West Bromwich Building Society

Advantages: Some great headline rates
Disadvantages: Wont to drop or be discontinued quickly

Apparently, the West Bromwich Building Society is the 9th largest building society in England (according to their website) and they were formed over 150 years ago. I guess that demutualisation by other building societies has lead, in part, to this rise up the building society league tables. Branches of the building society are mainly found in the West Midlands but, with the advent on telephone, postal and internet banking it is now no longer an issue ...
...go to a branch. West Brom came onto my radar screen a few years ago as an institution offering some good rates on non-branch based accounts. I cannot comment on their branch based service as I've never set foot in a branch, and, indeed, until they started hitting some of the "best buy" tables in terms of interest rates I think I'd be hard pushed to say I'd even heard of them. In general I have found the administration of accounts by the bank to ... Read review

Advantages: Efficient turnaround times for statements, polite customer service
Disadvantages: High charges for redemption statements

...product, but work to remortgage West Bromwich Building Society mortgages on a semi-regular basis. West Bromwich is one of the less common mortgage lenders that we tend to remortgage from at the company I worked for. They have a few good points, but they definitely have their bad points. West Bromwich are a lender who charge you interest by the month, whereas most lenders at present charge you a daily interest. It is worth taking note of this as ...
...As for customer service, West Bromwich do take quite a while to get through to, but their customer services are quite helpful nevertheless. I rarely have cause to ring them as their statements are accurate and they are efficient when it comes to providing us with the documents we require to proceed with a remortgage. But there is a reason for this, so read on! West Bromwich Building Society most definitely has the highest charge for redemption statements ... Read review

Advantages: Not a bank, reasonable rate, decent service
Disadvantages: Not the highest interest rate around

I have a West Bromwich TESSA that will mature in November 2002. The interest rate is not the highest (currently about 6.35%) but the West Bromwich seems to be one of the few building societies left (if that bothers you). Each year, about two months before the anniversary of my TESSA they write to me telling me that the anniversary is approaching and that I can still pay in my full allowance for the year. Each January, they send me a statement telling ... Read review

Advantages: Good interest, friendly staff
Disadvantages: long queues

...have been banking with the west bromwich building society for nearly a year. I wanted to invest some money for my future.As a student I was looking around for high interest and an account which i could save into regularly. I went into a branch of the West Bromwich and was very pleased with all the help I recieved. I was talked through all my options and given advice on a regular saving account. I am very happy with the account and interest I receive ...
...£40 a month, If paid 10 months out of 12 you recieve a bonus with interest. The Branch i go to has just been refurbished and security is now much better than before, the furnishings are attractive and moderen. There is wheel chair and push chair access so this should meet every ones needs. Staff are so friendly and kindly put themselves out to help. The only fault I have come across is long queues and lack of cashiers, other than that i rate it ... Read review

Advantages: none - unless you never intend to make a withdrawal
Disadvantages: Slow to act on instructions; An hour to answer 'phone, send transfers 'incorrect details'

This operation is useless. I opened a Premier bonus 4 tracker account with them at the end of 2007as it had an attractive interest rate and allowed 6 withdrawals a year. unfortunately their customer services and operations are completely incompetent. It took a week for them to follow my instructions sent by 1st class post to make a transfer. Each time I 'phoned I had to hold for an hour before they answered. I was told a couple of days ago the funds ... Read review