Anyone recommend a good bank?

Originally posted by willd
Of course all this could be wasted, as there is still the major hurdle of HBOS shareholders and Lloyds TSB shareholders agreeing to this do. Heck if I had brought HBOS shares 18months ago at 12 something I would not be too happy at selling them to LLoyds TSB for 2 quid now!

Especially as 5 minutes ago their shares have jumped to 2.40[:0], I think a few people will want to renegotiate or perhaps another player may come in if they sniff a deal.

Anyway back on theme, thanks for the suggestions guys. Since we don't want anything fancy where you have to pay extra fees or have investiments committed in one place we think we may well give First Direct a call for our bank account, Abbey for our mortgage and Nationwide for our credit cards.

Miopyk[8D]

Originally posted by miopyk

Originally posted by willd
Of course all this could be wasted, as there is still the major hurdle of HBOS shareholders and Lloyds TSB shareholders agreeing to this do. Heck if I had brought HBOS shares 18months ago at £12 something I would not be too happy at selling them to LLoyds TSB for 2 quid now!

Especially as 5 minutes ago their shares have jumped to £2.40[:0], I think a few people will want to renegotiate or perhaps another player may come in if they sniff a deal.

Well, perhaps only because the shares have since moved upwards. The offer of £2 a share was better than the £1.50 (and going lower) that the market was offering. It may hurt, but would you rather lose £10 or £12 ?

Paul

Originally posted by miopyk

Originally posted by willd
Of course all this could be wasted, as there is still the major hurdle of HBOS shareholders and Lloyds TSB shareholders agreeing to this do. Heck if I had brought HBOS shares 18months ago at 12 something I would not be too happy at selling them to LLoyds TSB for 2 quid now!

Especially as 5 minutes ago their shares have jumped to 2.40[:0], I think a few people will want to renegotiate or perhaps another player may come in if they sniff a deal.

Well, perhaps only because the shares have since moved upwards. The offer of 2 a share was better than the 1.50 (and going lower) that the market was offering. It may hurt, but would you rather lose 10 or 12 ?

Paul

Originally posted by pjh

Originally posted by miopyk

Originally posted by willd
Of course all this could be wasted, as there is still the major hurdle of HBOS shareholders and Lloyds TSB shareholders agreeing to this do. Heck if I had brought HBOS shares 18months ago at £12 something I would not be too happy at selling them to LLoyds TSB for 2 quid now!

Especially as 5 minutes ago their shares have jumped to £2.40[:0], I think a few people will want to renegotiate or perhaps another player may come in if they sniff a deal.

Well, perhaps only because the shares have since moved upwards. The offer of £2 a share was better than the £1.50 (and going lower) that the market was offering. It may hurt, but would you rather lose £9.60 or £12 ?

Paul

If I were a shareholder I'd want the best deal I could get especially as the government have removed any competiton blocks from the process. And since the deal awaits shareholder approval I can see them wanting the same thing too regardless of what losses they may have been faced with earlier in the week.

Having said that if the price receeds significantly I can see them being perfectly happy with the deal on the table[;)].

Miopyk[8D]

Originally posted by pjh

Originally posted by miopyk

Originally posted by willd
Of course all this could be wasted, as there is still the major hurdle of HBOS shareholders and Lloyds TSB shareholders agreeing to this do. Heck if I had brought HBOS shares 18months ago at 12 something I would not be too happy at selling them to LLoyds TSB for 2 quid now!

Especially as 5 minutes ago their shares have jumped to 2.40[:0], I think a few people will want to renegotiate or perhaps another player may come in if they sniff a deal.

Well, perhaps only because the shares have since moved upwards. The offer of 2 a share was better than the 1.50 (and going lower) that the market was offering. It may hurt, but would you rather lose 9.60 or 12 ?

Paul

If I were a shareholder I'd want the best deal I could get especially as the government have removed any competiton blocks from the process. And since the deal awaits shareholder approval I can see them wanting the same thing too regardless of what losses they may have been faced with earlier in the week.

Having said that if the price receeds significantly I can see them being perfectly happy with the deal on the table[;)].

Miopyk[8D]

Another vote for First Direct here - I've been with them since 1995 and cannot find fault with their service. I now deal with them mostly online, but when you do call them, you get a real person 24/7, and once you've gone through the security check, they are as friendly & helpful as anything.

Last year, I oredered a foreign currency cheque from First Direct to pay a tax bill in France. The local tax office in the depths of the South of France did not like the look of the cheque, as it was not a personal cheque from a local French bank & rejected it. I called First Direct to report this & one of their staff called my local tax office in France (speaking French, obviously) to explain that the cheque was indeed valid & that I would be resending it. The payment was subsequently accepted.

The fee for them calling the local tax office in France was, nil. Fee for the foreign cheque was only about £10 too, so hardly excessive.

I should also add that First Direct were in the habit of making 'personal banking review calls' [sales calls] to me a few years ago on a regular basis, which annoyed me. All it took was one email to them saying that if I wanted another of their products, I would apply for it myself to stop these calls.

James

Another vote for First Direct here - I've been with them since 1995 and cannot find fault with their service. I now deal with them mostly online, but when you do call them, you get a real person 24/7, and once you've gone through the security check, they are as friendly & helpful as anything.

Last year, I oredered a foreign currency cheque from First Direct to pay a tax bill in France. The local tax office in the depths of the South of France did not like the look of the cheque, as it was not a personal cheque from a local French bank & rejected it. I called First Direct to report this & one of their staff called my local tax office in France (speaking French, obviously) to explain that the cheque was indeed valid & that I would be resending it. The payment was subsequently accepted.

The fee for them calling the local tax office in France was, nil. Fee for the foreign cheque was only about 10 too, so hardly excessive.

I should also add that First Direct were in the habit of making 'personal banking review calls' [sales calls] to me a few years ago on a regular basis, which annoyed me. All it took was one email to them saying that if I wanted another of their products, I would apply for it myself to stop these calls.

James