View Full Version : Which online bank??
Hi ppls,
It is time now for me to open a online banking account. A general savings will do fine. One thing i need is the function to trasfer between different banks.
I know about cahoot, but are there any other places i should look before applying.
Cheers
Sam
Are you after Savings or a Current Account?
Savings (shop on rate and ease of access):
www.ingdirect.com, Egg (http://www.thedvdforums.com/affiliatelink.php?localaffiliateid=210), www.cahoot.com, www.halifax.co.uk (the regular saver in particular), www.abbey.co.uk
Don't forget to use your ISA tax free allowance.
Current Account (shop on what you need - extras/branch access/service/rates)
www.cahoot.com - interest free overdraft £250 (don't confuse with fee free which they all offer now)
www.alliance-leicester.co.uk - high interest rate, added extras
www.halifax.co.uk - added extras
www.firstdirect.co.uk - market leading customer service, and £25 for transferring to them.
don't forget smile. :)
Here (http://www.smile.co.uk) Customer service is excellent.
:)
bowlhead2000
13-09-2004, 12:56
For savings my egg one serves me well. Time to transfer money in or out is sometimes quicker than my cahoot one. I have (or have had) loans, savings, ISAs and credit cards with both egg and cahoot ; egg have given me much better customer service IMHO.
One of my colleagues had taken the plunge and moved all his banking (current account too) to Cahoot. Customer service has been pretty bad for him. Recently he had to get a 'bank reference' for the letting agency when renting a new flat - just one of those standard answers that says yes, this guy has been a customer for x years and pays money in regularly. Cahoot just said "no we can't give you that". It's their policy not to. "Can't you get one from your bank" they said. "You are my bank, you fools", he retorted - he'd moved all his direct debits etc to them and made the mistake of assuming their current account service was what you'd get from any regular bank.
Anyway, they couldn't help - they seem to view themselves as operating a set of services which each compete on price or rate with 'traditional banks' - but they don't really seem to be one. If you're ever likely to want to meet someone in person, get references, discuss your account, lock away your house deeds or will in a deposit box, you need to stay friendly with a proper bank!
Who's your main bank? Might be worth checking if they have a decent rate online account. I'm with LloydsTSB and they have a reasonable rate on their 'online saver' account - because you can transfer cash instantly by phone or web between the saver and the main account, I often just use that rather than transferring it out and waiting X business days for it to go to Cahoot or egg and back.
I bank mainly with barclays, from which have online access to all my current and saving accounts.
localshop
19-01-2005, 20:33
If cahoot was the last bank on the planet I would keep my money in my sock.
brassmonkey001
19-01-2005, 20:45
If cahoot was the last bank on the planet I would keep my money in my sock.I feel the same about Barclays.
My current account is HSBC which has a pretty good online banking service. I also have an Intelligent Finance account who have much better rates of interest. I've been with HSBC for donkeys years, and I like the fact that I can go in to my local branch should I need to, otherwise I'd bung all my accounts into IF. (I haven't been with IF long enough for any problems to arise yet, about twelve months or so).
HTH
Smile get the thumbs up from me - fantastic :)
MrSpoons
21-01-2005, 08:23
http://www.woolwich.co.uk/ - I use their openplan account, never had a problem with them, customer service is great and there are branches to go into as and when you need to.
I'm thinking about opening a Nationwide account for their no charge abraod card.
Anyone applied online, i assume you have to go into the branch at some point to prove who you are?
Do you apply online and then just go in and they have all your details you filled in during the online form?
Ta :)
I've been using Smile for over 8 years - no problems at all.
farmroad38
20-11-2008, 06:33
I opened a current account online with Nationwide, and I don't recall visiting a branch at all - they send all the forms through the post, you sign them and send them back - job done!
cjanderson
21-11-2008, 10:11
I'm thinking about opening a Nationwide account for their no charge abraod card.
Anyone applied online, i assume you have to go into the branch at some point to prove who you are?
Do you apply online and then just go in and they have all your details you filled in during the online form?
Ta :)
pretty sure i did have to go into a nationwide to get a bank manager to certify my ID, but could be that you could go to any bank to get that done.
I like my no charge abroad card, just have to remember to stick money in it before travelling :D
I'm thinking about opening a Nationwide account for their no charge abraod card.
Anyone applied online, i assume you have to go into the branch at some point to prove who you are?
Do you apply online and then just go in and they have all your details you filled in during the online form?
Ta :)
I did it all on-line. You can post the forms of ID they need to verify who you are.
Yep, I opened a Nationwide account over the summer online / by post. Might be a bit faster if you drop into a branch - I had issues with proof of address and there was a bit of back and forth over that which could have been dealt with a lot quicker if I'd been able to walk into a branch I think. But you can certainly do it without visiting an actual bank.
Personally I am happy with Cahoot. They have been good for me, reasonable interest rate and the only negative is they have not joined the instant inter-bank transfer list yet so my transfers still take a couple of days to other banks :(
vBulletin® v3.8.7, Copyright ©2000-2012, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.