Ulster Bank easy access Saver - 4.5% interest, but is it lost forever if you go under £5k?

Malchester

When I first opened an account with Ulster (a couple of years ago) I thought 'what a shambles they are'. However, having persevered with them I find them excellent. Instant deposits and withdrawals, easy to use app and website. If you can get over the initial processes things are very good.

HeadScratching

I guess I am pretty frustrated by the helpline's lack of knowledge of the account - I had to read verbatim to them the printed ts & cs of the account I opened ... which didn't appear to match with their version. I am currently able to withdraw £750 daily online, plus £7999.99 per phone request but that can only occur on Monday to Fridays. I am going to monitor how quickly I can a) set up biometrics, b) how long to receive and be able to register the card reader, card and PIN and report back in case it helps others. Plus any further quirks along the way.

HeadScratching

UKX69 said:

sausage_time said:

I'm puzzled by all this.  I installed the app and set up biometrics, and was able to up my daily limits immediately.  I have no history with Ulster, but do have RBS and NatWest accounts (and their apps) - so maybe that helped.

Can confirm that. I had an account with Ulster at one time and could set everything up; but also been with NatWest since the time of the Pharaohs.

I've been with Nationwide for decades, they have been brilliant. Also got accounts with a number of other banks and have never had any issues like this with any of them. Find it all very frustrating that I can't withdraw my money from my account to place into my other account ready to pay my bill...Sigh

UKX69

HeadScratching said:

UKX69 said:

sausage_time said:

I'm puzzled by all this.  I installed the app and set up biometrics, and was able to up my daily limits immediately.  I have no history with Ulster, but do have RBS and NatWest accounts (and their apps) - so maybe that helped.

Can confirm that. I had an account with Ulster at one time and could set everything up; but also been with NatWest since the time of the Pharaohs.

I've been with Nationwide for decades, they have been brilliant. Also got accounts with a number of other banks and have never had any issues like this with any of them. Find it all very frustrating that I can't withdraw my money from my account to place into my other account ready to pay my bill...Sigh

Strange that some posters are having trouble with Ulster bank. I’ve had three accounts with them over the years and have never run into problems. The pins, cards and readers have always been sent within the same timeframe as my NatWest and RBS accounts. Also transfers to and from the Ulster savings account has been trouble free as long as it’s linked to the Ulster current account. Perhaps I’ve just been lucky!

HeadScratching

UKX69 said:

HeadScratching said:

UKX69 said:

sausage_time said:

I'm puzzled by all this.  I installed the app and set up biometrics, and was able to up my daily limits immediately.  I have no history with Ulster, but do have RBS and NatWest accounts (and their apps) - so maybe that helped.

Can confirm that. I had an account with Ulster at one time and could set everything up; but also been with NatWest since the time of the Pharaohs.

I've been with Nationwide for decades, they have been brilliant. Also got accounts with a number of other banks and have never had any issues like this with any of them. Find it all very frustrating that I can't withdraw my money from my account to place into my other account ready to pay my bill...Sigh

Strange that some posters are having trouble with Ulster bank. I’ve had three accounts with them over the years and have never run into problems. The pins, cards and readers have always been sent within the same timeframe as my NatWest and RBS accounts. Also transfers to and from the Ulster savings account has been trouble free as long as it’s linked to the Ulster current account. Perhaps I’ve just been lucky!

Ah now I don't have an Ulster current account. This could then be the core reason for problems with a savings account on its' own. But I also have several savings accounts with other banks without also having a current account with them, with no issues...

refluxer

HeadScratching said:

Ah now I don't have an Ulster current account. This could then be the core reason for problems with a savings account on its' own. But I also have several savings accounts with other banks without also having a current account with them, with no issues...

I can confirm that you don't need an Ulster current account to use their savings account. I don't have one so I use a current account with a different bank for deposits and withdrawals, which are instant.

I can't recall the exact order of events that lead up to me being able to use biometrics to make larger withdrawals but I did make 4 deposits on the day I opened the account and a couple more a week later and I'm fairly sure I was able to register biometrics for withdrawals around that time, because I wouldn't have made the later, larger deposits into the account with such a low, default withdrawal limit.

DRS1

HeadScratching said:

UKX69 said:

sausage_time said:

I'm puzzled by all this.  I installed the app and set up biometrics, and was able to up my daily limits immediately.  I have no history with Ulster, but do have RBS and NatWest accounts (and their apps) - so maybe that helped.

Can confirm that. I had an account with Ulster at one time and could set everything up; but also been with NatWest since the time of the Pharaohs.

I've been with Nationwide for decades, they have been brilliant. Also got accounts with a number of other banks and have never had any issues like this with any of them. Find it all very frustrating that I can't withdraw my money from my account to place into my other account ready to pay my bill...Sigh

Interestingly I have had an account with Santander (since it was Abbey National) and tried to make a payment to Cahoot the other day only to bump up against a daily limit - £2000.  So it is not just Ulster Bank.  And yes you can increase the limit but I have not tried that so I don't know if you need to be bionic to do it.

UKX69

refluxer said:

HeadScratching said:

Ah now I don't have an Ulster current account. This could then be the core reason for problems with a savings account on its' own. But I also have several savings accounts with other banks without also having a current account with them, with no issues...

I can confirm that you don't need an Ulster current account to use their savings account. I don't have one so I use a current account with a different bank for deposits and withdrawals, which are instant.

I can't recall the exact order of events that lead up to me being able to use biometrics to make larger withdrawals but I did make 4 deposits on the day I opened the account and a couple more a week later and I'm fairly sure I was able to register biometrics for withdrawals around that time, because I wouldn't have made the later, larger deposits into the account with such a low, default withdrawal limit.

I see. If I open an account with other banks I always have a current account with them as I find it can prevent a lot of problems. I’m sure I’ve read on here somewhere that some people have had problems with Ulster savings and transfers to non-Ulster accounts?🤔

refluxer

UKX69 said:

refluxer said:

HeadScratching said:

Ah now I don't have an Ulster current account. This could then be the core reason for problems with a savings account on its' own. But I also have several savings accounts with other banks without also having a current account with them, with no issues...

I can confirm that you don't need an Ulster current account to use their savings account. I don't have one so I use a current account with a different bank for deposits and withdrawals, which are instant.

I can't recall the exact order of events that lead up to me being able to use biometrics to make larger withdrawals but I did make 4 deposits on the day I opened the account and a couple more a week later and I'm fairly sure I was able to register biometrics for withdrawals around that time, because I wouldn't have made the later, larger deposits into the account with such a low, default withdrawal limit.

I see. If I open an account with other banks I always have a current account with them as I find it can prevent a lot of problems. I’m sure I’ve read on here somewhere that some people have had problems with Ulster savings and transfers to non-Ulster accounts?🤔

I only do that when it's a requirement for opening the savings account or if there are added incentives (eg, Chase), otherwise I'd have a LOT of current accounts !

It's rare I've had issues with setting up my main current account as a nominated account - in fact there are obviously times when this is the only option (when the savings account provider doesn't actually offer it's own current account).

UKX69

refluxer said:

UKX69 said:

refluxer said:

HeadScratching said:

Ah now I don't have an Ulster current account. This could then be the core reason for problems with a savings account on its' own. But I also have several savings accounts with other banks without also having a current account with them, with no issues...

I can confirm that you don't need an Ulster current account to use their savings account. I don't have one so I use a current account with a different bank for deposits and withdrawals, which are instant.

I can't recall the exact order of events that lead up to me being able to use biometrics to make larger withdrawals but I did make 4 deposits on the day I opened the account and a couple more a week later and I'm fairly sure I was able to register biometrics for withdrawals around that time, because I wouldn't have made the later, larger deposits into the account with such a low, default withdrawal limit.

I see. If I open an account with other banks I always have a current account with them as I find it can prevent a lot of problems. I’m sure I’ve read on here somewhere that some people have had problems with Ulster savings and transfers to non-Ulster accounts?🤔

I only do that when it's a requirement for opening the savings account or if there are added incentives (eg, Chase), otherwise I'd have a LOT of current accounts !

It's rare I've had issues with setting up my main current account as a nominated account - in fact there are obviously times when this is the only option (when the savings account provider doesn't actually offer it's own current account).

I don’t have a lot of bank accounts anymore. In fact, only one now - NatWest. I find that as I mostly concentrate on building society regular savers, that is all I need; oh, I fib, and my joint account with my wife. 😏