On-line Banking

[davieG]

Can anyone recommend a one that pays a good interest, is efficient and appears to want your custom - note I'm not being sarcastic just looking for a decent bank.

[Anish]

Dunno about that, but if you have a current account with HSBC you can access your account details online via their internet banking. I've been doing it for a year or 2 and it's great - you can view your account online, check out all your transactions, set up payments (bills, money to friends/family), cancel/set up direct debit or standing orders etc etc.

All you have to do is register your details with them and then voila.

www.ukpersonal.hsbc.co.uk

[Babylon]

I have a savings account with alliance and Leicester. If you have a current account and a saving account you can transfer immediately betwen the two accounts (plus a cash ISA should you have one with them). The money is there in seconds. The drawback is you can only have upto £25,000 in the account.

If you want slightly better interest you can get an Ing account (http://www.ingdirect.co.uk) But the money usually takes 3/4 days to transfer to and from your current account.

I currently have an ING, Alliance and Leicester Current and Savings account. They all work really well together for me.

You can get slightly better interest here is a few to look at. Or just do a search for best savings accounts on yahoo.

http://www.savings-accounts.me.uk/best_savings_accounts.htm

[Shum]

I use both HSBC and Barclays online banking, and I muh prefer the Barclays version. It's fantastic!

And once you use the online faciilty, you can open an e-savings account online which pays a decent interest rate.

Also transferring money between savings and curretn account is instant. To be fair, I can't remember the last time I went into a branch or wrote a cheque to anyone!

It's all about BACS!

[Benji]

I use Alliance and Leicester same as babylon, easy to use, money updates as soon as your paid, no messing around with features and stuff you just see what you need to see. My interest was a fair height but thats because it's an ISA

[Hitesh]

This IS Money

Try that site. i go there to get the latest rates etc! Its got everything from Savings to Pensions!

[Nationwider]

I'd recommend HSBC or A&L for their basic online banking. They're almost a pleasure to use, esp HSBC - watching the money leave your account everyday!

Their products are not so competitive though. How else do HSBC make £10 billion annual profits? As suggested, shop around if you want your money to work for you. If you just want efficient service - use HSBC or A&L.

One warning with online banking - think twice before clicking. I mistakenly sent a mate of mine £800 a while ago - he was kind enough to send it back, although his rate of interest was lousy.

[Nationwider]

This IS Money

Try that site. i go there to get the latest rates etc! Its got everything from Savings to Pensions!

Aye. The clock's ticking.

Says I, the person who gets mailshots from Saga.

[cisono]

Dunno about that, but if you have a current account with HSBC you can access your account details online via their internet banking. I've been doing it for a year or 2 and it's great - you can view your account online, check out all your transactions, set up payments (bills, money to friends/family), cancel/set up direct debit or standing orders etc etc.

All you have to do is register your details with them and then voila.

www.ukpersonal.hsbc.co.uk

You can do that with other banks too, including First Direct. I have an issue with them though, as they pay low interest rates AND they are just starting to charge you to send you an SMS if you want to be told when you are in the red.

Alliance & Leicester seem a better choice to me. They also offer higher interest rates, particularly on some onlin savings accounts.

[kerryh]

First Direct is the way forwards - I have been with them for over 10 years now and have never had a problem. They have a really good savings account too called a bonus account - highly recommended.

[Katy]

First Direct is the way forwards - I have been with them for over 10 years now and have never had a problem. They have a really good savings account too called a bonus account - highly recommended.

Hmm I was with First Direct from about 1998 up until recently and never really had a huge problem until a few months ago when I ran into a few money problems, then they didnt want to know. Im now with the Abbey who arent that much better but their online services are quite good.

In short First Direct is very good IF you are good with money, if not hide whatever you have under your mattress, the bastards cant get it there!

[davieG]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I must admit in hindsight I didn't describe my needs very clearly. I use online banking as in Barclays & Nationwide but they are both current accounts. My emphasis should have been on getting a good interest for some savings, but I also wanted someone who came across as reliable.

Some conflicting views on here, banks are obviously like cars you can always find one that some will swear by and that others wont touch with a barge pole.

I think I'll try the searching for a decent interest approach as someone suggested and then come back and ask if anyone has any experience of them.

Thanks again sorry for such a boring question.

Perhaps I should have asked anyone know how I can make a million (no not the lottery).

[Katy]

Thanks for the replies everyone, I must admit in hindsight I didn't describe my needs very clearly. I use online banking as in Barclays & Nationwide but they are both current accounts. My emphasis should have been on getting a good interest for some savings, but I also wanted someone who came across as reliable.

Some conflicting views on here, banks are obviously like cars you can always find one that some will swear by and that others wont touch with a barge pole.

I think I'll try the searching for a decent interest approach as someone suggested and then come back and ask if anyone has any experience of them.

Thanks again sorry for such a boring question.

Perhaps I should have asked anyone know how I can make a million (no not the lottery).

Maybe look at this you can compare loads of financial products here which might help you more than trawling through different sites

[Babylon]

Perhaps I should have asked anyone know how I can make a million (no not the lottery).

Premium bonds.... I have just sank half of my cash into them. You only lose the interest you would of got from the bank but you have a very good chance of getting that back in prizes. You could win a million and you can get your money back whenever you want. It's a winner!!! (maybe)

PS the accounts I was telling you about are high interest savings accounts not current accounts.

[davieG]

Maybe look at this you can compare loads of financial products here which might help you more than trawling through different sites

Thanks Katassi,

ICICI BANK pays 5.4% on a 30 day notice account - anyone heard of or use them?

first direct pays 5% on a 30 day notice account, but it can't be joint - some conflicting views on these.

[Guest]

I use the Nationwide e-saver, alongside my current account, which is very easy to manage.

[cisono]

The problem for me is that banks tend to offer a decent savings account and then lock you into the current account by making it difficult (or at least rather inconvenient) to keep your current account elsewhere.

I am not totally happy with any of the banks I have an account with (4).

If anyone spots a good current account with no minimum amount to pay in each month, I'd like to leave FD after many years, as they are just NOT listening to me.

[cisono]

I don't know if anyone is into this... but - in considering who to bank with - you might also want to consider ethical issues and favour financial institutions with ethical principles (and not too bad rates), such as Triodos Bank - as an example.

For instance, their savings offerings can be found here: http://www.triodos.co.uk/uk/personal_banki...9/140352/?lang=

Has anyone ever tried them (or similar) financial institutions? I am considering moving one year's mini ISA subscription there to test them out.

As I only recently found out ( ), ethical investment options are also available through ethical fund managers if you have any shares or subscribe to a shares (mini)ISA.

[Stuliasz]

I'm currently with HSBC and use their excellent online banking service all the time. I can only reiterate the thoughts of others and say go for HSBC.

[Cat Burger]

I've recently opened a new Natwest account I'll have to see how that goes but it all seems good. I wouldn't recommend A+L at all tbh Davie. The online banking is good, however myself, my mum and sister have all been tossed about by them at some point. The people in the branches I have spoken to are very rude as well.

I'm not looking forward to trying to close the account, they are like Fascia mania salesmen on Acid when it comes to selling you stuff

[Anish]

I've recently opened a new Natwest account I'll have to see how that goes but it all seems good. I wouldn't recommend A+L at all tbh Davie. The online banking is good, however myself, my mum and sister have all been tossed about by them at some point. The people in the branches I have spoken to are very rude as well.

I'm not looking forward to trying to close the account, they are like Fascia mania salesmen on Acid when it comes to selling you stuff

I can only echo those sentiments. I had a fixed rate bond with them a few years back and when it matured they didn't even notify me or tell me my options. Bastards. Then they got peeved when I told them that I want to take all the money out of the bond and invest it at a different bank. <_<

[Head Honcho]

Can anyone recommend a one that pays a good interest, is efficient and appears to want your custom - note I'm not being sarcastic just looking for a decent bank.

Nationwide is by far the best,you can have money in your current account and withdraw money abroad with no interest.

They also dont charge interest on their credit card when you use it abroad.

Some banks have recently started to charge interest on all purchases abroad even if you pay in full they will still charge interest when used abroad

.......and no i don't work for them i just hate giving the banks anything so i've shopped around.

[cisono]

Nationwide is by far the best,you can have money in your current account and withdraw money abroad with no interest.

They also dont charge interest on their credit card when you use it abroad.

Some banks have recently started to charge interest on all purchases abroad even if you pay in full they will still charge interest when used abroad

.......and no i don't work for them i just hate giving the banks anything so i've shopped around.

Babysquad4eva... I don't like the sound of that at all!!!!

On a related subject:

Has anyone tried smile's current account? It gives 3.3% interest, among other things. I am thinking of switching, as it doesn't require a minimum payment in every month and seems to have other benefits too.

(I also want to teach FD a lesson, as they are not taking me seriously regarding the SMS charging issue ).