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. Customer Services are easy to get through to and have been fantastic.

I have a current account with most of the high street banks.
I don't use them all fully but use them for different reasons. They all, separately make the perfect bank. I don't bank in person, I use the apps and online. I use the post office to pay in cash and the app to pay in cheques.

HSBC - ok bank, super secure online banking. Codes and passwords coming out of my ears. Can pay in cheques on the app. Switched a dormant bank for a switching bonus.

NatWest - I only use to pay in bulk coins as the branch has a coin counter. Switched a dormant bank for a switching bonus.

Nationwide - fairly decent, only use for the packaged bank for travel insurance and breakdown cover.

Halifax - good bank, lots of branches, easy to use app. Can pay in cheques on app. Only use for the reward account, £5pm reward on a £5000 balance.

Santander - good reward account on 123 lite, easy to use app. Can pay in cash at post office. My main current account, had no problems.

I disagree that Starling is a nightmare if you want to bank in person. You can pay in money at any Post Office branch which are much more easily accessible than actual banks. Cheques up to a certain value can be done immediately through the app or over the limit you just pop it in the post. I had a cheque for £2,500 recently and the money was in my account the day after I posted it.

First direct are ok for day to day banking but have completely cocked our remortgage and were useless and rude to deal with.

I've been with Nationwide for 20 years, no complaints from me.

First Direct are excellent, great customer service and so nice.

Starling is also good if you want no frills and occasionally pay for things in another currency.

Check out the moneysavingexpert site for various switching deals!

For a standard current account, we have recently moved to Starling. No branches, but you pay cash in at any post office, bank cheques under £500 by taking a photo. Withdraw cash at most atms. The app is brilliant, and you can also access the account via a computer. Very easy to open the account.

Definitely First Direct. Been with them years, almost since they started.

We once got in to a terrible pickle in Paris when we both had our wallets stolen with all our money and cards. The lady who took our call at FD was incredible. So helpful. She stuck with us until all the stolen cards were stopped and arranged for money to be sent out, checking where the nearest place was to our hotel where we could get it. I will always be grateful for the first rate customer service.

These days I do most things online or through the app but whenever I do need to call them they are unfailingly helpful and friendly

I've also been with First Direct for over 20 years. I would definitely recommend their customer service - particularly as I've had bad service from most of the other banks over the years. Nationwide are ok too. I actually don't really like First Direct's website since the redesign last year, and almost switched then. But they have been consistently good for so long, that I've tried to get used to the website instead.

However, if I were opening a new account now, though it would be Starling. I still might switch to them. I really like what I have read about the founder, Anne Boden. www.theguardian.com/business/2020/nov/08/its-crazy-but-i-set-up-my-own-bank-the-story-behind-starling-anne-boden-ceo-interview

I used to work for HSBC and still know quite a few of the local branch staff, but they we're truly shocking when both my father and my mother in law died. An absolute classic 'computer says no' scenario even When we tried to book appointments for the remaining partners who were both in their late 80s. Absolutely abysmal service ( or lack of).

As one of previous posters, we're now with Handelsbanken and get exceptional service as they are old fashioned 'local bankers'. I can pick up the phone and talk to one of the local branch staff within a few rings. They don't have branches everywhere though and they don't have bank counters as such, but most people these days don't need that anyway.

However based on these replies alone First Direct would be my choice if I wasn't happy with my existing bank.

I'm another one who swears by Nationwide...in the past I've had Lloyds, NatWest and HSBC but closed them all and have two Nationwide accounts. They are very good.

HSBC are very good for business banking. My personal account has been with the Halifax for over 15 years - I moved my account there after a horrendous experience with Nationwide.

I have a NatWest and an HSBC account.
Haven't had any problems with NatWest, a couple of small niggles with HSBC until I had to go abroad for a couple of months (that I told them about in advance) and HSBC decided to lock all my accounts and only let me use them again if I turn up in a branch in person. I could have been left abroad with no access to my own money had I not had another account with a different bank. Customer service was a joke and after 4 months they're still "replying" to my written complaint - they're sending an apologetic email every few weeks claiming that they're taking it very seriously, investigating the problem and will answer as soon as they can. I have since visited a branch, closed all my accounts with them and moved all my money, so yeah, whatever.
Avoid HSBC. If there's a problem they will not fix it, the call center takes ages and it's like talking to a robot.

I have been happy with Nationwide since 1985.

Monzo for me!

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

Though that attitude is going to give you a negative experience, I'm sure. They're just people doing their jobs and as you can seek on this thread, people get good customer service.