List of banks with hard vs soft searches for current accounts

adamp87

Might wanna add First Direct in the main post swear it was there before for a hard search

ForumUser7

WillPS said:

Zanderman said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

Managed to earn myself an unnecessary hard search by doing an exploratory current account application with Ulster Bank.

Was curious to know if I could open an account while in GB (rather than NI). Not able to proceed while physically located in GB but got as far as Id checks if VPNing from Paris. Didn't proceed with application. 

I opened an account with Ulster in November last year and I'm in GB not NI.  From memory many others have done so too.

Same. When I got the 'introductory' call from the nice lady in Belfast she was trying to set up an appointment for me at Natwest in Nottingham, so clearly a process their scripts accommodate.

Might be worth ringing to see if the application can still be completed so you at least get an account out of it.

What's the purpose of opening an ulster bank account for now? Is it incase they add a digital regular saver at a later stage?

flaneurs_lobster

ForumUser7 said:

WillPS said:

Zanderman said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

Managed to earn myself an unnecessary hard search by doing an exploratory current account application with Ulster Bank.

Was curious to know if I could open an account while in GB (rather than NI). Not able to proceed while physically located in GB but got as far as Id checks if VPNing from Paris. Didn't proceed with application. 

I opened an account with Ulster in November last year and I'm in GB not NI.  From memory many others have done so too.

Same. When I got the 'introductory' call from the nice lady in Belfast she was trying to set up an appointment for me at Natwest in Nottingham, so clearly a process their scripts accommodate.

Might be worth ringing to see if the application can still be completed so you at least get an account out of it.

What's the purpose of opening an ulster bank account for now? Is it incase they add a digital regular saver at a later stage?

Whim. Curiosity. Future burner. 

I'm not going to continue with a bank account that needs me to VPN in from another country to access it. 

trient

ForumUser7 said:

What's the purpose of opening an ulster bank account for now? Is it incase they add a digital regular saver at a later stage?

It has a nice card. And every now and then (less often than the rest of NWG) they do have switching incentives, and you'd be able to skip the initial account opening stage.

[Deleted User]

flaneurs_lobster said:

ForumUser7 said:

WillPS said:

Zanderman said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

Managed to earn myself an unnecessary hard search by doing an exploratory current account application with Ulster Bank.

Was curious to know if I could open an account while in GB (rather than NI). Not able to proceed while physically located in GB but got as far as Id checks if VPNing from Paris. Didn't proceed with application. 

I opened an account with Ulster in November last year and I'm in GB not NI.  From memory many others have done so too.

Same. When I got the 'introductory' call from the nice lady in Belfast she was trying to set up an appointment for me at Natwest in Nottingham, so clearly a process their scripts accommodate.

Might be worth ringing to see if the application can still be completed so you at least get an account out of it.

What's the purpose of opening an ulster bank account for now? Is it incase they add a digital regular saver at a later stage?

Whim. Curiosity. Future burner. 

I'm not going to continue with a bank account that needs me to VPN in from another country to access it. 

I've zero interest in Ulster Bank personally but VPN is unlikely as it's simply a trading name for NatWest Bank now.

WillPS

ForumUser7 said:

WillPS said:

Zanderman said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

Managed to earn myself an unnecessary hard search by doing an exploratory current account application with Ulster Bank.

Was curious to know if I could open an account while in GB (rather than NI). Not able to proceed while physically located in GB but got as far as Id checks if VPNing from Paris. Didn't proceed with application. 

I opened an account with Ulster in November last year and I'm in GB not NI.  From memory many others have done so too.

Same. When I got the 'introductory' call from the nice lady in Belfast she was trying to set up an appointment for me at Natwest in Nottingham, so clearly a process their scripts accommodate.

Might be worth ringing to see if the application can still be completed so you at least get an account out of it.

What's the purpose of opening an ulster bank account for now? Is it incase they add a digital regular saver at a later stage?

Future switching bonus (either from Ulster Bank themselves or using them as a donor).

ForumUser7

How long does it usually take for a hard search to appear on the credit record please?

WLewer98

Can anyone advise on banks that do soft searches other than Starling or Monzo? I have used them both recently for bank switch offers. Does Metro bank really do a soft search? TIA

WillPS

ForumUser7 said:

How long does it usually take for a hard search to appear on the credit record please?

It'll be recorded as soon as it is undertaken, with some banks that'll be immediately (during application), with some it might be part of a manual process in the days (or weeks potentially with HSBC!) following.

It'll then show as soon as whatever you're using to view your credit report updates - somewhere between weekly and monthly.

WillPS

WLewer98 said:

Can anyone advise on banks that do soft searches other than Starling or Monzo? I have used them both recently for bank switch offers. Does Metro bank really do a soft search? TIA

If you have any existing Halifax, Lloyds or Bank of Scotland current accounts you will usually find opening another with the same brand as an existing customer does not result in a hard check.