The Worlds Local Bank

[mrfiresky]

i moved all my money to the nationwide building society. it is a mutual and therefore set up for members and not shareholders. they have always treated me and the mrs very well.

[Kris]

I was thinking Nationwide actually as they are one of the the few to actually still have an office in my village
_________________
"fashioned by the blade of a world that doesn't care,
feeling so removed, drifting thru stealing air then...
pause and think about it, try to move and shift the pain, but it's there you feel it kicking and you scream and feel alive."

[sparky]

swicthed to smile last year - ethics were a factor but by fortunate coincidence it's actually a really good account: low fees, good interest, good online banking, excellent customer service etc, so if anyone is thinking of switching bank after reading this thread i guess they're worthy of consideration.

http://www.smile.co.uk/images/pdf/ethical_policy.pdf

[Kris]

In today's climate Smile won't have much investment opportunities

I'm sold.
_________________
"fashioned by the blade of a world that doesn't care,
feeling so removed, drifting thru stealing air then...
pause and think about it, try to move and shift the pain, but it's there you feel it kicking and you scream and feel alive."

[bc]

i had a few unpaid weeks earlier this year and have not been able to catch up since. the reason being that the royal bank of scotland, where i have had an account since 1989, have taken charge after charge from me. last month they took £280! from my account because i missed a few direct debits (small ones too, greenpeace, labour party, which i have been meaning to cancel for an age now anyway, lfctv etc) thus ensuring that next month will be even harder for me to meet these commitments. fifteen fucking years! i was never overdrawn until a couple of years ago when i was made to switch to an account with an overdraft facility which i never wanted. we started a smile account recently and they seem to be the best around, financially and ethically. as soon as i can clear my overdraft the rsb can stick their bank up their thieving arse.

[sparky]

i once missed four direct debits with nat west cos i fucked up and they charged me £108.

so i rang them, said to the young lad on the other end of the phone: "look mate, i know there's no reason why you should do this, but i'd be really grateful if you could just wipe those charges from my account".

and he did!! always worth asking...

[Kris]

That once happened to me with HSBC and my polite request was:

"You see this mortgage this mortgage protection policy this credit card this life insurance this current account and this loan? They all walkin out the door unless them charges disappear".

I'm a polite fucker when I wanna be.

They got rid of the charge but now I'm walkin anyway, just up the road to the Co-Operative.
_________________
"fashioned by the blade of a world that doesn't care,
feeling so removed, drifting thru stealing air then...
pause and think about it, try to move and shift the pain, but it's there you feel it kicking and you scream and feel alive."

[KENFROM RHYL]

I HAVE NEVER USED BANKS. I AM PAID IN CASH AND IF THEY DONT TAKE MY CASH ANYWHERE THEN ITS TOUGH LUCK.

[John Mc]

Banks rely on people not moving their accounts, most people have loans, direct debits, and their mortgages through their bank and can't be bothered going through the hassle of changing it all. I've done the same thing, Natwest have messed me around loads of times and I always say I'll go somewhere else when I've got some money, but I haven't so far due to my laziness.

[bc]

well, i just composed my first ever angry letter. it felt good.

[paulwhite]

i work for barclays, but bank nationwide.

i fully recommend nationwide for simple hassle-free banking (including online) with decent rates, plus all the benefits for being a member for so long

but dont recommend barclays unless you're a very very highly paid business man

whitex

[ciaranm]

I like banks they've got to be used, otherwise we'd have all our money in biscuit tins under our beds where nasty robbers cuold find it, so I'm happy the honest financial guardians of the banking sector have our interests at heart and keep our money safe for us.....lets bow our heads and thank them....sniff