Advantages: good service, fast
Disadvantages: no

...I have been banking with Lloyds now for a few years after switching over from Barclays. I have found that the overall service from Lloyds is greater than any of the other bank's around. The interest rate is good on my savings account, and there are always a number of extras in the lloyds cashpoint account. The Bank is a secure firm and the money is very safe, no kidding. There are a number of cashpoints around the country and you can even use your card in other leading bank cashpoints in Britain. So I would reccommed Lloyds to anyone who wants a good decent bank account where I have yet to have any problems.... Read review

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Advantages: OVERDRAFT
Disadvantages: NOT ENOUGH Branchs

...HSBC BANKING Well I have used HSBC bank for five years and I think they are great. On line banking is good as well. There is all sorts off accounts to suit your borrow needs. And overdraft service is good on the Account plus. And you have worldwide family travel insurance. They offer flexible accessible banking that put you in control. You can choose how you contact them. The Telephone banking is very good would recommened it as the call centre people are polite and helpful. But if you have the Internet it is just as good but as you can see you have a number of ways of contacting them. Their Internet banking site is easy to use. You can move your money from one account to other without going into the branch. The bank is great. And they have 24-hour telephone service. Now I thought this was very helpful they have services for disabley... Read review

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Advantages: efficient, reliable, good value
Disadvantages: none

...The direct banking arm of The Royal Bank of Scotland is superb. I have been using the telephone banking for over two years and have not experienced a single fault. Each instruction is executed at the time I have specified, and small touches like a freephone balance check and mini statement are appreciated. The sharedealing facility is good value also. I have recently started banking by pc, and the number of security features in place are reassuring. The user interface is clear and efficient, and coupled with an online savings account offering 5% interest, I look forward to using direct banking to manage my account more effectively.... Read review

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Advantages: great service,
Disadvantages: can charge for using different atm machines

...Barclays provide a great service for students. The reason I initially took a Barclays account was because it was the closest bank to uni, but that wouldnt be a big problem even if it weren't so close because there are so many branches of each type of bank scattered around. The no quibble interest free overdraft limit is £1250 which has proved to be very handy - and thats exactly what it is - NO QUIBBLE!! Friends who bank at other places have regular complaints about the service there bank provides - hassles getting there overdrat extended and things like that whereas I can ring up a branch and extend mine by phone. Quick and easy!... Read review

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Advantages: The £250 fee free overdraft, and the connection to HSBC
Disadvantages: No bank branches, relies on telephone and letter, or going into HSBC

...One of the first banks to offer an instant fee free overdarft of £250 for current accounts. I opened this account when they had an offer on to place £10 into the account for opening a current and a high interest savings account. This offer has finished though. The people when you phone up to the call centres are very helpful. They help you organise all the details you need and are a rather good bank. I have not had any problems with this bank account, and this is a show of how good their service is.... Read review

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Advantages: Good interest rates, vouchers, good overdraft limits
Disadvantages: None

...I chose the Barclays student account due to the Banks good reputation and has been established for a long time. This account is aimed at students 16+ and if you also get a Barclays student credit card, you receive £40 of book vouchers or a camera. The interest rates are competitive at around 3% and the interest free overdraft limit is very good. The customer support is excellent and has online banking facilities aswell. Overall one of the best student accounts around at the moment, very useful if you need to borrow extra cash for book, equipment, etc... Read review

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Advantages: Good rates, i've had no problems with them
Disadvantages: I've not had any, but see other users comments

...I currently seem to be in the minority re firste. I do rate it and would happily advise others to consider it when setting up an internet bank account. As another reviewer has correctly stated, people with internet banks have little loyalty to any particular bank and are able to chase the best rates. Firste has competitive rates but with new banks coming online every few months it's worth keeping abreast of interest rates. It is true that the signing on process is a bit more complicated that the others and that this bank is based in France rather than the UK (it's a European bank rather than a bank just for UK resident people). As well as special free software needed to run the account (downloadable or available on CD) you will also need a password and special code numbers when operating your account. Therefore, the security does... Read review

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Advantages: Extremely good internet banking, good range of services
Disadvantages: Very poor interest rates

...Barclays Bank have what I think one of the most innovative accounts on the High Street. Their Open Plan service I feel is second to none. It actually stops me from going overdrawn without having to worry about how much is in my current account. How it works is that you tell the bank what the lowest balance you want to keep in your current account is (you can even use your maximun overdraft limit if you wish). As soon as your account reaches the lower amount you specify, the bank automatically transfers money from a linked savings account to your current account to stop your account going overdrawn (or over your limit) and thus avoids you paying any costly bank charges. This has saved me from charges many times!!! It also means that your other money earns more interest than your standard 0.10%!! until you actually need it. At the other... Read review

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Advantages: High interest rates and short queues
Disadvantages: Staff not that eager to serve customers

...I went to Alliance & Leicester to open a bank account recently. I was amazed at how quiet the bank is on a Saturday morning compared to other high streets bank. There is practically no queue at all. And to my amazement, with 3 staff over the counters serving only 1 customer, I was asked to be seated for 5 minutes before being served. The staff kept apologising to me for being busy which I don't think the staff is. Though service is okay, nothing to be praised but the interest rates of the easy saver account seem to be slightly better than other banks. And there is no notice period for withdrawal. However, there is no passbook for the account and you can't apply for internet banking with this account without a current account.... Read review

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Advantages: Cute logo
Disadvantages: Needs recommendation from account holder

...Bank of Cypus has a cute logo which is very attractive especially if you like cartoons like me. The Bank of Cyprus however works very closely within the community and you would need to be recommended by an account holder in order to open an account with it. The last I know the Bank of Cyprus offered £10 or £20 just to open an account with it. The recommendation part is a bit of a headache since any potential customer would have to know somebody who is already a customer of the bank. But if the potential customer does not know any body who is already a customer of the bank then the bank loses that potential customer, even if that potential customer has the necessary identification documents to prove his or her identity.... Read review

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