Online Bank Accounts

[Onslo]

Just wondering if anyone has an online bank acount and if so which one do you use?

I am thinking of setting one up purely for a savings account for things like holidays, a new car etc etc

Anyone use one?

'Slo

Hi,

Intelligent Finance

http://www.if.com

Go read all about them. Q Good..... Site is bloody slow @ times though.

STS

[FlorenceSmith]

My sister opened an IF account and it has been nothing but a nightmare. They were slow at sending necessary stuff, didn't respond to queries, and just generally mucked up. Trouble was the last thing she needed, she had opened the account for the 'ease' and all its caused is major headaches.

Just thought I'd mention a bad side of IF!

One funny thing is that a friend also opened an account and he phoned with a query. They said "May I have your surname?". He said "Hughes". They said "Mr Simon Hughes of High Road Farm" and he said "Yes". It made us wonder how many customers they had when they guessed right just from his surname!!! (He was phoning from work too, so I don't think they got it from his phone number!)

[Dantony]

I had an account with First-e, the French online bank, for a while but they could not get enough UK punters to join so they closed.
It was OK when I was there and they gave me a fair amount of money to persuade me to join, I finished up well in the black.
I have been considering joining Smile, the Co-op online bank, it is only that stupid name that puts me off.
Their parent is a long established bank and they have an ethical financial policy.
They also speak English.
Have a look at www.smile.co.uk

[Scoobs]

i use Nat West had no probs with them and now they have upgraded you can see balance transfers etc in real time.

scoobs

[antibt]

Go for www.cahoot.com. quite good and reliable and pays good interest as well.

[bouncingjohn]

I've been with First Direct for a few years now and had no problems whatsoever. Started with their telephone banking service then switched to online and the interest jumped by an amazing amount (from around 30p a month to around £5 - mind you, I had about £6000 in my account at the time - saving up for a mortgage).

[Mr Pedantic]

Im online banking with Abbey National, Egg, and American Express. No problems with any of them

[Steed]

Hi

I use Co Op online Banking all the time, had no probs and I also use their Internet Bank "Smile" for savings ISA's & such.

Never been unable to access & site loads pretty fast, have a feeling the Co Op session will time out if you leave it inactive as a security thingy, only caught me once tho.



Steed

[Mr Pedantic]

Steed do you get you Divi LOL

[Pisces]

Have an Abbey National eSaver. Use the online banking to transfer between current account and eSaver. No problems.

Pisces

[katie]

Online and telephone banking with the Halifax. Been with them for 7 years, few hiccups but nothing major. Can view all transactions on my account, set up standing orders, make bill payments/transfers to other accounts. It's great.

Katie.

[fabienne00]

Onslo: if your account is to be mainly for savings, you really need to get the one that pays the most! E-banking may not be the best option. Some accounts will give you better interest if your money is tied for 6 months or 1 year.

[gem]

Take fabienne00's advice, internet banking for real savings may well not be the way to go.
Internet banking generally tho', I've been with Barclays ever since they started PC banking (you connected to their server and downloaded the latest 'statement', you could also pay bills etc - that was all years ago!) and have a current a/c and a savings a/c which I use as a buffer for when the c/a gets low (again!) (interest is useless!). The c/a I pay bills, set up a DD or a SO, transfer money etc.

[Tim]

I used HSBC's online banking without problems, but doubt they offer the best interest.

I have used Woolwich for my parents accounts and their system is very good as well.

[Steed]

Hi Glen

I never thought of that will apply for my divi immebiately



Steed

[Onslo]

Well it's not a huge lump sum that I plan on saving, but more of a monthly standing order into another account that will eventually finance an annual holiday or something.

I agree that the level of interest is important, but for ease of use the online banking system has to be the most convenient method of banking, and interest is not my primary concern with this account.

I already have online access to my Nat West and Royal Bank of Scotland accounts and am suitably pleased with both, however I would like to open another just for the purpose mentioned above.

I looked at Cahoot and have been considering that option for a while now.

I have had nothing but bad experience with Egg though.....having applied for a bank account with them a while back all I got was letters from them requesting more and more and more information from me about my living arrangements, actual address (coz they claimed it didn't exist), then they lost all my info and requested that I fill out all the forms again......then they started asking for the same info from me again.....I ventually just stopped reponding and thought "sod that for a game of soldiers".

Will take a look at some of the others mentioned here

Thanks

'Slo

[gem]

I forgot, I've have a Tesco Savings a/c! You can pay money in (cash/cheques) and take money out at any Tescos, you get internet banking with them too and, if you spend with it in Tescos you also get points (not a great plus but ...).

[Tankman]

The Nationwide Building Society operate an esavings account which offers a good rate of interest.
I've used one for over a year without any problems what-so-ever

[FlorenceSmith]

If you're happy with your current banks, why don't you just open another account with one of them?

[Huw]

I had a nightmare with halifax but they did cough £25 compo per mistake = £150 in 6 weeks. Nationwide are good, cahoot and natwest OK too.

Nationwide credit card gives 2 years extended warranty free on white goods and great terms buying /getting notes abroad.

[The Dynamo]

We have a current account with Northern Rock and for online banking we use Barclays, with their cc, we find it very convenient.
There's also a Barclay Branch on our doorstep although I know the Post Office is also convenient.

george

[msmh]

I use the Natwest service for my current account [although have only used it to pay my credit card {from Natwest} statement]. If you make a lot of payments to others then the service looks usefull. For a high rate of intrest you want the least number of features possible, which NWOLB does not offer

I applied for the account at a NW branch. I chose them since they give students £50 free for starting an accoung

[Askan]

I was quick off the mark with Internet banking and changed over to FirstDirect well over a year ago.

It's been good - I have my savings account, current account and Visa account there and can easily swap money (which is becoming ever more virtual these days) between them and make payments all at the press of a button.

However my husband waited until HSBC (parent company of FirstDirect) offered the same thing and I think they are faster to load and process, tho I may be wrong (happens sometimes )

[Memfis]

I'm with HSBC and find internet banking with them very fast & secure.

Not one complaint, they've even been quite nice to me about my overdraft ;-)

~Mem

[bouncingjohn]

I had to 'phone FirstDirect this morning as I couldn't work out how to transfer money from my current account to my new FD Visa card - the guy I spoke to was really helpful and actually set the transfer up for me.

In fact, I can't remember a time when they haven't been able to sort out any problems in a few minutes.