Is there a decent intelligent bank out there?

I'm fed up to the back teeth with Santander since they took over A&L where I've banked without any problems for a few years. Now Santander are proving equal to their fast growing reputation of being absolutely incompetent and rubbish generally.

Therefore, I'm looking to move banks and would love to have recommendations for any decent banks, that are smart, efficient, not with call-centres full of people whose first language isn't English; any suggestions/recommendations???

I want "normal" banking facilities, a branch would be nice, internet and telephone banking etc. Nothing out of the ordinairy I'd have thought.

Thanks.

First Direct always works for me. You use HSBC branches but the call centre is superb. £100 for switching at moment also.

FM

If you find anyone good, let me know. Whatever you do though, don't go to halifax if you require an overdraft or earn under £1000 a month (although I'm probably one of the only people on here that do!) they rip you off with their charges, other than that they're ok though I suppose.
I tried to switch to A&L, got all my direct debits over and then I get back off holiday to be told I can't have an overdraft, had to get everything changed back, they sent stuff to an address that doesn't exist, nightmare! I feel your pain!

[Neil]

I have to say, I/we have banked with Abbey National, and now Santander for as long as I can remember, we have various products with them and find them excellent.

The other half was with Lloyds TSB for a few years and they were awful in our experiences, so we moved to Santander.

I guess you will find people who praise and criticise all banks depending on personal experience.

First Direct, cannot fault them :-)

I have been with First Direct for 11 years now and have always found them pretty good.

The call centre is UK based and is open 24/7, so its easy to sort most everyday things over the phone, or online.

If you do want branch service, then HSBC handle any First Direct things and there is normally an HSBC in most high streets.

Like Familyman said - switch and they give you £100!

Am with Royal Bank of Scotland and have been for nigh on 30 years with very few glitches.

BUT the branch network has been sold to Santander - which I knew about) ALONG WITH THE CUSTOMERS (which I didn't) so in effect my accounts will be moved without my permission. So much for consumer choice and my rights to bank with whomeever I want.

I don't want to move to Santander so have asked to stay with RBS (thought most likely Nat West). I was told last week they were waiting for a letter the branches can print out for customers who want to stay. I'm not fussed about having an actual branch to go too though as I do all my banking with them on-line.

BUT as part of this deal (EU imposed stitch up) RBS aren't allowed to tell customers about this.

So I suppose my message is - don't switch to RBS because yuou'll end up back where you started !

Smile, Co-op and Nationwide are ones I would recommend.

HSBC would get my vote. Have been with Halifax, Lloyds TSB and Abbey at various points over the past few years and all of them sucked in one way or another. The worst being Abbey who refused to change my address unless I went through their 'Get to know your customer' verification process again.

Another vote for First Direct here.

The call centre staff are excellent.

It's amazing how quickly you realise you don't often really need a branch, and if you do, as others have said, just pop into a HSBC.

Coop. Nearly 40 years of banking bliss. Oh cr*p. Where did 40 years go?

HSBC from me if you can get Premier all the better. Ditched Lloyds in favour and much much better service plus a few offers of the Centurion AMEX type.

I'm fed up to the back teeth with Santander since they took over A&L where I've banked without any problems for a few years. Now Santander are proving equal to their fast growing reputation of being absolutely incompetent and rubbish generally.

Therefore, I'm looking to move banks and would love to have recommendations for any decent banks, that are smart, efficient, not with call-centres full of people whose first language isn't English; any suggestions/recommendations???

I want "normal" banking facilities, a branch would be nice, internet and telephone banking etc. Nothing out of the ordinairy I'd have thought.

Thanks.

I've been dealing with Santander for the past year, as I look after my mum's affairs (she has dementia). Unfortunately, that's also meant dealing with Santander and I also feel the pain you've described. Utterly incompetent and disinterested staff, it's always been a very long process to get even the simplest thing done correctly.

Halifax works for me. Used to bank with Natwest but they were awful.

[RichardMannion]

HSBC Premier works for me - a named contact and number to call for any questions/requests. I hear lots of good things about First Direct, but they didn't like that I had an account with them that had a small holding balance that wasn't used that much.

Was with Bank Of Scotland Private banking before who were good, but with the merger with Halifax they became rubbish, and my account manager moved to Coutts.

Guess it all depends on your needs from a bank - having a named contact that knows what they are doing ranked high on my list.

First Direct recommended from me. They have an excellent customer service. Very Friendly and helpful. We even have our mortgage with them. Been a customer for well over 10 years.

To be honest cannot fault them, in my experience.

HSBC for me but I am biased as the old man has worked for them for 30+ years

Coop. Nearly 40 years of banking bliss

Not 40 years, but would certainly 2nd your recommendation - they do great for me

Cheers
Michael

Another vote for HSBC, been with them for 10+ years now and never had a problem.

Jonathan

As mentioned by everyone else here,as with every service industry they are all as good to that particular person as the way they have all been treated.

I have been with Lloyds for 40 years and have never had any problems mind you I very rarely go into a branch and do everything over the internet, which their site is very good and you get an English call centre(AT THE MOMENT) But I would not hesitate to change if this altered

We haven their Plat Advantage account, which if you can pay in £1000 a month and keep a balance of £5000 or more pays a very respectable 4% and their range of benefits ie- travel cover, mobile ins,ID aware etc is superb

In terms of the quality of service offered you can't get better than First Direct.

Just a shame that the same can't be said for how they treat their staff (not that I'm still bitter almost 10 years after leaving them!!! )

I am with Smile.
Like all things CoOp, they do a lot ethics-wash, but smile is just as hardnosed as any bank I have been - call them about ANYTHING and you get a hardsell on the product of the day, whether you want it or not. There's something desperately pathetic about smile, can't quite work out what.

I would move banks but they are all the same.

+1 for First Direct.
Have moved to them in the last year from Nationwide, and have found them to offer a great service.

First Direct always works for me. You use HSBC branches but the call centre is superb. £100 for switching at moment also.

FM

One thing to bear in mind with 1st Direct, they do a very useful "Internet Banking plus" feature. Allowing you to have a summary of all your accounts/cards (inc third party)

That is unless you use Mac's

Yet another vote for firstdirect - I will admit to working for a major bank in IT, my money has been with fd since 1991.