Opening current account - which bank is best?

When I first arrived here about 5 1/2 months ago, I attempted to open an account with Halifax on the recommendation of my husband. He actually has a graduate account with HSBC and a savings only account with Halifax.

Well, after numerous trips to Halifax, calls to the utility companies to get my name added, etc. I was finally allowed to open a basic no-frills bank account (ie no checkbook, debit card or credit card). I was then told that because I had not been a UK resident for 6 months, I would have to make do with this account and then switch when I reached my 6 months.

I assumed most banks would follow this 6 month rule as well and have been biding my time until my 6 months have passed. At last, I am finally nearly there. I have two weeks left until my 6 month residency is fulfilled.

My question now is, which bank should I go with? I'm tempted to stick with Halifax since my basic account is with them, but I've noticed a lot of people on this board seem to have gone with HSBC. IS HSBC better? The only bank I refuse to go with is NatWest. I banked with them previously when I was here as a college exchange student (my US university had a deal with NatWest so we had to use them). I was constantly charged fees for no reason and had a nightmare of a time trying to close the account when I returned to the USA.

So, any suggestions? I'm curious to hear from other expats what banks you use and who you would recommend.

Thanks!

I went with HSBC when I moved here because they were the only ones who'd open an account for me with cheques and a debit card. The others were all giving me the run-around, but HSBC set it all up for me in less than 1/2 an hour.

shop around, if desperate go with the one that gives you the most i.e., full current account, card  etc.

try the smaller building societies like Abbey and Alliance and Leicester... they have AWESOME savings programs as part of their current accounts. I am with Lloyds just because I was desperately shopping for a bank during my lunch hour and they gave me an "adult" account rather than the "kiddie" basic account (as my colleagues said) HSBC would only offer me for 6 months. I plan to switch banks... hee hee hopefully it won't look to suspicious that I opened 3 accounts in 2 months... closed HSBC though because they treated me bad. 

try the smaller building societies like Abbey

Abbey are a plc... a bank, not a building society.
But i do agree with the recommendation of trying building societies.... you could end up getting a windfall if they ever turn into a plc.

We went with Lloyds when we got here because the customer service was so much better and friendlier than the others.  Also, they gave us a chequing account and a debit card and after 3 months we were eligible for a visa.

All we needed to open the account was a letter from our employer.

me too!

That's so weird! Lloyds wouldn't give me anything! They said that my account would be eligible to become a "real" one after 1 month. Then they said 3 months. Then they finally admitted that it never would. I think the problem was that I had no employer -- but I didn't need a job and had more than enough funds to deposit in the account. I was just frustrated with them not giving me a straight answer from the get-go. HSBC gave me a full grown-up account immediately.

where as when i went to sign up with NatWest, no problem.  Debit Card, Cheque Book, the works.  After living here for only 6 weeks (did have letter from employer, and council tax bill).  Go figure.