Back at last - New Pc so hopefully I'll be able to keep up to date now. Helen
Back at last - New Pc so hopefully I'll be able to keep up to date now. Helen
Member since:21.10.2002
Reviews:35
Members who trust:79
I changed my bank account to Alliance and Leicester for a decent interest rate after previously banking with Natwest. The interest rate on my current account was significantly higher and they offered a wide range of savings accounts and loans at very competitive rates. I applied for my current account online and had confirmation, card and stationary in the post within a few days.
The staff are very friendly and will always offer advice and check that you have all the facilities that you require off them when you visit a branch. One of the main restrictions is that only limited information regarding your account is available from the branch. If you wish to check information such as whether a cheque has been presented etc then you need to use their telephone banking service. However, the telephone banking service is at local rate. Although this was a restriction when I visited a branch and required further information they provided a line to their head office.
The main restriction I find with this account after using a previous internet banking account is the limited facilities that are available online. The site loads up fairly quickly and you are provided with a 12 digit customer ID number which is totally random. You need to make a note of it somewhere which isn't really for the security conscious. However they provide an internet helpline 24hrs which will give you this number immediately if you pass a series of security questions. Online, You can obtain a one page summary of balances of all accounts that you have with them - very useful, plus a summary of every page that you have visited on the site. However they have limited banking services online. You can check and download statements, transfer funds and order account stationary. However there is no function to set up or check on standing orders or direct debits which I find a bit irritating. If they added some of these features to the site then I would be totally hapy with it.
All in all though I feel that my finances are much healthier through banking with A&L and would recommend it to anyone who is after healthy interest on their current account.
AMENDED AT LATER DATE:
I felt that I had to update this as I wanted to open a savings account. I thought that as with my current account I would be able to open the account online. However, this was not the case and I had to visit the branch to provide proof of my address and Id to open the account.
When I did this the staff were helpful and friendly and the account was opened in less than 5 minutes but I could not understand why I had to do this as an existing customer, especially since I did not need to do it for a current account
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Hey, I work for A&L...I understand how it is silly that if you are an existing customer you have to bring prove of ID...but that is the rules set out by the governmnet not A&L...A&L have to follow these rules. When you open a banking account ID is not needed...but when you open a savings account ID is...this is simply for fraud purposes e.g. so one person does not have more then one cash ISA a year...I hope this has helped. Lisa x x x
Jaspalc 14.05.2003 15:46
In this world of low interest rates on our savings I think its good that you've highlighted an account that's worth investing money in! Good op.
Apr 29th, 2003
(May 28th, 2003)
very helpful by (86%):
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