Online Banks - any good?

[Flamesparrow]

I need to open my parachute account before I send off my bank charges letter, and have been considering an online bank like Smile - anyone got any experience with any, any recommendations, or would I be better off with your basic rl bank?

Thanks

DH uses Smile - they were utterly crap at transferring his standing orders, direct debits etc but he is happy with them now. I'm not sure about how you contact them though - I have a funny feeling it may just be through email which may or may not be appropriate?

I bank with First Direct who I think are brilliant. BUT they have just said they will charge for only having a current account, ie you need to have another product with them to get free banking. I suspect that other banks will go the same way.

Hope this helps.

I am with Alliance and Leicter - smoth to cahnge over and had no problems in the past 2 years.

I was just going to add a warning about First Direct - I used to love them but the recent charges have really pissed me off - I will get charged 10 a month because I am on maternity leave. Also, they send marketing material every week - which is disgusting waste of paper - I've asked them to stop but they don't

I plan to move to smile so will watch this thread for any other tips!

DH and I are with Smile - have been for 5 or 6 years. Had no problems at all with them. They're very good at answering their secure message customer support service.

And lovely and ethical

I'd avoid First Direct with an army - well armed and trained to kill.

Oooh oodles of replies! I was assuming I'd have to transfer everying anyway, so the smile issue isn;t a problem. Think I'll leave first direct though

smile's great. Been there about 6 years and no trouble at all.

Although I've given up the credit card...the cashback shrank every year....

smile Do I have to pay £10 a month???

No!

It's the one annoying thing about smile - I nearly mentioned it earlier - every "keeping you informed" email they send out plugs this stupid smilemore account. None of the benefits seem worth having to me!

The basic current account is free. And pays a fairly decent rate of interest.

Thankyou Will open me a smile acount!

Yep. We're currently with First Direct and would previously recommend them to anyone who asked (and some who didn't ). However, their new charging has thoroughly annoyed us and even though we don't qualify for the new charge, we're actively looking to move banks just to send a message to them that they're arses, tbh. And to think they used to advertise themselves as "the most recommended bank" [hmmm]

Smile is looking good. Dh has a savings account with Cahoot so that is also an option for us.

(oops, one too many 'm's ... am not having much luck with emoticons this morning)