Private Banking

[bluesatin]

I am increasingly frustrated with my current service from Natwest and was wondering if private banking could be a solution. Any suggestions/ recomendations?

I have various investments and a trust managed by Duncan Lawrie but wish to transfer this into to one group that can advise me not only on the cash I am accumulating but current and future investents, tax and will.

Edited by bluesatin on Saturday 18th December 07:21

[jdw100]

I've found Barclays Premier and Wealth Management to offer a very good service.

[anonymous-user]

Not cheap, but very good

http://www.hoaresbank.co.uk/

[ringram]

I wonder if Metrobank may offer whats missing without resort to profligacy?
Would be interested to hear from any customers. We are moving our corp account from stsander to metro, but haven't had the time to do all the paperwork yet.

[aclivity]

do you have the normal account from NatWest or the Private Banking service?

I have NatWest private banking, and whilst I haven't actually needed to use any of their extended services (like the concierge service) it's handy to have a private service on the phone to sort stuff out - like when I was getting some letters from some bank saying I owed them money, a call to the private banking service and they resolved it for me.

I don't know how or if this compares with "real" private banking services though, so can't comment on that.

[Beardy10]

I bank with HCBS Private Bank...the banking service is great but I am not sure I would say going with a bank for financial advice is great. They almost always only offer tied products which are normally not the most competitive...having said they they do offer more esoteric investments like structured notes which if they tie in with a view you have can be worth looking at.

[birdcage]

Coutts are good, Concierge service also.

[theaxe]

birdcage said:

Coutts are good, Concierge service also.

I'm surprised to hear that, you're the first person I've heard of with a good word to say about them.

I'm currently with Barclays Premier, after some initial hiccups setting up the accounts I'm pretty happy with them.

[anonymous-user]

I am a little biased, but can I suggest www.adambank.com.

If you would like anymore information, feel free to drop me a PM.

[BluePurpleRed]

I use Cater Allen ( part of Santander ) and they are very good. Some things a little backward by default like faxing stuff in until you fill out some forms and then there is e-banking and the telephone service is excellent.

[revs88]

Had the same search after being tired of the service with Lloyds - opted for Citibank Gold in the end - you get a relationship manager and concierge, travel insurance, etc - all the extras are free if you deposit more than £5,000 per month. So far, so good...

[2 5HAN]

theaxe said:

birdcage said:

Coutts are good, Concierge service also.

I'm surprised to hear that, you're the first person I've heard of with a good word to say about them.

I'm currently with Barclays Premier, after some initial hiccups setting up the accounts I'm pretty happy with them.

Have been with Coutts for over 10 Years now and over 25 Years as a family never had an issue or problem with them.
The concierge service is really good and over the years i have used it for everything from a car breakdown in Southern France, Nightclub entry in New York, last minute accommodation abroad and theatre tickets and concert tickets.
Depending on your spending the World Card has some great benefits too.
As for the banking side of it no issues or problems, helpful and able to research products for you etc and find out about investments for the kids etc.
Personally I think that Private Banking is no different to choosing a nice hotel or fancy restaurant, your perception is all going to depend on your expectations and what you want from the service?
I had dinner with a friend recently who is with Barclays Wealth he was annoyed with the service and his relationship director but when it came down to it he was actually annoyed that they couldn’t offer him the deal he wanted. When we actually got to the nitty gritty it was due to his credit worthiness and other commitments rather than poor service from the bank etc

[nutcase]

birdcage said:

Coutts are good, Concierge service also.

Bit annoyed to receive a letter though recently advising that account charges of 150 quid per quarter, per account (i.e. private reserve/current account etc), will now be charged even if you maintain the minimum balance.

[2 5HAN]

I think these new quaterly charges are dependant on your level of investments with them and your level of activity. I know they always used to have a charge if you didnt keep enough in your current account etc and also a charge for the World Card if you didnt spend £50k plus?

I guess they are trying to recoup as much money as possible like pretty much every institution out there.

[auditt]

With natwest private, Get a nice looking card and thats about it.
My manager only calls me when he sees large amounts of money in my account only for him to tell me trust him with it rather than myself (no thanks)
Never needed the travel insurance yet but handy to have when you forget about and on a trip with the boys
But concierge/car breakdown etc never used it
Personally i think its all a gimmick but maybe im not using the benefits properly i.e. concierge

[hidetheelephants]

auditt said:

With natwest private, Get a nice looking card and thats about it.
My manager only calls me when he sees large amounts of money in my account only for him to tell me trust him with it rather than myself (no thanks)
Never needed the travel insurance yet but handy to have when you forget about and on a trip with the boys
But concierge/car breakdown etc never used it
Personally i think its all a gimmick but maybe im not using the benefits properly i.e. concierge

What kind of things does the offered concierge service do? Is it inclusive, or do you pay extra to use it?

Edited by hidetheelephants on Wednesday 29th December 21:28

[2 5HAN]

hidetheelephants said:

auditt said:

With natwest private, Get a nice looking card and thats about it.
My manager only calls me when he sees large amounts of money in my account only for him to tell me trust him with it rather than myself (no thanks)
Never needed the travel insurance yet but handy to have when you forget about and on a trip with the boys
But concierge/car breakdown etc never used it
Personally i think its all a gimmick but maybe im not using the benefits properly i.e. concierge

What kind of things does the offered concierge service do? Is it inclusive, or do you pay extra to use it?

Edited by hidetheelephants on Wednesday 29th December 21:28

IMO the Concierge service is really whatever you want it to be in all honesty, i have used it a fair bit for different things.

You don’t pay for it with the Coutts World Card, its part of the card benefits, not sure about Natwest Private Banking? I am pretty sure it’s the same though?

Whilst in Dubai few years back my wife suffered a miscarriage, not really knowing what to do being away from home i remembered that we had travel insurance as part of the card benefits. I called them up to ask for help and the insurance team arranged for concierge to call us straight back with all of our insurance details they arranged everything from a car and driver to collect us and take us to the hospital, to flowers in our hotel room when we got back a few days later. They even offered to arrange child care as our 1 yr old son was with us. They faxed all the paperwork to the hotel and paid the hospital and consultants bills etc. We were booked into one of the best hospitals in Dubai having since checked with a friend who lives there apparently there were many other cheaper alternatives, from memory the total bill was just over £6k as she had to have surgery.

I have to say its when things like this happen that you appreciate the benefits of good cover and seeing as its chucked in for free I find it hard to fault.

[auditt]

2 Shan sorry to hear that news but like you say when youre in a country you are not to familiar with its great they organise every little thing- from cars to child care etc!

[huwp]

Not a private bank but have been very impressed with Handelsbanken although they don't do Wealth Management.

Huw

Edited by huwp on Friday 31st December 20:21

[jinkster]

huwp,

Also with Handelsbanken - very impressed.

Any problems you call the branch - you join the branch in your postcode. The only problem I have found is that the internet system is a little backward (signing in!)