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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask whether anyone likes/would recommend a bank or building society?

90 replies

ChesapeakeEmbarrassed · 28/10/2021 14:11

I know this is probably a stupid idea as I think everyone hates their bank but I want to open a new bank account. I'm currently with a main stream high street bank that have closed all of their branches and I hate them so am in the market for a change.

I want to have a current account preferably with an ok-ish interest rate on a positive balance (compared to others as I realise this is not bonanza interest rate time) and one where you can actually speak to a person in the UK if you phone them not a far east call centre and one where they are not rude or difficult.

Does this bank or buildings society exist?

Is anyone happy with their bank? Or if you have changed banks/bs and have experience of more than one, which do you prefer and why?

Grateful for any help or thoughts.

Maybe they are all as bad as each other. :(

OP posts:
cadburyegg · 28/10/2021 14:16

I don't know about interest rates but I've been with Lloyds for years, would recommend. They tick all your other boxes.

Definitely wouldn't recommend HSBC, I have a credit card with them due to a good deal on a balance transfer and their internet/online banking is ridiculous

User27569 · 28/10/2021 14:17

I personally like Lloyds and haven't had a problem with them. Decent call handling, easy to sort a mortgage, good in branch...

I used to be with Santander and hated them. They had to talk to me in bank speak and I used to just get cross with their inability to be human at any point.

FinallyFluid · 28/10/2021 14:18

First Direct

TheCanyon · 28/10/2021 14:19

Nationwide are brilliant.

BamboozledandBefuddled · 28/10/2021 14:21

We've been with Santander for 5 or 6 years and have had no complaints. Customer service usually means queueing for 5 minutes or so to get through but they're very efficient. We've also opened accounts with Starling in the last couple of months - no issues at all but haven't needed to contact them for anything.

I'd never go to Lloyds or NatWest again for anything!

Knackeredmommy · 28/10/2021 14:25

Nationwide

Ragruggers · 28/10/2021 14:26

Nationwide,excellent service easy to speak to only drawback very few offices so online only.Cheques can be posted to them if you receive one.We have the financial package for investments.

PanicBuyingSprouts · 28/10/2021 14:29

I've moved away from Santander, it's a long story about essentially they really messed up, said they'd sort it out and then did it again.

I'm with Starling now but have moved my savings away from my current account.

CruelAndUnusualParenting · 28/10/2021 14:32

I've been with First Direct since they were a telephone only service, but I I rarely have to call them these days. The call centres were always UK only and I don't think that's changed. They were always great to talk to. They were minimally scripted and seemed to have plenty of time to be civil and deal with things properly.

Suspiciousmind20 · 28/10/2021 14:37

Co-op

Not sure they tick all your boxes but they are more ethical than the other banks.

CovidPassQuestion · 28/10/2021 14:37

@cadburyegg

I don't know about interest rates but I've been with Lloyds for years, would recommend. They tick all your other boxes.

Definitely wouldn't recommend HSBC, I have a credit card with them due to a good deal on a balance transfer and their internet/online banking is ridiculous

Ridiculous how? Do you mean the service is flaky and often down, or the app is crap and not easy to use? I was going to open an account for DD at HSBC... but maybe not?
ArsenicNLace · 28/10/2021 14:40

@CruelAndUnusualParenting

I've been with First Direct since they were a telephone only service, but I I rarely have to call them these days. The call centres were always UK only and I don't think that's changed. They were always great to talk to. They were minimally scripted and seemed to have plenty of time to be civil and deal with things properly.
This. Excellent service. Been with them since 1997. Always sorted out any problems even when it's me who caused them! Never had any problems getting through and UK call centre.
wasthataburp · 28/10/2021 14:40

Starling is a the best bank I've used by far. Customer service is very good

StColumbofNavron · 28/10/2021 14:44

We bank with HSBC and find them fine. Their call centres are not UK I don’t think but I have found the staff always very helpful.

That said when we were trying to open kids accounts they were a massive ball ache and Halifax got our custom because they just bent over backwards to help.

Oldenoughtobedead · 28/10/2021 15:19

I've been with First Direct with years (along with all the other banks at various points to get the best deals on savings). I love First Direct. I'm neutral about Nationwide and passionately hate Lloyds and Santander.

First Direct employ humans who are really helpful. I was talking to them once about transferring some money and mentioned I needed to leave a couple of hundred pounds in my account to pay my car tax and wasn't sure exactly how much it would be. They googled it whilst I was on the phone and gave me the answer which I thought was great customer service.

Santander and Lloyds both repeatedly cocked up transfers, required answers to questions that I didn't know to get through security (e.g. when did you open your account - I've no idea some time in the last couple of years) and it was difficult to get hold of a person in the right department to help.

Clevs · 28/10/2021 15:34

I'm very happy with NatWest.

derekthe1adyhamster · 28/10/2021 15:38

First direct have always given me great service. I mainly use their app now, but when I lost my phone they were amazing at reassuring me that the old app wouldn't work, and deactivating it and helping me reactivating it on my new one.
I've been with them for nearly 30 years

Oneborneverydecade · 28/10/2021 15:42

We use Starling and Monzo. They both provide in app services that I haven't seen from other more traditional banks.
We moved away from the Halifax after their fraud team refused me access to my online banking. The only way to resolve it was to visit a branch and spend 45 mins on hold to the fraud team before explaining myself to another call handler. I'd been a customer for over 25 years but moved away that week

dementedpixie · 28/10/2021 15:45

We're with Nationwide and haven't had any issues. Kids are with Santander as they had better interest rates

PlasticOrchid · 28/10/2021 15:47

I would highly recommend Handelsbanken. They have local branches but are not on the high street - ours is on a business park.

We were told about them by our builder when we were looking for a loan to extend our house. Our bank at the time - Nationwide - put the details into a computer and said they would lend us a minuscule amount based on the average price of a 3 bed semi detached in Yorkshire. Yorkshire is a big place and our town is a desirable/expensive one.

At Handelsbanken we have our own advisor, who knows us and lives in the town. He knows that our house will always sell because of its proximity to good schools. He lent us the money we needed (in 2016) and we speak to him whenever we need to.

The app is good and you can use NatWest counter service to pay in cheques etc. They are quite conservative with regards to safety, fraud etc so they don't support Apple Pay/ Samsung Pay.

It's proper old fashioned banking with real people.

DentalWorries · 28/10/2021 15:49

We had all of our accounts with Lloyds for years. I couldn’t fault them until the pandemic when they couldn’t do anything I needed without me going into a branch but they wouldn’t let me into a branch as I wasn’t vulnerable Hmm

So I moved all of our personal and business accounts to Starling and it is honestly a dream. I couldnt be more impressed with them

Flev · 28/10/2021 15:50

I'd also recommend Nationwide - I changed to the a few years ago and when I have needed to speak to someone in branch or on the phone they've been easy to get hold of, helpful and efficient.

On the other hand, HSBC (who I was previously with for 20-ish years) had rapidly declining service, and trying to go into the branch to do anything (pre-covid) was an exercise in frustration as they made you wait forever before explaining they couldn't help.

ArtfulScreamer · 28/10/2021 15:51

I switch accounts regularly to get the switch incentives and truth be told current account wise they are all much of a muchness. I'd look on Martin Lewis and sign up to the one with the Switch incentive that most appeals. I'm just waiting on £130 from Santander.

ShinyMe · 28/10/2021 15:56

I've been with the Coop for maybe 30 years now and I've found them very good.

I've had a mortgage with the Nottingham as well, 20+ years , and they've been really good.

Most people hate their banks? Really? Is that a thing?

AnnieSnap · 28/10/2021 15:59

My mortgage has been with the Skipton Building Society for about 25 years. They allow you to port them to another property and I have such a good deal on part of it (have borrowed more at a different rate since) it was a no brainier. I have some savings with them too. They are one of very few old mutuals.

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