Alliance & Leicester Accounts

Advantages: instant access, good interest rates, open from £1
Disadvantages: some customer advisors not the most helpful or knowledgeable

...some basic research, I found Alliance & Leicester’s ‘First Save’ instant access savings account for children came out tops in terms of interest rates earned (currently over 4 percent Gross) and flexibility in operation. There were also a couple of other banks and building society accounts that I considered such as Nationwide Building Society’s Smart 2 Save (currently 4.00% gross), some Halifax accounts (though they required regular monthly payments) ...
...higher than 4% apart from Alliance & Leicester was at some of the more rural Building societies. However, rural building societies often have their own built in clauses with the account meaning only local residents can open such accounts e.g. Saffron Building Society (currently 4.7% gross). Therefore, the best choice of account available to me was the Alliance & Leicester First Save account. Opening the account (Child’s) As the account is for people ... Read review

Advantages: Friendly local help, internet and phone access to account.
Disadvantages: Slow to process cheques.

...eventually we decided on the Alliance and Leicester (A&L). I had made an enquiry about charity accounts earlier that year as well as ISA's and on both occasions they had been very helpful. We also wanted to change our mortgage so we decided to ask about this as well. We ended up changing both to the A&L. But more about the mortgage for another op. maybe. The A&L have at least two different current accounts , I think depending on income . When we ...
...year to open Premier Account Plus , so we just qualified . The lady that helped us at the branch was very helpful and sorted out the new mortgage , the current account , a phonesave account which comes with the Premier account and a money back credit card. By the time the mortgage was all sorted out we felt we had become friends . We had loads of problems when we first opened the account .The old bank supplied the new bank with details of our standing ... Read review

Advantages: Good customer service, competitive rates of interest
Disadvantages: I'm still pretty much skint

...bank near me were with Alliance Leicester (technically not a bank, but a building society). I’d also been thinking about opening a savings account to stash away some of my Christmas money (I sound so sensible!), and AL had both of these, and the savings account had a really good interest rate (4.40%). I went to my nearest branch, complete with passport and proof of address, and opened both accounts at the same time. I chose the U18 cashcard account, ...
...did play this really annoying Alliance Leicester song over and over until I was ready to throw the phone at the wall. On the positive side, the interest rates are pretty competitive, and the online banking facility is kinda cool (I’m only little, leave me be). Alliance Leicester do a huge range of different accounts, as well as mortgages, personal loans, credit cards and motor finance. Website: www.Alliance-Leicester.co.uk Any comments are very ... Read review

Advantages: Available online, over the phone or in local branch
Disadvantages: Variable delivery for stationery

...street banks, I swopped to Alliance and Leicest Premier Account three years ago,(the premier account does need a minimum £500 monthly payment into the account) I also set up a savings account at the same time. They currently offer £25 on opening an account online, and 2.12% AER credit interest rate plus a 0%AER on overdrawn accounts up to a limit of £2500. The Premier account gives both a cheque book and 3 in one Visa debit card, with £100 cheque ...
...I would certainly recommend Alliance and Leicester, particularly for someone like myself who works full time, lives miles from the nearest town and needs a bank that is accessible when I need it rather than during normal banking hours. It is accessible to both phone and internet users and visitors to local branches where money can also be paid in and withdrawn. ... Read review

Advantages: Good interest rate
Disadvantages: No personal banker - many banking services can only be done over the phone/Internet

...opened Premier Current Account with Alliance & Leicester because like many others, I was disappointed with the interest rate with many high street banks. For example, Barclays/HSBC interest rate on the current account is a pathetic 0.1%, whereas A & L Premier Current Account (PCA) is 2.12%AER. Interest is paid on a monthly basis. The only catch is that you must pay a minimum of £500 per month if you wish to continue to receive 2.12%AER. This suited ...
...account. The opening of this account was straightforward. I visited a local branch filled in simple application form. The staff was friendly, helpful and told me that they required to carry out a credit reference check and will inform by phone me of the outcome. Later that day, I received a call informing me I have passed the credit reference check. A few days later, I received a formal application form which I signed and returned. Soon enough, ... Read review