An old-fashioned Bank?

BML

Banking came to head for me today after a visit yesterday to a Barclays Bank at a small town near me to withdraw some money as the branch closest to me actually closes on Mondays. I then found that the Barclays Bank I was visiting had all its systems down so I had to use a nearby TSB Bank to obtain the amount of money I required.

I was at my local Barclays Bank at opening time Tuesday morning to find a queue and as soon as I got inside a Barclays Bank hustler approached me and asked the purpose of my visit. I replied, “To get some money out.” They then asked, “How much”. I was shocked at being asked such a question in an open queue and told Barclays Bank hustler that, “I had no intention of discussing my business in an open queue.”

After a wait of close to 20 minutes I eventually got to the customer point and asked the Barclays Bank person, “Why is there only one customer point open?” The Barclays Bank person replied, "Because there is only one computer point here.” Obviously the others had been removed. I told the Barclays Bank person that I had called to pick up some money that had been previously requested. The  Barclays Bank person then asked me, “For what purpose do you want the money?” Absolutely shocked I replied, “That is none of your business.” The Barclays Bank person then replied, “Then I will not be able to give you any money” or words to that effect so I walked out.

I am so disgusted in the manner that Barclays Bank is closing branches, attempting to force customers to use machines absolutely ignoring anything remotely inclined towards customer services that as a result it is my intention to move my account as soon as I find a Bank that does practices customer service. 

binao

Once Upon a Time banks did not do mortgages. So then building societies started doing banking with cheque books etc so banks started doing mortgages, that is how times change. Now banks are closing branches, how times change.

Closed bank branches became shops, coffee lounges, bookies etc., now we have a financial crisis so the Coffee Lounge is closed and the last Bank branches become flats or like the local post office that had about 10 counter positions and became a shop, is being knocked down.

Oh I forgot building societies became Banks in all but name. How times change.

How times change!,
Anyone for golf 

Tucosalamanca

BML said:

Banking came to head for me today after a visit yesterday to a Barclays Bank at a small town near me to withdraw some money as the branch closest to me actually closes on Mondays. I then found that the Barclays Bank I was visiting had all its systems down so I had to use a nearby TSB Bank to obtain the amount of money I required.

I was at my local Barclays Bank at opening time Tuesday morning to find a queue and as soon as I got inside a Barclays Bank hustler approached me and asked the purpose of my visit. I replied, “To get some money out.” They then asked, “How much”. I was shocked at being asked such a question in an open queue and told Barclays Bank hustler that, “I had no intention of discussing my business in an open queue.”

After a wait of close to 20 minutes I eventually got to the customer point and asked the Barclays Bank person, “Why is there only one customer point open?” The Barclays Bank person replied, "Because there is only one computer point here.” Obviously the others had been removed. I told the Barclays Bank person that I had called to pick up some money that had been previously requested. The  Barclays Bank person then asked me, “For what purpose do you want the money?” Absolutely shocked I replied, “That is none of your business.” The Barclays Bank person then replied, “Then I will not be able to give you any money” or words to that effect so I walked out.

I am so disgusted in the manner that Barclays Bank is closing branches, attempting to force customers to use machines absolutely ignoring anything remotely inclined towards customer services that as a result it is my intention to move my account as soon as I find a Bank that does practices customer service. 

I empathise with every word you've said. My local branch of 30yrs has just closed, despite getting busier and busier as other nearby branches have been shut down.
I'm a business customer with HSBC, occasionally I need to make a cash deposit.
HSBC have been very keen to tell me that I can pay-in at the Post Office.
Now that all the HSBC branches are closed, they've increased my charges.
I get charged for paying in cash, with a further fee for 'choosing' to use the Post Office.

Ridiculous thing is that most of my cash payments are due to banks bouncing cheques (for no discernible reason).
Not everyone has or wants a smart phone, some are terrified of online banking, branch visits (if possible) are a waste of time as there's no one to speak to.
I've had customers going to the cash point several days in a row, as it's the only way they can access their money without huge inconvenience.
I really feel for ordinary people, as the processes are so stacked against them.
If you do find a bank offering good service, please let me know!

Rob5342

BML said:

I am so disgusted in the manner that Barclays Bank is closing branches, attempting to force customers to use machines absolutely ignoring anything remotely inclined towards customer services that as a result it is my intention to move my account as soon as I find a Bank that does practices customer service. 

The kind of bank you would like doesn't exist any more. Online banking has been around for over 23 years so there is very little demand for branches now and they will continue to close..That's just the way the world is, like not being able to rent a VHS cassette any more.

km1500

They certainly do exist you just have to pay. They do not just exist for free, or 30p a cheque or whatever it was in the past.

The OP can get what they want but they will have to pay the going rate for running buildings, staff etc.

eg

http://www.hoaresbank.co.uk/

https://privatebank.jpmorgan.com/gl/en/services/banking/personal-banking

BML

Tucosalamanca said:

BML said:

Banking came to head for me today after a visit yesterday to a Barclays Bank at a small town near me to withdraw some money as the branch closest to me actually closes on Mondays. I then found that the Barclays Bank I was visiting had all its systems down so I had to use a nearby TSB Bank to obtain the amount of money I required.

I was at my local Barclays Bank at opening time Tuesday morning to find a queue and as soon as I got inside a Barclays Bank hustler approached me and asked the purpose of my visit. I replied, “To get some money out.” They then asked, “How much”. I was shocked at being asked such a question in an open queue and told Barclays Bank hustler that, “I had no intention of discussing my business in an open queue.”

After a wait of close to 20 minutes I eventually got to the customer point and asked the Barclays Bank person, “Why is there only one customer point open?” The Barclays Bank person replied, "Because there is only one computer point here.” Obviously the others had been removed. I told the Barclays Bank person that I had called to pick up some money that had been previously requested. The  Barclays Bank person then asked me, “For what purpose do you want the money?” Absolutely shocked I replied, “That is none of your business.” The Barclays Bank person then replied, “Then I will not be able to give you any money” or words to that effect so I walked out.

I am so disgusted in the manner that Barclays Bank is closing branches, attempting to force customers to use machines absolutely ignoring anything remotely inclined towards customer services that as a result it is my intention to move my account as soon as I find a Bank that does practices customer service. 

I empathise with every word you've said. My local branch of 30yrs has just closed, despite getting busier and busier as other nearby branches have been shut down.
I'm a business customer with HSBC, occasionally I need to make a cash deposit.
HSBC have been very keen to tell me that I can pay-in at the Post Office.
Now that all the HSBC branches are closed, they've increased my charges.
I get charged for paying in cash, with a further fee for 'choosing' to use the Post Office.

Ridiculous thing is that most of my cash payments are due to banks bouncing cheques (for no discernible reason).
Not everyone has or wants a smart phone, some are terrified of online banking, branch visits (if possible) are a waste of time as there's no one to speak to.
I've had customers going to the cash point several days in a row, as it's the only way they can access their money without huge inconvenience.
I really feel for ordinary people, as the processes are so stacked against them.
If you do find a bank offering good service, please let me know!

I might just have found a bank that says all the right things on its web page, "Unity Trust Bank". I sent them an email saying, "Convince me that your the bank to replace to miscreants running the one I wish to replace." I will post their reply.

RG2015

BML said:

Tucosalamanca said:

BML said:

Banking came to head for me today after a visit yesterday to a Barclays Bank at a small town near me to withdraw some money as the branch closest to me actually closes on Mondays. I then found that the Barclays Bank I was visiting had all its systems down so I had to use a nearby TSB Bank to obtain the amount of money I required.

I was at my local Barclays Bank at opening time Tuesday morning to find a queue and as soon as I got inside a Barclays Bank hustler approached me and asked the purpose of my visit. I replied, “To get some money out.” They then asked, “How much”. I was shocked at being asked such a question in an open queue and told Barclays Bank hustler that, “I had no intention of discussing my business in an open queue.”

After a wait of close to 20 minutes I eventually got to the customer point and asked the Barclays Bank person, “Why is there only one customer point open?” The Barclays Bank person replied, "Because there is only one computer point here.” Obviously the others had been removed. I told the Barclays Bank person that I had called to pick up some money that had been previously requested. The  Barclays Bank person then asked me, “For what purpose do you want the money?” Absolutely shocked I replied, “That is none of your business.” The Barclays Bank person then replied, “Then I will not be able to give you any money” or words to that effect so I walked out.

I am so disgusted in the manner that Barclays Bank is closing branches, attempting to force customers to use machines absolutely ignoring anything remotely inclined towards customer services that as a result it is my intention to move my account as soon as I find a Bank that does practices customer service. 

I empathise with every word you've said. My local branch of 30yrs has just closed, despite getting busier and busier as other nearby branches have been shut down.
I'm a business customer with HSBC, occasionally I need to make a cash deposit.
HSBC have been very keen to tell me that I can pay-in at the Post Office.
Now that all the HSBC branches are closed, they've increased my charges.
I get charged for paying in cash, with a further fee for 'choosing' to use the Post Office.

Ridiculous thing is that most of my cash payments are due to banks bouncing cheques (for no discernible reason).
Not everyone has or wants a smart phone, some are terrified of online banking, branch visits (if possible) are a waste of time as there's no one to speak to.
I've had customers going to the cash point several days in a row, as it's the only way they can access their money without huge inconvenience.
I really feel for ordinary people, as the processes are so stacked against them.
If you do find a bank offering good service, please let me know!

I might just have found a bank that says all the right things on its web page, "Unity Trust Bank". I sent them an email saying, "Convince me that your the bank to replace to miscreants running the one I wish to replace." I will post their reply.

I am not sure but they do not appear to offer personal banking.

p00hsticks

BML said:

The  Barclays Bank person then asked me, “For what purpose do you want the money?” Absolutely shocked I replied, “That is none of your business.” The Barclays Bank person then replied, “Then I will not be able to give you any money” or words to that effect so I walked out.

There seem to be more and more clever scammers / gullible victims out there and bank tellers have now been instructed to check that you're not withdrawing those vast cash sums just to pass on to the nice young man who knocked on your door and told you there's a slate missing on your roof......

I very much doubt that you're going to find any bank that doesn't now do the same...

Brie

You might want to investigate credit unions which still have a tighter connection to their relevant communities.

YorksLass

RobM99 said:

Back to the point - the Post Office offers a range of banking services to most high-street banks.

Yes, they do - but not when your local Post Offices closes as ours did last week!  Whilst the next nearest one is within walking distance, I wouldn't use it as it's situated in a convenience store (not a SM) on a parade of shops where there are several well known villains hanging around.

It's not a problem for me as I've happily used online banking for a number of years but it is causing issues for DH.  At 80+ he's not computer literate and has no desire to be so either.

I fully understand that banks are businesses but there seems to be no regard for "small" customers hence the number of bank branch closures and even removal of ATMs in some cases.  How times have changed.