Any current account recommendations
Wed, 19/12/2007 - 16:52
Hi Mattyboy,
The best current account generally depends on what you want from it and how you manage your money.
If you rely on your overdraft, go for an account with a low rate or interest-free overdraft. If you're good at staying in the black, opt for one that pays credit interest on balances.
A good account across the board, which came top was awarded the Moneywise Best Current Account 2007, is the Premier Direct Current Account from Alliance & Leicester. It offers an interest-free overdraft for 12 months and pays 6.5% AER on balances up to £2,500 - providing you pay in £500 a month and are aged 21 or over.
Hope that helps!
Fri, 21/12/2007 - 09:45
It's the online arm of the Co-operative Bank and they're pretty good on interest rates and customer service, I'd say (except for one lapse, which they eventually put right!).
Fri, 21/12/2007 - 11:00
I'm with cahoot and very happy with them. Simply because they never bother me and let me get on with it 100% online... However, if it's a good AER that you are after then I'd go with Hannah's suggestion http://www.alliance-leicester.co.uk/currentaccounts/index.asp?page=premi...
Fri, 21/12/2007 - 13:41
I'm with First Direct - they certainly aren't the most competitive current account out there and I wasn't impressed when they introduced the account fee for those that pay in less than £1,500 a month and don't hold any other First Direct products. However, what I do like is their customer service. The online banking facility is great and when I need to call them there's a friendly person on the end of the line who can usually deal with your query without you being passed from pillar to post.
Rachel Lacey is the editor of Moneywise
Tue, 08/01/2008 - 17:17
I don't know about the best rate or anything but Barclays has a neat new way to log on to online banking which is meant to be safer that just having a username and password.
Barclays send you a little blue calculator (that;s what it looks like anyhow) and when you want to log on to your online account you put your debit card into it and enter your pin. You then get a special number to type into the online log on page!
It's a bit of a pain not being able to check our online statement from anywhere unless you carry the calculator around with you but its a pretty cool tool and if it keeps my bank details safer then I'm happy!
Tue, 15/01/2008 - 10:42
I have held a current account with Alliance and Leicester since they began as the Girobank more than 25 years ago. I have never found an account that can beat them. I use internet banking but can phone anytime to a UK based call centre. Their savings rates are not brilliant but good enough to hold a little ever ready surplus.
Fri, 13/06/2008 - 05:44
I travel a lot and the only bank that does not charge to take money out abroad is Nationwide. I have accounts with Nat west, BOS as well, like the BOS on line stuff, hate that stupid calculator nat west make me carry around, BOS its just a small key ring. I guess if i had to choose now i would keep BOS and nationwide.
Best savings account i think is , wait for it, Northern Rock, good online, good rate and safe despite all the rubish in the news but have 1 linked to the nationwide account as well.
Er in doors has a gold account with Loydes and thats good for benefits,travel insurance etc, also better than nat west
Fri, 13/06/2008 - 15:45
I'm customer of this bank and can honestly say I have never had a bad service Premier Direct Current Account from Alliance & Leicester.
Also an ex member of Nat West due the bad service, overcharging, constant letter sending for no reason charging me every time.
Their online banking is very straight forward,not like some I can think of.
I understand that Nationwide is charge free in EU but does it extend to non EU countries?.
Sun, 15/06/2008 - 12:24
I am currently with HSBC- my only recommendation is not to bother.
I have low credit rating and would like to venture elsewhere- any recommendations?
Tue, 17/06/2008 - 11:35
I've banked with First Direct for years, and have found them reliable and efficient. When they have made the occasional mistake, they put it right promptly and compensated me.
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I'm banking with Nat West at the moment and I'm really not happy with the service at all - does anyone have any recommendations?