Recomend me a Bank

[Lost soul]

So having recntly moved back to the UK i need to sort out a bank , all i need here is a normal current account with a debit - credit card

So which bank is least bad out of the bunch ?



Thanks in advance

[okgo]

I like Natwest.

Open on Saturday, decent customer service line, do various other things that could help you out, Advantage accounts etc.

[n1ckt001]

HSBC have never done anything to upset me...

[limpsfield]

first direct is always the popular answer on these threads.

I have been with them for nearly 20 years. faultless

[al1991]

okgo said:

I like Natwest.

Open on Saturday, decent customer service line, do various other things that could help you out, Advantage accounts etc.

+1

Good online banking system too.

I guess a lot depends on your local branch. My local Natwest has always had the same manager etc all very helpful.

[ringram]

Avoid at all costs any santander crap such as Abbey, Alliance and Leicester etc they are the worst bank in the world.
And in fact top the Ombudsmans list of worst banks. Utterly utterly pointelss, painfull and useless.

[Mr Will]

limpsfield said:

first direct is always the popular answer on these threads.

I have been with them for nearly 20 years. faultless

+1

They will also pay you £100 to switch to them at the moment...

[Timmy35]

Nationwide. All of the things you mention in your requirements. Except that not being a bank means that you are treated like a human being rather than a cash cow.

[Scuff_]

ringram said:

Avoid at all costs any santander crap such as Abbey, Alliance and Leicester etc they are the worst bank in the world.
And in fact top the Ombudsmans list of worst banks. Utterly utterly pointelss, painfull and useless.

What experience do you have with them? I have my main account with them but all I have is wages paid in, cash taken out so no big deal (with A&L) however when i've asked about closing old savings accounts and setting up direct debits, they can't do it in store and direct me to the phone support, Even changing adress when I moved.

cheers,

[t84]

Lloyds TSB have been good for the past 17 years, in my experience...

[Timmy35]

t84 said:

Lloyds TSB have been good for the past 17 years, in my experience...

Unless you bought the shares of course.

[Tumbler]

The other upside to Nationwide is no charges when using their cards in Europe, plus I have always found their rate on drawing Euros from the ATM better than HSBC.

[BrabusMog]

The downside to Nationwide is chronic under-staffing in branch. If I ever have to go in I budget 20minutes from entering the branch to leaving. At any branch I have ever used unless I am going in at some random time i.e 15.45 on a Thursday when they seem to be empty.

But if that doesn't bother you they are a great building society to have a current account with.

[Lost soul]

BrabusMog said:

The downside to Nationwide is chronic under-staffing in branch. If I ever have to go in I budget 20minutes from entering the branch to leaving. At any branch I have ever used unless I am going in at some random time i.e 15.45 on a Thursday when they seem to be empty.

But if that doesn't bother you they are a great building society to have a current account with.

I amhoping not to have to visit them to do anythin , have virtually never had to go into a bank in the last 10 years

[Timmy35]

Lost soul said:

BrabusMog said:

The downside to Nationwide is chronic under-staffing in branch. If I ever have to go in I budget 20minutes from entering the branch to leaving. At any branch I have ever used unless I am going in at some random time i.e 15.45 on a Thursday when they seem to be empty.

But if that doesn't bother you they are a great building society to have a current account with.

I amhoping not to have to visit them to do anythin , have virtually never had to go into a bank in the last 10 years

Me neither, I just use the online banking service or call them, both of which I find to be excellent.

[ringram]

Scuff_ said:

ringram said:

Avoid at all costs any santander crap such as Abbey, Alliance and Leicester etc they are the worst bank in the world.
And in fact top the Ombudsmans list of worst banks. Utterly utterly pointelss, painfull and useless.

What experience do you have with them? I have my main account with them but all I have is wages paid in, cash taken out so no big deal (with A&L) however when i've asked about closing old savings accounts and setting up direct debits, they can't do it in store and direct me to the phone support, Even changing adress when I moved.

cheers,

Sadly too much. I have 3 accounts with them. Never learnt!

[Beardy10]

I banked with Barclays for over fifteen years....they got progressively worse and worse. Utterly painful to deal with. Moved to HSBC about five years ago, they've been excellent. Don't have any complaints about their counter service though I think like most banks they seem to be trying to install as many machines as possible to replace staff for basic things like paying in.

[custardkid]

Lost soul said:

BrabusMog said:

The downside to Nationwide is chronic under-staffing in branch. If I ever have to go in I budget 20minutes from entering the branch to leaving. At any branch I have ever used unless I am going in at some random time i.e 15.45 on a Thursday when they seem to be empty.

But if that doesn't bother you they are a great building society to have a current account with.

I amhoping not to have to visit them to do anythin , have virtually never had to go into a bank in the last 10 years

they dont have many branches ether, so its difficult to find one that is conventient with out making a special trip

[custardkid]

Beardy10 said:

I banked with Barclays for over fifteen years....they got progressively worse and worse. Utterly painful to deal with. Moved to HSBC about five years ago, they've been excellent. Don't have any complaints about their counter service though I think like most banks they seem to be trying to install as many machines as possible to replace staff for basic things like paying in.

thats mostly a HSBC thing.
if you want to actually see a Bank Manager try lloyds... you get lucky

[mickymellon1]

First Direct and I echo the views of Abbey / Santander - had to get the financial ombudsman on the incompetent s