Anyone have a UK bank they like?

Hubby has been with Barclay's for about 20 years and hasn't had any problems. We opened my account last week with them and it was a pain-free process. On the other hand, Hubby says he was with Natwest for 18 months & had nothing but problems with them.

Chiming in with a Barclays recommendation.  I have been with them for 6 years and have been very happy.  The bonus of banking with them is that they are a "sister" bank with Bank of America, which is my US Bank.  So if I want to withdraw money from BA here in the UK, if I use a Barclays cashpoint it doesn't cost me a penny, and vice versa in the US if I want to take money from my Barclays account from a BA ATM.

if I use a Barclays cashpoint it doesn't cost me a penny, and vice versa in the US if I want to take money from my Barclays account from a BA ATM.

This is good to know!  I've always used Barclays cashpoints to take money out of my BofA account. I was actually wondering the other day if the reverse was true. Yay! Thanks Karrit!  Does Barclays also let you take money out of some European banks for free?

This is good to know!  I've always used Barclays cashpoints to take money out of my BofA account. I was actually wondering the other day if the reverse was true. Yay! Thanks Karrit!  Does Barclays also let you take money out of some European banks for free?

I got this from the Barclays Website:  Make the most of your money on holiday. By using your Barclays Connect or Electron card in cash machines in our Global Alliance of banks, you don't have to pay transaction charges.  Global Alliance partners are:

USA - Bank of America;
France - BNP Paribas;
Germany, Spain - Deutsche Bank;
Canada, Mexico, Guatemala - Scotiabank;
Australia, New Zealand, Fiji - Westpac;
South Africa - Absa;
Ukraine - Ukrsibbank

Have fun if you are off on travels!

Thanks! I haven't got any plans for travel quite yet--but I just made a bet with a friend that I could visit more countries this year than he's going to. (He's marking off Costa Rica, Iraq, Germany, and possibly Haiti this year)....So it looks like I've got some planning to do!

hi there,

It's horses for courses on these types of questions!

I've been entirely happy with my HSBC account, I also have used their Business services and bank accounts and merchant accounts as well - highly recommended from me in that respect.

I 'hate' Barclays, mainly due to their ludicrous business banking procedures and practices, I couldn't beleive what I was hearing one time when talking to them one time - I immediatley shut that account with them down and carried on looking for another provider for another business service I required. When I used to work at Intuit and the Quicken product, there was a large percentage of Barclays customers who always had some gripe or another with them. Things may be better now of course. I wouldn't really want to use them.

NatWest - another 'I couldn't beleive what they said to me' type incident, however that was back in University days - approx 19 years ago - when it came to problems when I worked at Intuit and with Quicken, the next group of vocal users with problems were Natwest users!

First Direct seem to be the 'better' end of the HSBC empire - I'm tempted to switch over to them when I get around to evaluating the best accounts I want - it's always one of those 'i'll do that when i get a chance' type things.


I 'hate' Egg alot as well, for them to advertise themselves as an Internet/Online bank, and NOT provide any statement download into finanical software is ludicrous. I closed an account with them I had for this reason. I also 'hate' them as I went for an interview to work at their head office in Derby, spent lots on petrol getting there, and they didnt provide a travel allowance/subsidy and kept me and 2 others there all day long, and we had to pay for our lunch. On top of that, they decided to promote an 'egg' employee to the job - what a waste! - but of course I'm not biased there!

I'm going to look at bank accounts very shortly, including business ones as well!
Overall, I'd say go for a bank account which offers you the most features and benefits which suit you and your personal situation well.

Cheers, DtM! west London & SLough UK!

Chiming in with a Barclays recommendation.  I have been with them for 6 years and have been very happy.  The bonus of banking with them is that they are a "sister" bank with Bank of America, which is my US Bank.  So if I want to withdraw money from BA here in the UK, if I use a Barclays cashpoint it doesn't cost me a penny, and vice versa in the US if I want to take money from my Barclays account from a BA ATM.

Very useful info, thanks - Bank of America is my bank back in the states.