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Not the most exciting thread in the world but I think it's time to change my bank account. I currently have a Halifax account which gives me mobile phone insurance, breakdown cover and travel insurance. However the fee for the account keeps creeping up and is now £17 a month which irks me. Anyone spotted any decent deals on current accounts recently?
Yeah First Direct it's free.
HSBC are giving £175 for a switch, according to https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/compare-best-bank-accounts/
Our Lloyds one is also free, well they charge us then refund it. Need to pay in a certain amount each month etc.
Starling?
Monzo?
Failing that, check out Monetsavingexpert for all the latest Banking deals..
Do you actually use the bundled insurance etc? Have you checked what it actually covers? Some of them have a lot of exclusions.
Nationwide's bundled account is £13 a month. Plus £100 bonus if you get referred by a friend.
Halifax charge a fee? I've never noticed that on ours.
Failing that, check out Monetsavingexpert for all the latest tips on restoration of French impressionist paintings
FTFY
Monetsavingexpert
Artistic licence?
I'm in the exact same boat OP, RBS account used to have a cracking amount of discounts/benefits, it's pretty shite now. Once mortgage is paid off, I'll be ditching them.
I've got First Direct and can't change because have an offset mortgage. The online banking site is rubbish - e.g. can only download transactions month-by-month and with quite a few clicks per download; security involves typing codes into phone and website rather than having an 'approve?' notification pop up on the phone. The mobile app is ok now it finally accepts fingerprint login. But e.g. it disallows screen shots which makes sendng a 'I've just paid you using these details' email difficult.
I'd look at a challenger bank (starling or Monzo) if I was switching.
Disallows screenshots? No it doesn't.
Just checked, cant you change to just a reward current account that has no fees?
Been with first direct for 15 years or more. Can’t fault them but you get nothing back in terms of perks but preferential loan and mortgage rates are good. The app and on offed side is great in my experience. Despite what was said above it doesn’t require dual computer / mobile device use, it used to but haas long since been updated So can do everything off my phone app.
Failing that, check out Monetsavingexpert for all the latest tips on restoration of French impressionist paintings
His impression of the BOE...
I’m with First Direct, it’s fine but I’ll be changing soon as my introductory offer is coming to an end.
Are santander still offering 123 account? Various % back on bills plus 1.5% interest on balance if over a certain amount, been good for us 👍
Just checked, cant you change to just a reward current account that has no fees?
Such as?
Halifax, like all banks, should offer a 'standard' or 'basic' account with none of the "benefits" charged for with all the 'reward' ones. It's what we did with ours rather than faff about changing banks etc.
HSBC are giving £175 for a switch, according to
HSBC are, however, shyte. I moved from Bank of Scotland to HSBC. Twice my card stopped working whilst abroad potentially leaving me without access to my money. First time, I was close to a branch and it only took about 3 hours for me to withdraw from that branch (being abroad). next time I went abroad I worked on the principle that they're a bunch of useless muppets and took enough money to cover the trip. Just as well because it failed again. No explanantion and little in the way of apology
When account was opened I asked for a non-contactless card and assuming that was what I had took no security steps such as using an RFID blocking card. Turned out card was contactless. Explanation - none
Thought I'd left a pair of gloves in the branch, called to check. 75 minutes later, gave up and went into town myself
On leaving the bank and being told it would all be straightforward and transparent, there was a delay in the accounts being switched, during what I was told was the delay period, I bought fuel which put me into unarranged overdraft as the accounts had been transferred. The fuel payment was transferred to the new account but the overdraft fee wasn't so they threatened me with legal action to recover a fee that was their fault. Again no explanation and pretty mealy mouthed apology
Simply, would not touch them with someone else's bargepole
That said, their machines are good for transferring money between accounts, so if you can live with the possibility of not having access to your money from time to time there is a degree of convenience involved
I really rate Barclays mobile App (unfashionable as they are, not being a Fintech etc).
Drac
Subscriber
Disallows screenshots? No it doesn’t.
funny thing - my android app disallows it, Mrs SS's iphone app permits screenshots. weird.
But what about Dracs iPad?
Just checked, cant you change to just a reward current account that has no fees?
Such as?
Such as the halifax reward current account that has no fees? No mobile access though.
Drac
Subscriber
Disallows screenshots? No it doesn’t.funny thing – my android app disallows it, Mrs SS’s iphone app permits screenshots. weird.
Not just Drac's magic ipad doing it's thing again then 🙂
I've been with Lloyds since forever. Sure they've closed the local branch, and they can display the occasional bout of idiocy but I've never had any notable problems. And the mobile app is ace.
I'm with TSB, they give a small amount of interest up to £2000 and don't charge, on the rare occasion I have more than that it goes in the savings account out of the way of the internet.
But what about Dracs iPad?
No idea I use my phone but probably can on that too.
No First Direct screenshot issues for me on an iPhone. Only just moved to them but the switch was easy and they have been helpful on the phone. App is useful too.
Such as the halifax reward current account that has no fees? No mobile access though.
You can access the Halifax reward account just fine through the app
Another vote for First Direct, we moved to them from Santander (who were a shower of useless gits) and haven't looked back. Mobile app is all in one as said, it's just doing it on the computer that requires the app or authenticator to get full access. This is the norm now thanks to anti-fraud and even my RBS basic account needs me to use the card reader to get proper access. 2-factor is non-negotiable now.
Monzo
Maybe I'm being too harsh on first direct. The app does everything I need apart from screenshots and allowing statement downloads so I guess I should stop moaning.
I've never had any problems with customer service on the occasions I've needed to call them.
2-factor is non-negotiable now.
I'm not denying this but there are better ways to do this then typing codes into phone and website. The first direct website server could message the app on my phone which then pops up a simple approve / deny dialog and returns my answer to the server.
Also first direct. Can't fault them - money if you switch, decent app, and 24/7 365 day phone support that's UK based and is faultless.
Have had to phone them on Christmas day before due to an issue and even then they were quick to answer and help.
Can't fault them.
Just 'downgrade' to a Reward account which pays you to have the account, subject to stuff - but if you're using the account then thats no issue.
£17 might seem high but if you'd bought all of the insurances individually, just depends on if you'd actually have bought the policies or not yourself if not then no its probably not right for you.
Monzo. /end thread
Monzo seems to be in the news every month with an IT glitch. Just sayin'
A vote for nationwide from me. They've always been good to me and are generally pretty top notch with most things.