First direct - they treat you like an adult, their staff are intelligent and are actually allowed to do things outside the usual call-centre script.
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Recommend me a decent bank..
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Posted 1 year ago #
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First Direct is part of Natwest, not HSBC, I thought?
I'm a Nationwide customer, and I really can't recommend them any more, as they're moving more and more to a profit-making setup (low interest rates on savings, even compared to the high street; high charges for being overdrawn and now for using the card abroad).Cahoot wasn't bad for me, in a kind of inoffensive, just works kinda way. NatWest, interestingly, hasn't been too terrible in the last year or so. To be honest, my advice with any bank would be to spend as little time as possible in there, talking to them or in any way overlapping with them.
Banks in North America charge you for the privilege of giving them your money, but at least the customer service is decent.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Co-Op. Ethical as well as 100% faultless since we've been with them (+10 years). I've worked for two of the other biggest banks in the UK and wouldn't bank with them if they paid me (which technically, they did).
Posted 1 year ago # -
FD is part of HSBC
I've been with cahoot almost since they started, but gradually falling out with them, mostly due to some strange credit card balance/payment conditions. The products they offer have been gradually reducing as they are subsumed into the Santander alliance.....
Off to look at Smile...
Posted 1 year ago # -
First Direct is definitely part of HSBC.
If you take a second product from them, like a credit card, then there is no monthly charge for the current account.
It's always a person on the end of the phone and they've always answered within 3 rings, even at 5, morning or afternoon. The online banking is excellent too.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Was referring to Cater Allen being an S subsidiary.
I don't want or need another CC but if that gets me free banking.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Some months I don't pay in anything others several thousands. All those banks that want money each month to have an account are off my list too. The money they make on intrest should be enough. I know FD is sepertate to HSBC but after my experience I don't want the HSBC group as a whole to have my business. I straying towards co-op
Posted 1 year ago # -
Quite,seeing as they make shed loads out of utilising our money it does grate that they want to charge a monthly fee.
Especially naughty of First Direct as they have much lower overheads not having a bricks and mortat high street presence/staffing levels.Just applied for A/C plus CC.
Any hints of a monthly charge I'll be quite ticked off and will go elsewhere in a nano second plus report back here and such.
Posted 1 year ago # -
If only we could organise a global Santander exodus.
That would be sweet.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Another very satisfied First Direct customer here, been with them since they set up in the early 90's and have never had any complaints at all. I'd recommend them unreservedly (and I work for one of their competitors!!)
Posted 1 year ago # -
If only we could organise a global Santander exodus.
That would be sweet.
no it bloody wouldn't!! Santander are a bloody big chunk of spanish economy, if they start wobbling (and the spanish aren't in great financial health) then the spanish go to the European Central Bank, cap in hand and the UK along with all the others help them out...
back on topic - I work for the coop financial services so I can't be impartial, but I can assure you that the £1billion of business we said no thanks to because it was arms/fags/other dodgy money was real and not just a publicity stunt. Right now our privilege account is free for a year, just go back to the standard product when you are done
Posted 1 year ago #
Topic Closed
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