Bank account. Would you recommend yours?

[notacooldad]

I a man bank account hunting today as LLoyds , who I have been with for 40odd years, are putting their account fee up again and it's not worth the benefits. At £22 a month it will be £264 a year
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I'm looking at MSE but would like 'real life' opinions.
Currently I split my salary and £1,800 goes into the current account ( the one I want changing). Current benefits are annual travel insurance which is very helpful as I go away, even for a weekend every 6 weeks or so and breakdown recovery. This has been helpful as my car is getting old.
I also have an overdraft facility over £1,000. Over the last 10 years it was needed once by accident when DH paid for something out of the wrong account.

I did think I needed a high street bank but the more I look into it I don't think this is the case.

What accounts do you have that are good value?

Thanks for your help.

We do ok with nationwide. Think it's £13 a month for the benefits

Barclays is around the same

I've been looking at Nationwide and that seems the best bet so far. It has the edge on Barclays for me as all the Barclays in our town and surrounding neighbourhood has closed down.

We used the current account switch service so they change all your dd's and so's for you and redirect wages, etc

We had Clydesdale Bank for years (no longer as expats so not covered for the insurances). Its travel insurance, breakdown cover, mobile phone and gadget insurance and Equifax access for £13.50 a month.
I dont think it's right that your ability to have an overdraft for just in case should be because you pay for an account, that would really annoy me. We had a small od for the just in case (never happened) but you only paid for it if you went into it.

Do you def need a fee-paying account? I have a non-fee Nationwide Flex account.

I paid about £40 for an annual worldwide travel policy last year I think.
I separately pay £30 for breakdown (excellent cover)

So combined I pay almost half than if I got the Flex Plus account at £13/month (the other benefits you get aren't of interest to me). I have an overdraft on there too I think, but don't know APR as I don't use it.

We use Santander 123 - just a fiver per month which we easily get back in cash-backs and also an attractive interest rate on credit balances. We have 3 accounts with them. One each and then a joint account. My wages paid into mine, OH wages paid into his, and then a transfer from a different bank account into the joint ensures we comply with the "minimum monthly pay in" criteria to qualify for the Santander 123 accounts and decent interest rate.

Never had a single problem with them. OH had his wallet stolen on holiday abroad containing the 3 debit cards and 1 credit card from Santander - he was dreading phoning them to report it but it was remarkably quick and simple - they reassurred him that the cards hadn't been used and had been cancelled and that if anything was in the pipeline, he wouldn't be liable - and new cards were on the doormat when we got home just 3 days later.

He had other cards stolen from Halifax and M&S Bank who were awful to deal with - pain to go through security - kept wanting to know his signature panel number from the stolen cards - ERR - they've been stolen! Then wanted to know the last time he'd bought anything with them - he was vague as he couldn't remember which card used for each purchase, so kept "failing" that check too. They were vague about whether the cards had been used, seemed unsure whether he'd be liable etc - very unhelpful overall. Not only that, but one of them wouldn't re-order new card until we phone them when we got back home, so he had to go through it all again and it took another week for the replacement card. He's been really put off Halifax and M&S because of that and rarely uses his accounts with them anymore.

@kazzyhoward have you seen the recent announcement to all the 123 changes? www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2020/01/santander-to-slash-savings-rates-and-shake-up-overdrafts---what-/

It might not make any difference if you are otherwise happy, but just flagging!