Opinions on UK banks

I had been thinking we would use Halifax, because we used to have Bank of Scotland accounts and are familiar with them.

But there's no reason we have to use them. Any opinions about Halifax or any other banks in England?

I've always used NatWest since I've been here. Have had no problems and they're always really helpful if I go in a branch for anything.

Not to say others wouldn't be the same, but that's my only experience and luckily it's a positive one.

I'm of the opinion that it just doesn't matter.  A bank is a bank is a bank.  I currently work for the company that owns both Yorkshire Bank and Clydesdale Bank, and have previously worked for the Halifax, Abbey National and Royal Bank of Scotland.  I've held accounts with all of these banks, and just don't feel there's any difference.  Clydesdale Bank does have a cool little app for a new current account called 'B', though, which I think is new to the market and hasn't yet been copied by other banks yet.

I bank with NatWest and haven't had any issues with them - they are part of the The Royal Bank of Scotland Group too, if that makes any difference to your decision.

Similarly to Albatross though, I don't think it really matters... I would probably just go with the bank that is the easiest to open an account with and offers the best deals/services for you.

The only reasons I went with NatWest are:
a) they offered a good student account deal when I was starting university
and
b) my dad has always banked with them so I trusted that they were a good bank to go with

I only have experience with Lloyds and First Direct. Lloyds were a pain to open an account with; it was as though they were doing me a big favor by holding my money and they wanted to make sure I was worthy. They were also no better than any other UK organization I've dealt with when it came to customer service, which is to say they were largely indifferent to whether or not I was satisfied with them.

I switched to First Direct a few years ago, and their customer service is great. They're always friendly, and seem genuinely interested in solving whatever issue I come to them with.

I hope that helps.

I'm of the opinion that it just doesn't matter.  A bank is a bank is a bank. 

Yes!! 

I've have accounts with RBS, Halifax, Santander and Nationwide for different applications.  I'm not afraid to shop and switch banks around for what I need/want.    They all have pro's and cons and yet, they're still all banks...
Currently liking Santander's current account interest rates, but getting annoyed with the fact that the fee is more than last year, so may switch soon.   I like RBS's online banking app and hate Santander's app.  Halifax is always such a huge wait with their customer services, and Santander feels really clinical.  RBS has nice customer service, but they're always trying to sell me something.  Nationwide won't let me do online banking for the type of account I have! (but good interest rates!). 

So basically, go with something that will actually let you have an account as a person new to the country (this is how I ended up with RBS in the first place, as my company vouched for me), and then keep an eye on it and move around as and when you can.  Banks now have switching services that make it so easy!

Thanks all!

You may want to do some research on the premium accounts that banks will try to sell to you.  That's s current account that has a monthly fee, but also includes things like travel insurance and breakdown insurance.  This may sound like a good idea, but often people don't realise that both insurances are pretty limited.  These types of accounts can be a real rip off, or not, depending on your circumstances. 

NatWest was by far the most helpful to me when I frequently traveling as a worker.  HSBC basically spit on me.  Nationwide was ok but didnt have as many locations by me.  Guess who has our corporate accounts and my personal accounts now?  There is something to be said for customer service and in the UK I latch onto anyone or anything that gives it to me.  It's so hard to find a place that has American style customer service.

We're with Lloyds, mostly because they had a branch a few blocks from us, but have had no problems. Of course, that branch has since closed but I do 99% of my banking online so it's not a big deal.

The thing I find amusing is the "perks" that British banks offer you. Like I'm used to cash back, rewards points, etc as perks but with Lloyd's we got... membership in a restaurant discount club! The banker was really excited about offering this to us, like it was a huge deal. We even got a reminder when we hadn't used it asking us why. Maybe other banks offer legitimate rewards but I can't be bothered to switch.

The thing I find amusing is the "perks" that British banks offer you. Like I'm used to cash back, rewards points, etc as perks but with Lloyd's we got... membership in a restaurant discount club! The banker was really excited about offering this to us, like it was a huge deal. We even got a reminder when we hadn't used it asking us why. Maybe other banks offer legitimate rewards but I can't be bothered to switch.

When I was looking for student accounts, the banks were all competing with each other for who could give the best perks - with Natwest, I think I had a choice between a cash reward and a portable TV (this was way before smartphones or tablets).

I think my brothers both got a better deal than me though when they opened student accounts with the same bank: a 5-year Young Person's Railcard.

That's funny, hope we get offered some sort of perk.

We have to use HSBC as my husband is an expat and that's which bank his company chose. So we apparently have Premium accounts in the US and the UK. I say apparently because there's nothing remotely Premium about the way we get treated! It took 3 (long) visits to the local branch to set up the UK account and the set up was plagued with mistakes on the part of HSBC personnel, and it took 4 weeks in total to get functioning debit cards. Setting up utility accounts in the UK was fun with that scenario! And you can't do online banking until they have sent you a 'secure key' which you need to use when you log on. I don't find them a great bank at all.

I can however recommend Lloyds which I use for my personal banking, easy to deposit money in branch just using your debit card and PIN, easy to get access to your accounts online and make transfers, AND NO SECURE KEY!

And you can't do online banking until they have sent you a 'secure key' which you need to use when you log on.

I agree, these are awful!  I have a couple of accounts which require something similar and it is a huge PITA!

I put up with it because these pay decent interest and I only use them for savings but I could never deal with it for daily banking!

We have to use HSBC as my husband is an expat and that's which bank his company chose. So we apparently have Premium accounts in the US and the UK. I say apparently because there's nothing remotely Premium about the way we get treated! It took 3 (long) visits to the local branch to set up the UK account and the set up was plagued with mistakes on the part of HSBC personnel, and it took 4 weeks in total to get functioning debit cards. Setting up utility accounts in the UK was fun with that scenario! And you can't do online banking until they have sent you a 'secure key' which you need to use when you log on. I don't find them a great bank at all.

I can however recommend Lloyds which I use for my personal banking, easy to deposit money in branch just using your debit card and PIN, easy to get access to your accounts online and make transfers, AND NO SECURE KEY!

Funny, I've had the opposite experience as I've been a customer of HSBC for 17 years and always found them just fine.  I'm sure if I had your experiences it might be a different story. 

I was really moved to comment because I know a little about on line security and think that the secure key is very important to keeping your accounts safe on line. I'm really glad I've got it. 

I'm sure that if you didn't have one and needed it you might think differently, but that kind of authentication is top of the line from a security point of view.