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

[ChesapeakeEmbarrassed]

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. :(

First direct
Really easy to call 24/7

Remembered ringing them after midnight as I knew that last round made me overdrawn!

Free £250 overdraft. Great customer service. Always friendly, never feel like a bother. Master class in good customer service.

Nationwide I like as my mortgage with them but dislike their difficult phone security and minimal things can do

Nationwide are great.

Starling are excellent. Use them for current and business banking.

@DentalWorries

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

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

Yeah I also moved to starling for this reason. I have been with Halifax, Lloyds, tsb and Santander and Clydesdale over the years. They are so easy to deal with. Live chat always working and it's always English speaking if you require to talk over phone.

It's so modern and much easier.

Another vote for natwest. Best banking app on the market, and great customer service (based in Scotland).

Smile.
It's part of the coop and all online and they are brilliant.

I generally find that for every institution that someone says is great, fantastic, amazing, someone else says awful, dreadful, hopeless.

Over the years I've noticed First Direct tends to get consistently good reviews. AFAIK they are owned by HSBC.

The (not exclusively) younger generation seem to like Monzo and Starling.

If you want something that is bricks and mortar, on your high street and has real actual people to speak to in person then go and see what is available. Bear in mind branches are closing. In my area we have lost 3 HSBC, 3 NatWest, 2 Barclays, 1 Santander, 1 Lloyds and quite a few post offices that I can think of. I think the building societies have also been forced to reduce their high street presence.

This is very interesting because my current bank that I hate has been recommended here! It's partly why I didn't identify it so as not to skew the pitch in case it was bad but not AS bad as others.

Starling which a few have mentioned I've never heard of. Is it new? A rebrand?

I do prefer to visit a branch and pay in in person but I'm reluctant to choose on the basis of what is near me as they seem to be closing at a rate of knots.

My existing bank literally closed the closest one, then the next closest one, then the two next closest so its either pay in at the post office or go on a +++ mins drive.

Triodos. Helpful, efficient, super ethical. Very highly recommended.

I have a Monzo account for most things, and just opened a Chase account for spending (1% cashback on purchases for a year, 5% on round-ups).

First direct - been with them for decades. Have helped me and been reasonable and speedy. They have sorted out my mistakes with charm and flexibility and rates have ok.

First Direct. Been with them since they opened and never had a problem.

I use Starling.

I've also been with Smile since they started back in about 1999 and have been happy with them except that they won't let you choose your own contactless limit (Starling will).

Neither will Nationwide. I also have an account with them. They have over the top security on their online banking, making it very difficult to set up new payments eg to pay the window cleaner or the plumber. But they do have quite a few branches.

Starling is a new(ish) online/mobile only bank. Like Monzo, if you have heard of them.

First Direct have always had good reviews but have dropped the ball a bit this year - I've read a few times about them not having enough staff to answer the phones.

@FinallyFluid

First Direct

I second that! They are brilliant.

@Flev

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.

I would second the vote for Nationwide, when I made a mess of depositing a large amount by giving a wrong account number they were very quick to solve it for me.

Another vote for First Direct - fantastic service and nice, helpful people - I have been with them since 1990s - previously Nat West, Lloyds (both dreadful). I’ve recommended them to lots of people over the years and everyone has had a positive experience. Recently noticed their telephone wait times are much longer but their app is very good.

I've got Monzo and Barclays. Have to say they are both great. Barclays have had bad press over the years but I've never had a single issue in over 30 years.

I'd never use First Direct. Years ago, I was a single parent unable to work for a while for to severe domestic violence injuries. I told FD about my situation and they piled bank charge upon bank charge until I was able to work again. They cost me a fortune and added to my distress and poverty and I'll not forgive them for that

Barclays on the other hand couldn't have been more understanding. My local branch manager ensured I got the mortgage I needed despite my credit rating being shot due to XH's behaviour. I'll always be grateful for that kindness

You're with HSBC, aren't you OP? They truly are shit, and every day in every way they strive to be shitter and shitter.

Nationwide I have found to be pretty good.

First direct are fab. Been with them about ten years. No issues ever.

I am a finance professional and personally bank or regularly use the following institutions (ranked in order of preference):

First Direct (no problems)
Starling (great for personal, would NOT recommend for business - still got some teething problems there i think)
HSBC (all round ok, probably evil tho)
Santander (decent rewards if you qualify, shit service)
Lloyds (archaic but not as bad as...)
NatWest (neolithic)
Barclays (unhelpful to the point it seems deliberately obstructive)
Co-op (online portal is pants, service is SLOW)
MetroBank (the pits)

So - First Direct - but more "no complaints" than a hearty recommendation

I am with Starling (main bank) and Smile ( part of the co-op, aka ethical banking
Smile is spot on, but Starling is SUPERB! Cannot recommend it highly enough.

I'd recommend First Direct except you talk about visiting branches. I never need to and the customer service from FD is really good when I've needed to use it. I've been with Lloyd's for donkey's years but not used it as my main account until recently. The app is easy to use and its been fine but I've not had a problem to sort to see what their customer service is like.

Santander are good. Always get UK call centre and also have high street branches. Open on Saturday too.

First Direct for all the reasons already mentioned