Best current accounts?

[ShortShift811]

Per the title, I'm looking to switch my main current account. Currently with HBOS whose online provision is great and easy to use, but I've found any other service from them pretty dire. Do any informed PHers know what the best options are at the moment?

Requirements:

- Good online banking service / phone app
- Easy switching process; hopefully someone can give personal experience re this one
- Small overdraft facility, just in case (preferably interest / charge free)

I'm yet to attain my PH PBCDWG status so the higher echelons of premier / private banking don't apply. I've looked at the 'upgraded' accounts from Barclays and NatWest, but not really fussed about the benefits these offer as I get free phone & travel insurance through work.

Also ruled out HSBC (even though our mortgage and joint account is with them) due to the fiddly keycard thing, which I don't want to lug around on my keys.

Best so far looks like it might be FirstDirect, as I'd also like to open a standard savings account alongside my ISA, and their Regular Savings option (mentioned in another recent thread) seems to do the trick.

Keen to hear other opinions, alternatives and experiences though, cheers!

[supersport]

First Direct are great and the online stuff is fine.

I like Halifax as the online is great but more importantly you get a fiver just for putting money in (£1000 per month) :-) Some of the service is shocking. You can open many accounts and get a fiver from each.

[jet_noise]

Dear ss,

another vote for First Direct (FD).
I was with them for years until they stopped interest on the current account.
Went to Santander. Mistake.

Back with FD now.
Their savings accounts are poor apart from that regular saver but even that is only for a year at the headline rate.
These days with so much online access having savings with other organisations is not that much of a pain,

regards,
Jet

[paulrockliffe]

I moved all my banking over to Handelsbanken, they''re a breath of fresh air compared with the usual banks.

[JQ]

Another vote for First Direct. We also have our mortgage with them so effectively earn a very healthy rate of interest on our savings, by offsetting it.

[LotusMartin]

Another FirstDirect recommendation here. We have about 9 or 10 accounts with them between us and they are almost faultless. Their 'fraud detection' can be a bit trigger happy sometimes, but I'd rather that than the opposite.

Customer support/phone assistance is outstanding.

[Art0ir]

LotusMartin said:

Another FirstDirect recommendation here. We have about 9 or 10 accounts with them between us and they are almost faultless. Their 'fraud detection' can be a bit trigger happy sometimes, but I'd rather that than the opposite.

Customer support/phone assistance is outstanding.

They seem to be coming out top on every Satisfaction survey for some time now.

[Ayahuasca]

Vector

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FNftTb6EOA

Edited by Ayahuasca on Friday 7th December 19:05

[e8_pack]

I'm also with fd and work overseas so they constantly stop my card which is a pain, plus there savings accounts are dire other than the regular saver.

I'm also with nationwide, they're pretty good all told, have some of the best savings rates too. I've opened a save to buy mortgage account just to get the 2.5% interest.

[Sir Bagalot]

First Direct.

Close thread.

[PH lurker]

supersport said:

First Direct are great and the online stuff is fine.

I like Halifax as the online is great but more importantly you get a fiver just for putting money in (£1000 per month) :-) Some of the service is shocking. You can open many accounts and get a fiver from each.

Forgive my ignorance and tired ramblings; but what if say, every month you had a standing order of £650 coming in , could you just take out £450 cash at the end of each month and pay it in over the counter the next month, meaning that every month £1100 was going in, thus earning £5?