Easy to open joint account? Recent experience?

dominoesdave

Partner and I have been trying to open a joint account for a while. We want a low hassle way of doing it, ideally with online bank. Looking for people who've recently opened joint accounts with banks where they may not have both been members before. Online banks best but high street banks also ok if it's worth it for the service. 

(Note that the many online lists and guides are out of date or incorrect. Online banks seem to be either not doing joint accounts or saying they do and marketing joint accounts, but then actually not offering that service. Both Monzo and Starling frustrating and useless in terms of not being clear that they will *not* open joint accounts for people with good credit who sign up with them, and not sharing or knowing what their eligibility criteria are for enabling the joint account option.)

Thanks! Just looking for good info on recent experiences opening joint accounts, not any other advice/commentary etc.

Dave 

xylophone

I don't know of any High St bank that doesn't offer a joint account. Examples

Barclays

You can open most of our current accounts as a joint account either online or in branch, but if you're applying in branch, you’ll each need to bring 2 forms of ID with you. 

Santander

If you’re applying for a new account online, over the phone or in a branch, you can add a joint account holder during your application.

Natwest

https://www.natwest.com/current-accounts/joint-account.html#whatis1

Or what about First Direct?

https://www.firstdirect.com/banking/current-account/joint-account/?fd_msc=PSR0000025&cid=FSDT:AO:P1:CA:01:1712:001:Brand_Exact&mtp=search&PPCKeyword=first%2520direct%2520joint%2520account&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3M_am7C7gAMV9olQBh1RaAPNEAAYASAAEgJ6oPD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

pridehappy

Nationwide FlexDirect:
I recently opened a Nationwide FlexDirect account and found it very easy, took about 10 minutes online to open and then about 7 days for the debit card and internet banking details to arrive. Very easy and everything just went on in the background while I was getting on with life. You can also set up a joint overdraft if you need it easily at the time, and take advantage of the 5% interest and free overdraft for a year.

The reason why I chose them over a digital bank is because of excellent telephone and branch banking if needed, although I have to admit their app and internet banking isn't as advanced as others, although still very functional.

Plus, the main thing that drew me to them was that if they continue as they mentioned they could in an online news article, you could receive roughly £200 for joint accounts.

This year’s eligibility criteria is as follows:

• Actively use the current account (2 payments each month)
• Pay in £500 a month from non-Nationwide accounts
• Keep £100 in Nationwide savings (their accounts are actually good too)

You'd possibly get £200 a year free, which as you can appreciate adds up over time. This amount may change per year but they did say they are going to keep it as consistent as possible.

Virgin Money M Plus:
I personally believe this is the best current account offer on the market at the moment with great interest, cashback and savings rates. The customer service in-branch and over the phone isn't terrible either. I'd admit this was even quicker at setup than Nationwide and you have instant access to accounts, with the card in under 3 days. However, if you do need an overdraft, it is considerably more difficult to setup for joint accounts and did take approximately a month to do so with proof of income required.

badger09

pridehappy said:

Nationwide FlexDirect:
I recently opened a Nationwide FlexDirect account and found it very easy, took about 10 minutes online to open and then about 7 days for the debit card and internet banking details to arrive. Very easy and everything just went on in the background while I was getting on with life. You can also set up a joint overdraft if you need it easily at the time, and take advantage of the 5% interest and free overdraft for a year.

The reason why I chose them over a digital bank is because of excellent telephone and branch banking if needed, although I have to admit their app and internet banking isn't as advanced as others, although still very functional.

Plus, the main thing that drew me to them was that if they continue as they promised and we:

• Actively use the current account (2 payments each month)
• Pay in £500 a month from non-Nationwide accounts
• Keep £100 in Nationwide savings (their accounts are actually good too)

You'd get £200 a year free, which as you can appreciate adds up over time. This amount may change per year but they did say they are going to keep it as consistent as possible.

Virgin Money M Plus:
I personally believe this is the best current account offer on the market at the moment with great interest, cashback and savings rates. The customer service in-branch and over the phone isn't terrible either. I'd admit this was even quicker at setup than Nationwide and you have instant access to accounts, with the card in under 3 days. However, if you do need an overdraft, it is considerably more difficult to setup for joint accounts and did take approximately a month to do so with proof of income required.

BIB. Source please

badger09

You know that. I know that. Regular posters will know that. But OP & others reading, probably won’t. 

Nobody else had commented. I was hoping pridehappy would review, and correct his mistake🤷🏼‍♀️

TractorFactor

With Lloyds, you both have to be present in the bank and watch a video about coercion and all sorts.
Best bet is to open an account and then three savings accounts at the same time.  That way, you MAY be able to switch one of the savings accounts to a new bank and BOOM, it's already joint.

badger09

TractorFactor said:

With Lloyds, you both have to be present in the bank and watch a video about coercion and all sorts.
Best bet is to open an account and then three savings accounts at the same time.  That way, you MAY be able to switch one of the savings accounts to a new bank and BOOM, it's already joint.

You can’t switch a savings account, like you can switch a current account using CASS, if that’s what you’re implying.  

Zanderman

badger09 said:

You know that. I know that. Regular posters will know that. But OP & others reading, probably won’t. 

Nobody else had commented. I was hoping pridehappy would review, and correct his mistake🤷🏼‍♀️

pridehappy did put in an 'if' - though the statement said there is a 'promise' too. But of course there isn't a promise so a misleading post despite the 'if'.

penners324

Found Starling very easy to open. You both need a single account first though 

pridehappy

badger09 said:

pridehappy said:

Nationwide FlexDirect:
I recently opened a Nationwide FlexDirect account and found it very easy, took about 10 minutes online to open and then about 7 days for the debit card and internet banking details to arrive. Very easy and everything just went on in the background while I was getting on with life. You can also set up a joint overdraft if you need it easily at the time, and take advantage of the 5% interest and free overdraft for a year.

The reason why I chose them over a digital bank is because of excellent telephone and branch banking if needed, although I have to admit their app and internet banking isn't as advanced as others, although still very functional.

Plus, the main thing that drew me to them was that if they continue as they promised and we:

• Actively use the current account (2 payments each month)
• Pay in £500 a month from non-Nationwide accounts
• Keep £100 in Nationwide savings (their accounts are actually good too)

You'd get £200 a year free, which as you can appreciate adds up over time. This amount may change per year but they did say they are going to keep it as consistent as possible.

Virgin Money M Plus:
I personally believe this is the best current account offer on the market at the moment with great interest, cashback and savings rates. The customer service in-branch and over the phone isn't terrible either. I'd admit this was even quicker at setup than Nationwide and you have instant access to accounts, with the card in under 3 days. However, if you do need an overdraft, it is considerably more difficult to setup for joint accounts and did take approximately a month to do so with proof of income required.

BIB. Source please

I read a news article on MSN News a while ago when Debbie Crosbie mentioned they will continue to make this payment, as long as the society was still in a position to be able to make the payment each year. I will make an effort tomorrow to find the source and post it here.

pridehappy

https://www.standard.co.uk/business/money/who-will-be-in-line-for-nationwide-s-new-fairer-share-payments-b1082289.html#

"The Society said it hopes as many members as possible will become eligible for the reward, and it intends to make the payment annually, provided this would not be detrimental to the Society’s financial strength."