Is it time to keep our money in a sock under the bed?

I have a branch. The staff are very pleasant and helpful if help is needed.

I still use cash. I don't want to live in a cashless society and be dependent on technology that can still let one down on occasion. Or have my every transaction tracked.

Even my window cleaner accepts bank transfers.

I've been with the same bank for 50 years - theoretically with the same branch, which I have never been into, apart from when the account was opened.

No complaints here.

My OP was nothing to do with interest rates, but the way banks treat us, their customers - no branches, dwindling numbers of Cashpoints, poor customer service, closing down or illegally and suddenly “debanking” individuals or groups they do not “approve” of including sone charitable organisations.
Rose West however, has been allowed to retain her bank account.

Well, for the first time for years, I'm getting a decent, or better, return on my savings - so I'm happy to leave them in a bank.👍

Plus all my pensions and direct debits come in and out of my current account - there's no way I want the hassle of paying them all manually again.

I've got to admit my local NW bank is quite happy to give me coins, in exchange for notes, if I pop in occasionally.

But, now we can pay in a cheque from home, using the phone, I rarely use cash or go into a branch anyway. I just card most things, other than the window cleaner, or for tips etc.

What's a bank branch?

What's cash?

Helenlouise3

When I asked my bank what the maximum daily withdrawal was, I was asked why I wanted the money. No one asked me where I'd had it from when I banked it!!

I think I would have been very rude if I was asked that! It’s like they’re doing you a favour letting you handle your own money. They certainly make enough out of everyone .

I bank with First Direct and have done so for many years. They are excellent though I notice that they now have call centres in India. I recently had a charming Indian lady but I found it difficult to understand her. I managed to make a BACS payment, all was well so I rang off. I then realised, to my horror, that I had not been asked any of my security questions, only my postcode and confirmation of my address. I feared I had been scammed so I found a different number for First Direct, spoke to someone in this country who checked my latest transaction. He confirmed that it had gone through and that I hadn't been asked any questions (ie, mothers maiden name etc) because they now use voice recognition and mine had been recognised. I had no idea about that and she didn't tell me so I suppose I must embrace the new technology.!
My husband paid his Nat West credit card at a Nat West branch. They did not stamp and date the payment, the counter clerk just did a childlike scribble. He asked for a stamped receipt on his statement and was told we don't have dated stamps any more. OH said but what if there is a problem, how do I prove I have paid if I only have an illegible scribble with no date etc. He was told that the "scribbles" of the staff were held in a file and they would probably be able to tell who scribbled it. OH cut up his Nat West credit card the next day.

Spot on MadeinYorkshire, and Namsnanny.
Here's an idea...how about NatWest customers close their accounts! take your busy somewhere else.

Well done Bank of Dave. Cash is king.

Depends on the size of your sock, I suppose.

Alliance and Leicester were taken over by Santander years ago...2008.

It's the plan of the World Economic Forum- to remove cash and become a cashless society amongst other nefarious things ..

www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/benefits-cashless-society-mobile-payments/

So that things like this can happen

twitter.com/i/status/1646675059518390273

... in order to ultimately have this

twitter.com/i/status/1637961532809125888

In cahoots with the WHO

twitter.com/i/status/1687791611827126273

Time to wake up to what is really going on!

I fear for the lives of my grandchildren, it will not be the world I grew up in sadly.

It’s all gone crazy but hey ladies it’s progress!

Helenlouise3

When I asked my bank what the maximum daily withdrawal was, I was asked why I wanted the money. No one asked me where I'd had it from when I banked it!!

😲

What a cheek!!

When I asked my bank what the maximum daily withdrawal was, I was asked why I wanted the money. No one asked me where I'd had it from when I banked it!!

The last time I was in a branch of my bank I needed to pay a high value cheque in. When a I got to the counter I was told you can use the machines to pay cheques in. I said Ali know but I prefer to interact with people and besides it was keeping him in a job. He said, “ No we will be needed to an age the manage the machines when they go wrong “. Very reassuring not.

Would money launderers really be going into their local bank?

Resist a cashless society they will have all the control. Who was there to stop making a mess that we had to pay to get them out of.

The last time I went into a bank branch ( 35 min bus journey) was to fill in forms to enable me to transfer my late husband’s ISA allowance., as instructed over the phone. The person I spoke to had never heard of this so he had to consult his boss. Eventually it was all done, and he thanked me for helping him to learn a new aspect of his job!
I do as much banking as I can online as it is usually more efficient and very quick. I shop around for better rates for savings, and switch accounts where it will benefit me. Play them at their own game.

Dickens

MaizieD

Dickens

MaizieD

Dickens

Perhaps we should all de-bank the banks - so to speak .

Then they can't make money out of us for fees for this, that and t'other.

Very humorous, but what would you do instead?

We could have a publicly-owned "people's bank" - with affordable services?

Ooooh. Excellent idea. Maybe we could call it something like, hmm......
Girobank?

Alliance and Leicester?

Is that what swallowed it up? I can't remember, though I did have a Girobank account.

Are they still a Building Society?

MaizieD

Dickens

MaizieD

Dickens

Perhaps we should all de-bank the banks - so to speak .

Then they can't make money out of us for fees for this, that and t'other.

Very humorous, but what would you do instead?

We could have a publicly-owned "people's bank" - with affordable services?

Ooooh. Excellent idea. Maybe we could call it something like, hmm......
Girobank?

Alliance and Leicester?

Dickens

MaizieD

Dickens

Perhaps we should all de-bank the banks - so to speak .

Then they can't make money out of us for fees for this, that and t'other.

Very humorous, but what would you do instead?

We could have a publicly-owned "people's bank" - with affordable services?

Ooooh. Excellent idea. Maybe we could call it something like, hmm......
Girobank?

I'm sure someone else has said this, but it's all part of the push to digital money/cashless society

Step one make high street banks more and more difficult to use (close branches, atms)
Penalize cash
Step two online banking easier and cheaper.

Step three banks have less outgoings and more control

There is a 5% easy access savings account just now.

MaizieD

Dickens

Perhaps we should all de-bank the banks - so to speak .

Then they can't make money out of us for fees for this, that and t'other.

Very humorous, but what would you do instead?

We could have a publicly-owned "people's bank" - with affordable services?

Dickens

Perhaps we should all de-bank the banks - so to speak .

Then they can't make money out of us for fees for this, that and t'other.

👍

Well, it won't be difficult here, they're all closing! Their suggestions of where to go for the nearest branch are ludicrous; someone in Head Office sitting with a map and a compass but not checking the bus timetables.

Fleurpepper

And yes, checked today- 39.9 % charge on overdrafts over (very low) agreed limits!

My agreed overdraft limit with First direct is £500, which is more than adequate for me.
And I get 7% on my savings which are locked away for a year which is also fine with me
Like I say, I can highly recommend First direct