Things seem a little quiet 'round here. Currently enjoying my new found mystery shopping career-on-...
Things seem a little quiet 'round here. Currently enjoying my new found mystery shopping career-on-the-side!!
Member since:20.08.2001
Reviews:83
Members who trust:22
A bank is a bank is a bank. Of course. I arrived in the UK December 29th 1999 and have been a member of HSBC-UK since December 30th 1999. You'd think that if you had money (no matter how little or small), you could go into a bank and open an account right? Soooo wrong.
After trying three different banks, and multiple branches, I was seriously considering a little bit of mattress stuffing. Here I was with no debt, no request for an overdraft, money to deposit and good credit; yet there wasn't a bank I could find who would allow me to open an account.
Until my housemate took me to his HSBC branch. It did take a little convincing that I wasn't up to no good and a signed statement on his part (because he had been a member since he was 7 years old) to say he would vouch for me; but I finally got my bank account in the UK. So aside from having a safe place to store my money (not that a spotty mattress in a furnished rented flat wasn't a safe place - I certainly wouldn't have gone near it if I didn't have to sleep there-) what did HSBC do for me?
They allowed me a Solo card. Not as great as a Switch card, but since I was a new member, I was willing to take anything. An instant access savings card was also granted. Both these cards allowed me to access my money at any cash point in the known bank machine world which saves us all time when there isn't a branch in site to faff around in trying to get money from the tellers.
It also gave me interest... although the 4p in each account a month didn't exactly buy me a trip abroad, it was better than losing 4p a month into the above said mattress.
After six months, a Switch card arrived in the mail. The coveted, heavily used, little Green S card. The first time I used my Solo card in an HSBC machine after I had received the Swtich card, it was swallowed up, but who cared? I had my very own 'accepted in most UK retail/service centres' card.
After a year, I was notified that I had been pre-approved for a 5,000 pound loan. It was kind of a scary thing since I didn't even ask for one, but nonetheless, it was nice to know that if I ever needed the bank's help in funding a massive shopping spree, they would be there for me.
But, aside from all the regular bank trimmings (mainly paltry interest and a bank card), HSBC has the most wonderful on-line banking system. Because I now split my time between the UK and Canada, it is unbelievably helpful to keep an eye on my funds day to day in the UK without having to worry what goes on between my monthly statements.
It is a simply sign-up process... Give them a call, they ask for a password, and POOF.... you are ready to check your fortunes on-line. They continually upgrade the security features, and are currently redoing their log-in process, but when I want to know the simple things, like balances... it is easy to access. It also allows you to do transfers and make payments which is nice when I'm not in the country to take care of things otherwise.
Bottom line, I highly recommend HSBC's banking. They are efficient (at least in my experience) and make things easy for members which to me is the most important thing in banking.
Thanks for reading! Erin.
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This is a great op, well done! I also have a premier bank account with HSBC. If you want better interest try the premier account, they offer 60 interest on instant access, and a 250-pound cheque guaranteed card! Also HSBC Merrill Lynch is good for stock brokering and share portfolio management. I also use the private asset management service, hope this helps!
ariadne 12.01.2003 13:52
I totally agree about the online banking service - it is so quick and easy to use, plus it updates instantly unlike the phone banking service.
Jan 7th, 2003
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