book even if you asked.

Bigwheels1111

I have 5 bank accounts and in order of reliability and service.
1 First Direct
2 Chase bank
3 Starling
4 Nationwide 
5 TSB 

I would be happy to get rid of 4 and keep First Direct.

Daliah

Statistically more relevant than individual opinions: https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/personal-banking-service-quality-great-britain-february-2022

Which? also published a survey: https://www.which.co.uk/money/banking/bank-accounts/best-and-worst-banks-a3q5d8c6dj7y, and MSE does a poll on Banks' Customer Service every 6 months or so https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/poll/

triade

well it's been a week and i'm finding myself stymied by their stupid card reader requirement. Tried to pay my friend today for a food order, but nope. got to use the frickin card reader for security. so that's another piece of junk I have to carry round in my bag. great. I feel like I don't really want to stay with nationwide if I have to carry this thing everywhere.

My phone should be enough!!!

Daliah

triade said:

well it's been a week and i'm finding myself stymied by their stupid card reader requirement. Tried to pay my friend today for a food order, but nope. got to use the frickin card reader for security. so that's another piece of junk I have to carry round in my bag. great. I feel like I don't really want to stay with nationwide if I have to carry this thing everywhere.

My phone should be enough!!!

If you don’t want to be hampered by requests for your card reader, don’t use a current account which might ask you for a card reader. 

triade

wow, that's really helpful.

lr1277

From what you have said, I am guessing you made the move to Nationwide. Can you not use Nationwide's app to confirm transactions?

I am with FD and  have used the app to confirm a transaction. I also need to use it to generate a code to login to the website. Which is a pain. But the app has replaced the code generator that I used previously. Also being able to see actual and pending transactions i the app is very helpful.

I looked at the app web page on Nationwide and it is not clear to me that the app can be used to confirm transactions.

Bridlington1

triade said:

well it's been a week and i'm finding myself stymied by their stupid card reader requirement. Tried to pay my friend today for a food order, but nope. got to use the frickin card reader for security. so that's another piece of junk I have to carry round in my bag. great. I feel like I don't really want to stay with nationwide if I have to carry this thing everywhere.

My phone should be enough!!!

It seems a bit extreme to me to switch banks again just because you don't like the card reader. I've always found the card reader to be easy enough to use. Also you should only need to use the card reader once for each payee so once you've verified and paid your friend you can make future payments to them without the card reader. If you are really prepared to switch banks just because you don't like the card reader then here's a few suggestions of banks which use SMS authentication in my experience:
- Lloyds, which is petty much identical to Halifax
- TSB
- Santander
- Co-operative bank
- Virgin money, although you can only make payments of up to £1000/day unless you download the app or order a security token.

Natwest and RBS require you to use a card reader unless you download the app and use that to verify purchases instead.

Just don't use HSBC as I can imagine you will truly despise their secure key, although I believe you can also use the app to verify payments as well.