Changing Bank

I switched to Nationwide after HSBC (my bank for 20+ years for my own account) closed the local branch where my account was held. Very helpful and friendly

Another vote for First Direct! Been with them for over 20 years and never any problems. Usually bank online but when we do phone staff are always friendle and efficient. Can get cash from any machine or Post Office.

I have banked with Barclays for over 50 years, didn’t have a problem with them when I lived in uk, but since moving to Australia I have had so many problems with them. I obviously do my banking on line, and whenever I have had a query regarding my account, I am told to go into my nearest branch!! Time and time again I have rang them (at considerable cost to myself) explaining that I live in oz and can’t just pop into my local branch, so then I am asked several security questions, fair enough, but then I am told my answers are not what they have on record!! Now I think I do know my own date of birth and my maiden name, but they just insist that I have given the wrong information. I had to write to their head office and complain before I was able to gain access to my own money! I know they have to be careful with security but it is so frustrating when they just keep saying ‘theres nothing we can do’.

Yes. I thought about Handelsbanken a couple of months ago - but it turns out they charge £25 per month if you dipon’t have a mortgage with them. They won’t even let you have a savings account. I was very disappointed because I love all things ’Svenska’, but I’m mortgage free and can’t afford £25 per month.

We have tried this week to make an appt with three well known banks/building societies, to open a new account to put a reasonable windfall in. Santander had" no appointments for the foreseeable future" and HSBC nothing until end of April - clearly they neither need nor want our money. If it's this difficult putting money in God knows it must be damn difficult to get it out of them!

Thanks for all the comments. A bit of research on the cards tomorrow.

I think it depends on which banks have local branches and which of those have helpful staff. I find NatWest always helpful and efficient. Santander are both unpleasant and inefficient and Barclays just not very helpful or efficient.

Handelsbanken have been in the UK over 40 years and now have 208 branches. They do provide a very personal service but there is a monthly fee. Why not check out the website. My husband is a branch manager with Handelsbanken.

We switched from Barclays, who were an absolute nightmare, to Santander. The Youswitch system worked perfectly, apart from Barclays trying to stick their oar in and demanding we fill in a form to confirm that we had the audacity to want to leave them, We are very happy with Santander and the 123 account which pays interest and do most of our banking online.

I don’t know why people use banks! The only place for me and it has been for many years - the Nationwide Building Society.

I don't use a bank, I've been with Nationwide BS for years and have found them friendly and helpful whenever I've had to visit one of the branches. I use internet banking these days, its easy and convenient. I hardly use cash, preferring to pay by card for practically everything, and just get cash-back from supermarkets as and when I need some.

PS don't forget to check Martin *moneysaving expert) and bag about £100 for changing once you've decided where you'd like to go!

35 years with Lloyds and I moved to Santander ... no idea why I didn't do it sooner!
Santander couldn't have been nicer - they have lots of branches in some areas (depends on yours obviously) and their online banking is simple and friendly too and their phone app is a dream.

I bank with both Natwest & Lloyds, when I moved 3 years ago to a small Devon Town we had branches of both Natwest & Lloyds. Natwest branch was closed nearly 2 years ago but we still have Lloyds. Post Office is very useful as they deal with both deposits & credits, only problem is if you pay in it takes an extra day (even cash), my solution is to pay in at Lloyds & transfer online. I can draw cash over the Post Office counter which helps. It's a "route march" in my largest Town to the Banks but at least they are all together.

When DH died I found all the Banks I dealt were efficient & compassionate, maybe I was just lucky.

I've been with First Direct for over 20 years - never a problem. A friendly voice answers very quickly if you ring them, and the online banking system is really simple and easy to use.

Can recommend Nationwide Flex Plus account. Free travel insurance and breakdown cover plus mobile Insurance. Our local branch is really friendly. When I say free you do pay a monthly charge but you also get interest which pays half of this.

HootyMcOwlface (oh i wish i had a name like that!) is on the money. See what Martin Lewis says then see if there's a branch near you (if you want one near you that is.)

I have been with Lloyds for over 50 years and have always found them polite and helpful. I have been with different branches as I've moved around, and every one has been kind with prompt and efficient attention.

Santander for me. The staff are friendly and helpful , there's interest on my money and they tell me if there's any scheme to earn a bit more. I was with NatWest for donkeys years, was a fool to stay loyal all those years.

Like some other posters, I've been with First Direct for years. Never waited more than a minute or two (and generally get straight through, if I need telephone advice). Always top of polls on customer service. I'm not sure, but think there's a minimum monthly amount needed for new accounts.

I would recommend First Direct very strongly. I love how you speak to a trained and helpful member of staff when you ring and there is a charm and pleasantness with each transaction. It makes such a difference. We had occasion in the last couple of years to have some interaction with Barclays due to an automatic transfer of some funds over which we had no choice. It was a disaster, our phone calls were handled off shore and by such inefficient personnel that all it did was enrage me. The sooner we closed those accounts the better. Staff in our local Barclays too were insignificant and a disappointment.

Rosina, snap! We have just moved to Nationwide from the coop and for the same reason. We've been very happy with the change so far. I suppose time will tell.

I would say Nationwide. When I joined the person who recommended me got £100 + so did I. Lovely!
Apart from that they have always been pleasant + efficient when I use the branch. I also use their app which is easy to use + you can have fingerprint recognition if you want for extra security.

Three of our banks have closed in the past year. I have to go to another town if I need to go into the branch

when my father passed away back in June I had terrible problems with HSBC - everything was a hassle as we were given wrong information all the time. My brother, sister and myself all gave our names/addresses when we went in to notify them (I'm the executor) for payment once everything cleared, my sister went in with the funeral bill which they said they would pay - because she wasn't the executor, even though her name was already on the list, they wouldn't do it without me or the copy of the will, I went back with her just said I was the executor and they did it then. When I actually closed the account for transfer they wouldn't split the payment it had to go into my account, said it would take 2 days - 10 days later still no money so I went back in absolutely fuming - they said the girl shouldn't have told me that as it takes 10 days. After complaining about everything I had the money 10 minutes later in my bank but no compensation for the hassle.

I have since been executor for a friend of mine - no hassle whatsoever with the other 3 banks, everything done in minutes.