Ulster Bank Savings Account

Bonnypitlad

Tench08 said:

I have tried twice now to set up a savings account with Ulster bank. This is a very frustrating exercise. You cannot talk to anyone and the ChatBot is next to useless. I have viewed reviews online for Ulster Bank and this would appear to be a common problem.They need to get their act together. 
Be warned !!!  

I agree totally with Tench08
i started the process of opening a savings account more than 1 month ago since reading in MSE of their attractive interest rate
It has been the most frustrating banking process that I have ever experienced 
At one point I gave up, I only tried again because of the interest rate 
I have accounts with RBS & NatWest, their sister companies, it should be possible for Ulster to use some of my information 
It took 3 attempts over 3 nights to pass the online identity checks using my driving licence and facial recognition 
I have installed the App but I can’t proceed until I receive username and passcode via surface mail 
I hope the torturous application route is going to be worth it

pokemaster

Had email from them to say they making some changes to their accounts, rather then start a new thread thought I would post the changes here.

Cashmygiro

What do you expect from the big old RBS.

boingy

Cashmygiro said:

What do you expect from the big old RBS.

That's what is so strange. This year I've opened new accounts at Natwest, RBS and Ulster - all part of the same group. The first two were opened almost instantly with card and PIN arriving within a week or so. Ulster took more than a month and sent me loads of stuff through the post. Definitely the poor relation in the family.

Sjb911

Have set up Loyalty Savings Accounts for my wife and myself as we wanted to consolidate funds in advance of a house purchase.

it’s been a nightmare!

Managed to set up the accounts without much difficulty but “easy access” it is not.

We can’t use Anytime banking yet because we haven’t received the card reader and can’t use biometric approval for the app yet as you have to build up a pattern of payments before their system deems you worthy of registering for it.

The upshot is that I can’t move more than £1,000 at a time until I get a reader and,even then, can only move £20k per working day (no weekends or bank holidays allowed!) until we get biometric approval for the app.

Even then I can only move £75k a day up to a maximum of 4 times per 28 days.

I have spent hours on the phone to their support desk trying to find a mechanism to allow more access and have been told the only alternative is to fax (!) a CHAPS request.

So far, I’ve been given three fax numbers. First was a complete dud. The second didn’t work because it’s a premium line and I was using a mobile fax app. Eventually, I tried their international fax line number and hope that they actually carry out my instruction to move all the money back to First Direct who I can rely on to move money as and when required.


Their systems are clearly stuck firmly in the 20th century!

You have been warned!

TallScot

I agree that I found the application to open an account with Ulster Bank laborious.

I applied on 4th Dec 2023 whilst abroad.

Completed the Hooyo validation of my ID on 6th Dec. Told it was successful.

Went onto Cora, their simplistic chatbot, on 15th Dec as I'd heard nothing and eventually got to a human being to be told my application had been denied because my ID was not well enough photoraphed and I was asked to re-apply.

To say I was annoyed is an under-statement. The absence of communication is bad.

Needless to say I won't be applying again and all at Ulster Bank should be thoroughly ashamed.

Be warned.

Tommaso46

Tench08 said:

I have tried twice now to set up a savings account with Ulster bank. This is a very frustrating exercise. You cannot talk to anyone and the ChatBot is next to useless. I have viewed reviews online for Ulster Bank and this would appear to be a common problem.They need to get their act together. 
Be warned !!!  

Consider yourself lucky. Seduced by the promise of a good interest rate, and in the absence of any **warnings** on the comparison websites, I opened an account although the process was far more labyrinthine than it usually is when opening an account. I paid quite a lot of money into it. The paying-in process was very easy. TOO EASY as I then discovered when I decided to try taking some money out. YOU CAN'T! So I then decided to just close the whole account. BUT YOU CAN'T! The guy on the phone was flummoxed and had to go away for a long time, and ask his line manager. When he came back he told me the only way you can  get your money out of an Ulster Bank savings account is to have an Ulster Bank current account. OR (he suggested) go to a Natwest branch and ask them to do it. So I went to my local Natwest branch in London where the (very helpful) lady said there was nothing she could do. She did, however, manage to download a "close account" form which, however, she couldn't sign because she doesn't work for Ulster Bank. She suggested I write a letter to Ulster Bank in Belfast, giving all my details and enclosing the form the lady couldn't sign. Then she VERY KINDLY put the form and my letter in a NatWest envelope and posted it off for me. As of today 27 December I am waiting to see if they close my accoun as requested. so BE WARNED: UNLESS YOU LIVE IN NORTHERN IRELAND do NOT open any accounts with Ulster Bank.

Tommaso46

Tench08 said:

I have tried twice now to set up a savings account with Ulster bank. This is a very frustrating exercise. You cannot talk to anyone and the ChatBot is next to useless. I have viewed reviews online for Ulster Bank and this would appear to be a common problem.They need to get their act together. 
Be warned !!!  

Consider yourself lucky. Seduced by the promise of a good interest rate, and in the absence of any **warnings** on the comparison websites, I opened an account although the process was far more labyrinthine than it usually is when opening an account. I paid quite a lot of money into it. The paying-in process was very easy. TOO EASY as I then discovered when I decided to try taking some money out. YOU CAN'T! So I then decided to just close the whole account. BUT YOU CAN'T! The guy on the phone was flummoxed and had to go away for a long time, and ask his line manager. When he came back he told me the only way you can  get your money out of an Ulster Bank savings account is to have an Ulster Bank current account. OR (he suggested) go to a Natwest branch and ask them to do it. So I went to my local Natwest branch in London where the (very helpful) lady said there was nothing she could do. She did, however, manage to download a "close account" form which, however, she couldn't sign because she doesn't work for Ulster Bank. She suggested I write a letter to Ulster Bank in Belfast, giving all my details and enclosing the form the lady couldn't sign. Then she VERY KINDLY put the form and my letter in a NatWest envelope and posted it off for me. As of today 27 December I am waiting to see if they close my accoun as requested. so BE WARNED: UNLESS YOU LIVE IN NORTHERN IRELAND do NOT open any accounts with Ulster Bank.

wmb194

Tommaso46 said:

Tench08 said:

I have tried twice now to set up a savings account with Ulster bank. This is a very frustrating exercise. You cannot talk to anyone and the ChatBot is next to useless. I have viewed reviews online for Ulster Bank and this would appear to be a common problem.They need to get their act together. 
Be warned !!!  

Consider yourself lucky. Seduced by the promise of a good interest rate, and in the absence of any **warnings** on the comparison websites, I opened an account although the process was far more labyrinthine than it usually is when opening an account. I paid quite a lot of money into it. The paying-in process was very easy. TOO EASY as I then discovered when I decided to try taking some money out. YOU CAN'T! So I then decided to just close the whole account. BUT YOU CAN'T! The guy on the phone was flummoxed and had to go away for a long time, and ask his line manager. When he came back he told me the only way you can  get your money out of an Ulster Bank savings account is to have an Ulster Bank current account. OR (he suggested) go to a Natwest branch and ask them to do it. So I went to my local Natwest branch in London where the (very helpful) lady said there was nothing she could do. She did, however, manage to download a "close account" form which, however, she couldn't sign because she doesn't work for Ulster Bank. She suggested I write a letter to Ulster Bank in Belfast, giving all my details and enclosing the form the lady couldn't sign. Then she VERY KINDLY put the form and my letter in a NatWest envelope and posted it off for me. As of today 27 December I am waiting to see if they close my accoun as requested. so BE WARNED: UNLESS YOU LIVE IN NORTHERN IRELAND do NOT open any accounts with Ulster Bank.

Why didn't you open an Ulster Bank current account?

Tommaso46

I shouldn't have to go through YET ANOTHER process to open an Ulster Bank current account when all I wanted was to be able to make withdrawals from my Ulster Bank savings account. And I don't want an an Ulster Bank current account. I hope that answers your question.