I'm 20 years old and I study Petroleum Geology at the University of Aberdeen. I love drinking, socia...
I'm 20 years old and I study Petroleum Geology at the University of Aberdeen. I love drinking, socialising, playing games, walking, reading wikipedia, and going out & about.
Member since:03.12.2002
Reviews:5
Members who trust:1
I'm a student and chose the Bank of Scotland mainly because they offered the largest interest free overdraft - In my first year I didn't need this, but I'm thankful that I took it as its proved very handy this year (2nd year)
I originally wanted to go with Lloyds - but they said I couldn't bank with them because no member of my family banked with them (great business model) - I hope they go bust now. But them I'm glad they did, because I got to go with Bank of Scotland!
Online banking is a breeze - I have two credit cards with the Bank of Scotland, and everything it managed from the one portal. It's secure, easy to use and doesn't require you to write down your password and pick the 7th, 11th and 12th letters from it just to log in.
Telephone banking is also relatively easy - with a trusting scottish accent on the automated system you come out of the ordeal slightly happier than you were before - quite impressive for telephone banking I must say!
Branches are plentiful (especially in Scotland), there are more branches of the Bank of Scotland in small towns than any other bank (in my experience) - Its the only bank on my University Campus (the University of Aberdeen),
I wish I could say the adverts were good - but really I can't. They are irritating and degrading to its existing customers - not a reason to not go with them... but needs mentioned I feel.
Interest Rates - nothing special here, I get 2.5% on my Student Current Account. Recently I saw an advert for 6.3% on desposits over £100,000 - not exactly applicable to me..but maybe it is to you.
Overdrafts (Students) - Here are the overdrafts for the main banks, with any worthwile gifts
Bank of Scotland: £3000 Natwest: £1000-£2000 (free railcard) Royal Bank of Scotland: £2500 (25% off concert tickets) HSBC: £2000 (£15 UCAS fee paid for you) Lloyds TSB: £1500 - £2000 (free mobile phone insurance and £75 cash)
I recently applied for an extra £300 in my overdraft to go to spain (for a geology field trip) - they agreed, but then a day later it was reduced to £1000 - I went into a branch, and a very helpful lady sorted it all out there and then, refunding all charges, requesting that my overdraft was increased to what I asked for, and told me to come back in a couple of days to make sure it was sorted and to refund any extra charges - I did and everything was sorted out! - f*cking excellent service really!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Advantages: Paying off your mortgage quickly and saving you thousands of pounds Disadvantages: You need a lot of common sense and future vision to benefit from this account
Advantages: Good interest free overdraft, nice piece of plastic, lots of branches Disadvantages: Online banking a chore to setup, customer service should be better
Mar 8th, 2008
(Aug 12th, 2008)
very helpful by (70%):
helpful by (30%):
