Bank of Scotland for Students

Advantages: Biggest overdraft, branches are plentiful, great service
Disadvantages: Can't think of any!

...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...

Diablo666 08.03.2008 (12.08.2008) · Read review
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Review of Bank of Scotland Accounts

Me and banks

Advantages: All round a great service
Disadvantages: None really

...of times. I'd left Lloyds after a year or so because I ran up a big overdraft when I first started working, and I'd moved onto NatWest, only for them to pull the rug from under me, forcing me off to the Co-op bank, where I stayed for quite some time, before getting into difficulties again. In every case, I'd been fairly appalled by the attitude of managers at each of these banks - they were fine when you were doing okay and couldn't wait to throw dosh at you, but as soon as things took a turn for the worse they were soon after your hide. I had grown thoroughly disenchanted with the whole industry, but then when we moved up to Lancashire, we got a mortgage from the Royal Bank of Scotland and opened a bank account with them and the last four years have been a revelation - finally a bank account that worked, managers that cared, staff that...

dave27 20.11.2001 · Read review
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Review of Royal Bank of Scotland

Re-mortgaging with the Royal Bank of Scotland

Advantages: Friendly personal service.
Disadvantages: None that I know of!

...I've been a home-owner now for about eleven years: bought my first house as the market hit rock bottom and and am still there. Naive as I was then about financial matters, I took advice from a professional and ended up with an endowment mortgage. I expect you can guess what happened next. Actually it wasn't that bad: I still had fifteen years to run on my mortgage and am young enough to get another 25-year mortgage. So that's what I decided to do. I have banked with Royal Bank of Scotland ever since they took over Williams & Glynn's Bank nearly 20 years ago and while I've had other bank accounts as well, both personal and treasurers' accounts for some clubs I've been involved in, as well as building society accounts, RBS have always won hands down when it comes to customer service and helpfulness. Also, and this is VERY IMPORTANT, you...

nikmacve 28.04.2004 · Read review
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Review of Royal Bank of Scotland Mortgages

Happy Banking

Advantages: Respectable company
Disadvantages: Not always competitive

...I currently am an account holder with The Royal Bank Of Scotland. (RBS) I am happy overall with the way in which they help me handle my account, and I have no hesitations in recommending the RBS to anyone else. My Account ---------- I currently have a Route 21 Account, which is for people aged between 16-21. This is normally a very popular account with students, as when you are in this account, you are entitled to many offers, ie free entry into loads of top clubs in the UK. With the Route 21 Account, I can have a switch card, credit card, cheque book, and all the usual facilities, (as long as you are over the age of 18)however, with a normal bank account, I would not receive the special deals for clubs etc. The Royal Bank Of Scotland --------------------------- I think this is a great bank to be...

carol_uk 16.12.2002 (20.12.2002) · Read review
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Review of Royal Bank of Scotland

RBS - Ripoff Bank of Sharks

Advantages: They provide the best on-line banking service
Disadvantages: Too many to list

...*** IN THE BEGINNING *** When I began college I decided to open my first bank account. I walked to the first bank I could find and signed up for their Student account. Unluckily for me, it turned out to be Royal Bank of Scotland. Being a little biased and overpatriotic I thought it would be a good thing to join a Scottish bank. They even claimed that they would offer me 20 pounds if I joined them so how could I refuse. Sadly, this bribe payment never actually appeared in my account, despite all the complaints. Mistakenly, I continued to use them ever since, much to my disappointment on many occasions when dealing with them. *** ENDLESS QUEUES & ENDLESS PROBLEMS *** Basically, any time I have made any unusual transactions like international money transfers, RBS inevitably seem to get something wrong. It was not so unusual...

flurey 10.04.2003 (11.04.2003) · Read review
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Review of Royal Bank of Scotland

PC Banking with the Royal Bank of Scotland

Advantages: You'll never need to visit your bank again.
Disadvantages: Security errors when they arise.

...I had been using the telephone banking service offered by the Royal Bank Scotland (RBS) for a number of years, when they launched their PC Banking. Being relatively new to the internet I was weary of signing up, although knowing how easy the telephone banking service was I decided to give it a try. The PC banking registration was fairly simple and the security steps in place are reassuring. The additional bonus of this service is that you can use the facility on one or more machines but each with a different registration code. I found this very useful as I can use the service in two places with the confidence of total security at each. Once I started regularly using the service I realised there were a few areas that could be improved and over the past year they have and the options available have made PC banking as easy...

lucybradly 28.01.2001 · Read review
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Review of Royal Bank of Scotland Online

This bank is horrendous!!

Advantages: Brilliant online banking
Disadvantages: too many!!

...tried to tell us that we needed this insurance but the truth of the matter was that if we had needed to claim they wouldn't have given us a penny as we didn't own the property. After a few letters back and forth the eventually refunded £180. I really want to change banks but seeing some of the other reviews I can't really decide on which bank to choose. All banks have their flaws, no one is perfect. Certainly not The Royal Bank of Scotland. Thank you to anyone who has spared the time and the willpower to read my long review....

thejigglyone 19.07.2005 · Read review
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Review of Royal Bank of Scotland

7 top tips on banking with BoS

Advantages: Good Branches
Disadvantages: Phone banking, account transfers, 1200% charges, interest

...I've been an account holder at the Bank of Scotland since 1989 or there abouts. -------------------------------------------------------- To summarize, 10 tips for banking??.. 1:Don't have more than one account, it will confuse your bank.. 2: Put on your best suit when you go to see about a mortgage. Dress badly and the advisor will insult you and tell you that you wont get enough to change your mortgage, even though its less than the one you already have. 3: Don't ask your bank for information regarding your own money, your not entitled to know about it. 4: Don't be stupid enough to think that if you save money in an account that you will ever be able to access it. 5: If you save some money in an account the advisor will help you to keep saving by telling you that you don't have any to spend. 6: Never exceed your overdraft by £2...

skrg28 30.09.2006 · Read review
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Review of Bank of Scotland

RBS Direct Banking

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....

gray 17.12.2000 · Read review
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Review of Royal Bank of Scotland

Royal Bank of Scotland... and small print.

Advantages: Local branches in most towns
Disadvantages: poorly trained staff and ridiculous service charges

...I’ve had a current account with this bank for around 13 years and a business account for the past 5 years, my local branch (Sanquhar) is about the most unwelcome place you could think of, 2” of bullet proof glass between you and some of the most unfriendly and poorly trained people I have ever worked with. In the past I have had money transfers and checks paid into the wrong accounts as well as ridiculous charges for transfers and withdrawals. If all of that isn’t enough to make people stay away from this bank, well then there is the service charges for going over your overdraft, which is more a punishment than an actual charge as I couldn’t find a lone shark with these rates (in my case 100% per day). On the 15th of November 2004 I inadvertently put myself £14 over my overdraft, a transaction had taken place, goods had been...

Ash599 13.02.2005 · Read review
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Review of Royal Bank of Scotland