'Best' Current account
Discussion
My accountant has instructed me to get another account to separate some business payments from my personal stuff. I have a First Direct account, and have done for many years. It's great, and I like it a lot.
Can you recommend something from another provider that can provide a simple hassle free service, with no monthly charge. (HSBC is not a likely one, as I already have a business account with them, and it could all get a bit confusing)
Local town has the following branches, which would be quite handy.
Barclays,
Nationwide,
Santander,
HSBC,
Halifax,
Can you recommend something from another provider that can provide a simple hassle free service, with no monthly charge. (HSBC is not a likely one, as I already have a business account with them, and it could all get a bit confusing)
Local town has the following branches, which would be quite handy.
Barclays,
Nationwide,
Santander,
HSBC,
Halifax,
Nationwide. They are more highstreet-friendly and commercially less aggressive than the listed banks.
This is a great read.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/compare-...
This is a great read.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/compare-...
Yipper said:
Nationwide. They are more highstreet-friendly and commercially less aggressive than the listed banks.
This is a great read.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/compare-...
But all those poetry adverts....This is a great read.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/compare-...
I have a Santander 123 for the interest payment (not what it was) & we get back a small amount of the mortgage payment, they seem pretty decent - customer service has got its act together, we qualify for the select service which is free & gets you a dedicated UK call centre, I've always found them helpful & efficient, sorted some computer says no issues with minimal fuss after a call.
I also have a nationwide flex plus account, cheap phone, travel & breakdown cover, put £2500 in it & the interest covers about 60% of the £10/month charge, never actually spoken to them, their app is nice though.
I also have a nationwide flex plus account, cheap phone, travel & breakdown cover, put £2500 in it & the interest covers about 60% of the £10/month charge, never actually spoken to them, their app is nice though.
First Direct: I binned this account, atrocious savings rates and although the phone is always answered quickly by someone in the UK, all they did was put you through to another dept where you went on hold, the phone answerer couldn’t resolve anything.
Santander: Good app, though a bit slow. They use an One Time Passcode to setup payments, so it’s quite easy, though can be unreliable if they don’t come through, it’s been better this last 12 months, you can setup payments with the app. I haven’t seen any difference in service since becoming a select customer. Credit card has a fee. They also like to stop payments frequently and don’t tell you, until it doesn’t turn up. Last one was my mums xmas present.
Nationwide: You need to remember a 6 digit PIN to login, so to start with you’ll need to write it down until you remember it. Setting up payments is a chore as they use the calculator thing that I don’t like, I don’t make any payments with these anymore, you can’t setup payments on the app. Direct account will give you 5% interest for a year, the plus account pays 3% (both on 2.5k) but they will charge you, though the insurance products are pretty good. Best savings accounts in my view. Good email facility, you can air a view and they will get back to you and you can reply back, it really helps to resolve issues in writing. Good for getting money out abroad too.
TSB: Hardly any branches, I just use these for the account interest and saver, though they have reduced significantly. Payment and login is easy and is the same as BoS and Lloyds.
Lloyds: 2% upto 5k, some decent savings rates, though they are strict with the timing. Easy to make payments and the one I use the most. They also have a decent credit card without fees. If you have issues they are hard to solve as they don’t dialogue through email. You can raise a complaint, but they will answer it and that is that. A phonecall will result in you being on hold forever trying to speak with the right people. They ask the most ridiculous security questions too – “how much was the last thing you paid for on your card” or “how much is your direct debit for your internet” etc. I'm sure you have to punch in your account number/card number when you call, then DoB, etc. Then as soon as they answer, they verify you again, then put you through and more questions. Its massively frustrating.
Bank of Scotland. Not many branches in the UK. Easy to setup payments. I’ve not had an issue with this account yet. Probably the same as Lloyds with the complaint process.
Santander: Good app, though a bit slow. They use an One Time Passcode to setup payments, so it’s quite easy, though can be unreliable if they don’t come through, it’s been better this last 12 months, you can setup payments with the app. I haven’t seen any difference in service since becoming a select customer. Credit card has a fee. They also like to stop payments frequently and don’t tell you, until it doesn’t turn up. Last one was my mums xmas present.
Nationwide: You need to remember a 6 digit PIN to login, so to start with you’ll need to write it down until you remember it. Setting up payments is a chore as they use the calculator thing that I don’t like, I don’t make any payments with these anymore, you can’t setup payments on the app. Direct account will give you 5% interest for a year, the plus account pays 3% (both on 2.5k) but they will charge you, though the insurance products are pretty good. Best savings accounts in my view. Good email facility, you can air a view and they will get back to you and you can reply back, it really helps to resolve issues in writing. Good for getting money out abroad too.
TSB: Hardly any branches, I just use these for the account interest and saver, though they have reduced significantly. Payment and login is easy and is the same as BoS and Lloyds.
Lloyds: 2% upto 5k, some decent savings rates, though they are strict with the timing. Easy to make payments and the one I use the most. They also have a decent credit card without fees. If you have issues they are hard to solve as they don’t dialogue through email. You can raise a complaint, but they will answer it and that is that. A phonecall will result in you being on hold forever trying to speak with the right people. They ask the most ridiculous security questions too – “how much was the last thing you paid for on your card” or “how much is your direct debit for your internet” etc. I'm sure you have to punch in your account number/card number when you call, then DoB, etc. Then as soon as they answer, they verify you again, then put you through and more questions. Its massively frustrating.
Bank of Scotland. Not many branches in the UK. Easy to setup payments. I’ve not had an issue with this account yet. Probably the same as Lloyds with the complaint process.
Edited by jimPH on Wednesday 11th October 15:19
Nationwide flex plus is good. I have used the phone insurance twice. They basically send you a refurbished phone for your broken phone
I've heard good things about the Halifax current account. Something about boiler cover which seems good for £17 a month. You also get other insurance
Too lazy/busy to switch though
I've heard good things about the Halifax current account. Something about boiler cover which seems good for £17 a month. You also get other insurance
Too lazy/busy to switch though
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