Bank of Ireland Online Banking

Advantages: Friendly staff
Disadvantages: Long Cues

...'t like about banks, they should give students credit cards, its an easy target, but its really unfair, banks know that students love money and they work on that - offer you the world. Grrrrrrrrrrr. Anyway - the current account part of it, everything is brilliant about it, my wages go straight into the account, handy to get money in and out. The staff All the staff that I have met over all the years of dealing with them have been really nice, all very professional and understanding. They always check identification for security purposes which makes me feel more secure using them. Bank of Ireland has excellent customer service. The Online Banking I am in the process of setting up online banking, and it is quite a process, you call them, and they have to ID you, so you must have a recent statement in front of you, as they will ask you... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: High interest
Disadvantages: Debit card not widely accepted yet

...First-e pays one of the best rates of interest of online banks. Up to 6.81% on the Savings account. However, the bank is not based in the UK. It is a French bank although I believe the call centres are in the Republic of Ireland. If you bank with first-e then you have an offshore account which means it is not taxed at source. However you would still be liable for tax in the UK. This can be a bit of a pain in the neck if you do not normally fill in a tax return although I understand this can now be done online. As the account is based in France you are relying on French banking laws rather than UK ones. However, the bank has gone to great lengths to deal with this such as setting up a UK Consumer Coucil. The current account offers a chequebook and debit card. I have not receive mine yet but I understand Maestro cards are not yet widely... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average off topic

Advantages: Full service bank account, extremely good value, friendly staff
Disadvantages: Punitive "bad behaviour" fees

....25% Overdraft (if you have a mortgage with them) * 3% Credit Interest (if you pay in £1000 a month) Facilities = Nationwide facilities rank (out-rank?) all the major UK bank facilities for example: * VISA Debit Card (accepted Worldwide, vastly more so than its rival Switch Maestro used by some other UK Banks) and Cheque Book * Online Banking showing your up to the minute balance, transactions, direct debits, standing orders * The ability to set up Money Transfers, Standing Orders, Cancel Direct Debits, arrange Overdrafts etc etc using the Online Banking facility * Full branch network, covering both GB and Northern Ireland (not many banks can claim to do that!) * No Cash Machine Surcharges from Nationwide * 24/7 Customer Call Centre, where the staff are (usually!) very friendly * 24/7 Email facility on the Internet Banking Site * 24/7 Phone... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Friendly staff
Disadvantages: Long Cues

...'t like about banks, they should give students credit cards, its an easy target, but its really unfair, banks know that students love money and they work on that - offer you the world. Grrrrrrrrrrr. Anyway - the current account part of it, everything is brilliant about it, my wages go straight into the account, handy to get money in and out. The staff All the staff that I have met over all the years of dealing with them have been really nice, all very professional and understanding. They always check identification for security purposes which makes me feel more secure using them. Bank of Ireland has excellent customer service. The Online Banking I am in the process of setting up online banking, and it is quite a process, you call them, and they have to ID you, so you must have a recent statement in front of you, as they will ask you... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Full service bank account, extremely good value, friendly staff
Disadvantages: Punitive "bad behaviour" fees

....25% Overdraft (if you have a mortgage with them) * 3% Credit Interest (if you pay in £1000 a month) Facilities = Nationwide facilities rank (out-rank?) all the major UK bank facilities for example: * VISA Debit Card (accepted Worldwide, vastly more so than its rival Switch Maestro used by some other UK Banks) and Cheque Book * Online Banking showing your up to the minute balance, transactions, direct debits, standing orders * The ability to set up Money Transfers, Standing Orders, Cancel Direct Debits, arrange Overdrafts etc etc using the Online Banking facility * Full branch network, covering both GB and Northern Ireland (not many banks can claim to do that!) * No Cash Machine Surcharges from Nationwide * 24/7 Customer Call Centre, where the staff are (usually!) very friendly * 24/7 Email facility on the Internet Banking Site * 24/7 Phone... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Personal service, many options ranging from shares to current accounts
Disadvantages: Slow to react with paperwork, high interest charges

...I am a student from Ireland studying in the UK. When I was moving country I needed to set up a student account and to get a bank loan of £2,300. AIB gave me both of these. The services offered by AIB to new accounts are relatively comforting. They provide personal advisors, and you deal with the same people over the coming years. I have had exactly the same advisor for two years. The terms and costs of accounts are also very clear. Given that I have operated two types of account (Current and Loan) and found no loopholes or small-text in two years I find it unlikey that I ever shall. One downfall of the AIB accounts are high charges. 9% for the Loan account, and around 9.75% on student overdraft. It has been impossible to get an overdraft with them because of this, and I have defected to NatWest, who offer 0% interest overdrafts... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful