Looking for a new bank

[notcool]

Hi

Basically I'm sick of HSBC and the constant changes they make to their website, which now seem to have even managed to stop Paypal working altogether if you want to add funds, not that I even like Paypal, but they do strange things like that. Just to send funds online you have to jump through a silly amount of hoops even after logging in, it's crazy. Then there's the silly political ads they're doing now.

So, any suggestions I was thinking Barclays there's branches nearby and the website looks clean to use. Also looked at Natwest but am open to any if you have recommendations. Cheers.

 

[Dicehunter]

I'm with Barclays and they are pretty decent, Just got a basic account but no fees or anything, Can shop online, check my balance etc...

 

[Greenback]

I'm with Natwest and find the staff in my local branch helpful, there online banking is simple, they send a card reader free which means you can setup standing orders make payments stop DD, do what you want. only recently got their phone APP so still new to how that works but confident it will do much the same.

 

[RobM]

Lloyds here, never an issue

 

[AlienALX]

Yeah two Lloyds accounts here.

 

[Damien c]

I use ThinkMoney for my main bank account.


There is a monthly fee, but you sort of get 2 accounts with them.


1 is your card account and the other is a "Bills" account.


Your wages get paid in and if your monthly bills total £300 for example they take £300 from your wages and put it in the Bills account, then rest is put on the card account and you can spend that on anything you want, knowing your bills will be paid.


No bank charges for unpaid Direct Debits and calling them can be a pain at times as well as the internet banking can be abit of a pain at times, but I like the account because I know when my wages get paid in each month, my bills are guarenteed to be paid each month.

 

[Warchild]

Do not even consider Natwest if you think about living abroad. I am still locked out of my british account that has £5000 within.

I cannot access that unless I fly to the local branch and have them unlock my account. A branch which has since shut down.

I need a card reader to unlock the account. Fine!. But I need them to send me a card reader. However, my address is old and to update the address I need a card reader. What kind of backwards logic is that...

They have ZERO protocols for people in my circumstance. And also refuse to accept a letter from me with my signature, because they dont have my signature on record.

 

[g0ggles1994]

Barclays user here. Never had an issue, respected my request for no overdraft, and whatnot.
Only issue I have with them is that they don't allow you to use G Pay on Android and it is a hell of a farce to do it on their app. Luckily I have Monzo for that as well; they're great as well but I don't like how it's all tied to your phone, you can barely manage anything online

 

[notcool]

Thanks for the suggestions and input guys.

Barclays user here. Never had an issue, respected my request for no overdraft, and whatnot.
Only issue I have with them is that they don't allow you to use G Pay on Android and it is a hell of a farce to do it on their app. Luckily I have Monzo for that as well; they're great as well but I don't like how it's all tied to your phone, you can barely manage anything online

Well I was hoping to do it mostly online rather than use an app on a phone so that could be a problem for me.

 

[AlienALX]

It's actually pretty hard to get a bank account. I remember when I opened mine. I had a new job starting in 3 weeks but not yet, but needed a bank account to get paid. It kinda went in circles until my cousin who was a bank manager told me to come into Lloyds and she sorted it.

Natwest flat out refused.

You'll still need to visit a branch with all of your ID and to finish the application too. I had to do all of this last year to create another account so I could separate my bills and me money.

 

[Warchild]

It's actually pretty hard to get a bank account. I remember when I opened mine. I had a new job starting in 3 weeks but not yet, but needed a bank account to get paid. It kinda went in circles until my cousin who was a bank manager told me to come into Lloyds and she sorted it.

Natwest flat out refused.

You'll still need to visit a branch with all of your ID and to finish the application too. I had to do all of this last year to create another account so I could separate my bills and me money.

Yeah now imagine the same for me, except I live in Norway.

 

[Greenback]

I took in a passport, just because it was 2 years out of date banks wouldn't accept it as proof of identity

 

[AlienALX]

Yeah now imagine the same for me, except I live in Norway.

For 5k I would soon be on a plane

 

[Warchild]

For 5k I would soon be on a plane

It will be there gaining interest if I ever move back home. I don't need the money. But its the principle of Natwest's incompetance I was unhappy with.

 

[grec]

I've no experience with any other non-business-only banks but fwiw I've always found Santanders online system to be able to do everything I've ever needed, their online system is simple enough and snappy, while its been stable layout wise for many years, and the app can do everything with only a fingerprint login required, while I've never had any issues or surprise fees when accessing money or using my card while in Malta(Or any issues using with PayPal which I do quite a lot).

 

[notcool]

To the people using Barclays can you send money online easily (without the app) can you add money to Paypal, etc. Reason I ask is because my phone is old and isn't compatible with their app. I would be using it online solely for now. Cheers.

 

[AlienALX]

It will be there gaining interest if I ever move back home. I don't need the money. But its the principle of Natwest's incompetance I was unhappy with.

They used to be terrible in the 80s and 90s. So therefore I would imagine they still are. They were the subject of many Viz jokes back then.

 

[Damien c]

Natwest are a joke, they are a bank I will never ever use again.


Wages didn't get paid in, and I thought I had enough to cover all the Direct Debits that were due to go out.


1 Direct Debit didn't get paid, and it led to £500 in charges on the account and when I went to the branch to speak to someone about it, the manager called the police saying I was "Threatening" staff.


I have said before cannot remember where but I knew the manager, the scrawny little runt and I would have loved nothing more than to put his teeth down the back of his throat, but I knew I couldn't say or do anything as it wouldn't get me anywhere.


Eventually I managed to speak to someone about the charges and they said there was nothing they could do.


It got resolved in the end but I said I would never use them again, and all the family members who I speak to who used them, moved to other providers including my Uncle who is not exactly poor and who currently has about 5 houses and other stuff including a private plane.

 

[notcool]

Just thought I would update after using NatWest for a few months since I went with them and I have to say I am very impressed. Their site whilst basic looking does the job well and has everything you need. They did a small redesign just recently too which improved it. They even give you a license key for Malwarebytes premium. Staff in their branch are good too.

I was originally going to go with Barclays but they refused to open me an account as they said I wasn't a key worker, this was back in March. What a joke of a bank. So I went elsewhere and thankfully NatWest aren't as pathetic.