Advice Needed: Considering Moving Banks Again

Sam2016

Hi everyone,

Here’s my thread for context: Rejected Twice for Starling Easy Saver and New Line with O2.

I left NatWest earlier this year to save money on my business banking, and after doing my research, I decided to switch to Starling for business and personal. Unfortunately, based on my experiences over the past few months, I now feel that moving to Starling was a bad decision.

I’m seriously considering switching again because it’s been pretty disappointing so far!

For those of you who’ve been on this forum for a while, which banks tend to receive the best feedback here? I’m particularly looking for excellent customer service and, of course, low fees.

My only reservation is what impact will moving banks have on my history BUT if push come to shove I could technically go back to Natwest since I do have a current account with them

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Ergates

Low fees for what?

From your other post, are you looking for a business account?

eskbanker

Sam2016 said:

For those of you who’ve been on this forum for a while, which banks tend to receive the best feedback here? I’m particularly looking for excellent customer service and, of course, low fees.

There's no consensus as it's such a subjective issue, given varying expectations and requirements, so whenever any bank's service is mentioned there'll be some who slate it from their experiences and then others will rush to its defence with contradictory stories!

There are bi-annual customer service surveys that reduce this effect but can never really eradicate it:

https://www.ipsos.com/en-uk/en-uk/personal-banking-service-quality-great-britain-august-2024

lr1277

What kind of service do you require? Presumably you are ok with app banking as you chose Starling or was that an aspect of banking that didn't suit you well?

In which case would you prefer telephone banking or branch banking? In these latter 2 categories there are fine examples of banks with good customer service, but some posters have a negative view of certain aspects of each bank's offering.

So can you give us what are priorities for you in terms of the banking service you want?

Rob5342

What didn't you like about Starling, and are you after a current account or savings account? Also, you mention fees so is it a business account?

I normally find it best just to try banks yourself to see how they suit you. I used a Monzo account for a few months before switching to using it as my main account, but I kept my old Halifax account as a spare. I've also got a Starling account and Natwest account that I used to try them out. I was thinking about moving from Monzo to Starling for the current account interest but they have stopped that now.

400ixl

Starling is the best of the banks I currently have accounts with.

Throwing the toys out because they have not granted an Easy Saver account (which lets face it isn't the best rate out there either) seems a little extreme.

But given how easy it is to move the barrier to change is so low, Monzo probably is the closest to Starling and seems to get devent reviews from most who use them.

Whatever you do, don't close the Starling account as they do not allow people to return.

Sam2016

Ergates said:

Low fees for what?

From your other post, are you looking for a business account?

For business banking there are no fees with Starling, Natwest there were fees. 

Sam2016

Rob5342 said:

What didn't you like about Starling, and are you after a current account or savings account? Also, you mention fees so is it a business account?

I normally find it best just to try banks yourself to see how they suit you. I used a Monzo account for a few months before switching to using it as my main account, but I kept my old Halifax account as a spare. I've also got a Starling account and Natwest account that I used to try them out. I was thinking about moving from Monzo to Starling for the current account interest but they have stopped that now.

Here’s my thread for context: Rejected Twice for Starling Easy Saver and New Line with O2.

It's very strange and their handling of my complaint has been quite bad.  Check Starlings Google and trust pilot reviews and you'll see many more people like me 

Ergates

Sam2016 said:

Ergates said:

Low fees for what?

From your other post, are you looking for a business account?

For business banking there are no fees with Starling, Natwest there were fees. 

OK - so you're looking for a bank that offers a business account with low or no fees.

What facilities do you require for this account?

Most of peoples experience here will be with personal accounts - but what makes a good personal account could be quite different from what makes a good business account.

gt94sss2

For a personal account, consider First Direct.

For a business account, see if Mettle suits you.