Ecology Building Society: Online access update

Stuart_W

The Ecology Building Society have had a rather radical update to their online access and also have a new app.

Once registered on the new system, all savings accounts now have their own sort code and account number (previously a 10 digit account number was quoted as a reference with any bank transfers into their main Co-op Bank account).

Transfers in and out are now much quicker, previously they were processed manually within 1 working day. The app offers notifications for money in/out.

Whilst it remains the case that withdrawals can only be made to your nominated account, a new feature is payments IN to savings accounts using the new sort code and account number must come from your nominated account too - if it is from elsewhere it gets instantly returned.

My membership of Ecology goes back to 1995 and the days of handwritten passbooks. This is quite a leap from the last online system and puts Ecology on a good footing for the future.

It will remain focussed on long term sustainable goals, so won't ever be a destination for rate-tarts, but thought folk might like to know Ecology can now be used for simple savings accounts more easily.

Albermarle

I think many of the smaller savings providers have upped their game in recent times.

I recently made a deposit with Aldermore. You still have to pay into their Barclays account with a reference.

In the past took a day to appear on your account, then more recently 2 or 3 hours ( assuming it was in working hours) . With this latest deposit, I got e mail confirmation it was in my account in 5 minutes !

ircE

One further improvement is that there is no longer a minimum withdrawal of £10. I was able to transfer out £3 via the app. I don't yet know if the minimum has been reduced or removed completely. as been removed.

Bridlington1

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81944955#Comment_81944955

I withdrew 22p from their regular saver the other day so whatever the limit is it's less than £1.

GandalftheCat

I am confused, and now can't access my account information.

Are there others in the same boat?

allegro120

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82061990#Comment_82061990

I received this email on 16th March this year:

Dear Member,  

We're planning to launch our new Online Service and Ecology App on Monday 23 March. As a result, it'll be easier and quicker to view and manage your Ecology accounts. We apologise that during this time there will be a short disruption to our usual service, hopefully this will not be too inconvenient for you – see table below for details.  

You'll need to register to use the new Online Service when it launches on 23 March (even if you use our current Online Service). To help you do this, we’ve included a link to step by step instructions in the table below. 

 

Key dates and what you need to do.

 

When	What's happening and what do I need to do?
Before Thursday 19 March	Log in to your current Online Service and download any messages or documents you want to keep. These will no longer be available after 4pm on 19 March. Annual statements for the last three years will be available on the new Online Service and Ecology App.
Before Thursday 19 March	Members who share an email address will need an email address each to use the new Online Service. Please log into the existing Online Service and add a separate email address for each additional account holder before the new service launches.
Between 4pm Thursday 19 March and the afternoon of Monday 23 March	Our Online Service will be unavailable. You will be unable to withdraw money or view your accounts during this time. If you need to withdraw funds, please make sure you submit your request before 1.30pm on Thursday 19 March to ensure you receive your funds.
Between 12 noon Friday 20 March and the afternoon of Monday 23 March	Our phone lines will be unavailable. If you need to contact us during this time, please email savings@ecology.co.uk or mortgages@ecology.co.uk
From the afternoon of Monday 23 March	You will be able to register for our new Online Service using this link: http://on-line.ecology.co.uk/register Please note, this link will only work after we go live on 23 March. Step-by-step instructions of how to re-register can be downloaded here.
Between 24 and 27 March	We’ll send your new account details to you by post. You’ll also find these when you re-register and log in to your account.
Once you’ve re-registered on the Online Service	Download the Ecology App from the App Store or Google Play.

 Any questions? 

 Please contact us at info@ecology.co.uk or 01535 650770 if you have any questions.  

Thank you for your patience and support as we introduce these important improvements to our service.  

 Thank you  

[Removed by Forum Team]

Chief Member Officer

GandalftheCat

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82062040#Comment_82062040

thanks, Allegro - I am still so lost.

just don't know what to do!

am I really the only one?

c

Kim_13

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82119185#Comment_82119185

Did you have a second account holder and fail to provide a separate email address for them by 19th March? That's the only thing I can see that should still be causing an issue, and if so, I can't imagine it'll be solvable without a phone call.

This is the link to the instructions, the rest don't matter as the deadline for acting on them was in March:

https://track.email.ecology.co.uk/f/a/aUfwSIrRXA4OA-CONj1_ng~~/AAAnTxA~/6jNVTJlpfnZGZYFsKRYZbJFr3vQMIooyQ6ohedJPXKEFRtSRIwis3ms14tM9xx1tpb7uptvoXxl8PV7mweEoCf_dZIIBY99W7dh9EAmRCusfj2ek19MEv1wmijJ05UY9UYGnNTVhmYEk53EHetua4xKfs29NNdDXFjYavtBnQdkLsc4NOLRgdnNCbcWQlLS6MRF5zdvnpzXVjNKF1-V7L7mizqEcACY7iDHqozmEO4sxbZDVKdSPnOynZkWRjOQR