Has anyone used online banking for over 10 years and still happy?

lr1277

FD customer for 22 years.

I only use my debit card at the local shop to pay for the paper. With contactless payments that is easy. This started during lockdown and I continue with it.

As others have said a better description of your problem would allow other forum users to help you more.

I did want to say, whichever bank you jump to, you may have problems. All banks have increased their security measures compared to 10 or 20 years ago. 2FA authorisation is a technology that can cause problems.

Do your research on Chase. When they opened there was some issue about not being able to setup standing orders of direct debits. I don’t remember exactly. Make sure that is no longer a problem. Also Chase is not part of CASS currently.

In terms of internet only banks, many people have said good things about Starling. But as that is a smartphone only bank, it seems to me you will need to have an uptodate operating system on your phone. This and other issues with smartphones can present their own challenges.

mrmajika

I too am bailing from First Direct after 14+ years. 

They used to pride themselves on answering the phone quickly with UK based call centres. Last week, I had a 10 minute wait to speak with a seemingly American based agent who could not grasp the issue with my "checking account".  I've only phoned a handful of times in recent years, but find they've got exponentially poorer each time. 

Their app and online banking functionality is very basic and has some frustrating limitations. 

And don't ask to change the date of the Regular Saver attending order that's set to within three working of requesting to open the account. This is too much for their Edge system that was developed in the early 90s. 

In a way I'm sad to leave, but the wait for them to innovate has proven too much for me. 

VXman

Been with FD for 20 years. Only use online banking with them think I phoned them twice. No problems at all. 

I have online accounts with dozens of banks/credit cards. I would suggest First Direct are the most reliable as at least if you have an issue they will answer the phone to help. Some online banks don't have any phone support and many that do will take an hour to answer.

My advice would be to stick with First Direct and try and work out what YOU are doing wrong. ........or go back to a bank with a local branch, cheque book and cash.

swabaxter

The new banks that work on the Smart phone are absolutely excellent. If you look at my recent issue with First Bus, my bank gave me the full audit trail of transactions as soon as I requested them. Take my tip and choose two of these highly rated banks and if one goes down you have another sitting on your Apple Watch!

k_man

A bit more info would be useful...

Neil49

The increased security measures that the OP is complaining about are there for a reason and they would be the first to complain if their account got hacked and all their funds cleaned out.

Be grateful that they are looking after your best interests. 

MrFrugalFever

Yes I’ve used online banking with NatWest since I can’t remember when, a long time.
Wouldn’t want to go back to banking any other way.

More and more security measures are in place to try to reduce fraud and money laundering, if it’s an extra Q or an OTP for me to purchase something but I’m substantially less likely to be a victim of fraud then I welcome it.

My low limit (£250) CC is used for pretty much all smaller online purchases, if I do a larger purchase my second CC with £1,500 limit will be used, that way I feel a bit safer (don’t know if it actually is but I feel it is).

maisie_cat

I've been with FD since 1995 and frankly still really easy to use, not had a problem..
We do have a Sainsburys card, hubby as cardholder and moi as additional and there is no way to add my mobile to the account as TFA so cut it up and no longer use it.
To be honest the paypal system of making me run to the bedroom to get my mobile for a code is a pain, but I only use it for zooplus every other month.

adindas

I have been using FD online banking for over 10 years and I am still using it. But I do not use FD debitcard purchase online.

AmberDepp

I've used online banking and been perfectly happy.

Ironically, the one bank that I've been least happy with is First Direct.

Their systems are archaic.  If you change the device or reinstall the OS and forget to deregister the device you're forced to phone them up, go through an utterly arduous security check that practically checks your inside measurement and then they let you back in.  Every other bank mages to be quite secure by just going back to the "something you are, something you know" principle of security but not HSBC/First Direct.

I wouldn't recommend them at all, but this is not a problem with online banking in general, it's a problem with HSBC/First Direct online banking.

They also froze the very first transfer out of the account I set up, and didn't tell me for over 12 hours.  Awesome.