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: OK when they have your money and things are going well.
Disadvantages: cannot cope with problems of their own making. Do not respond to letters.

...I have banked with Baclays for 50 years and am a small shareholder. I am a pensioner on fixed income. Barclays re-allocated my deposit account number into which my dividends were being paid and althouhg I asked the companies to use another account number, some carried on sending my dividends to the reallocated account. Barclays redirected them to my new account over a period and then stopped, without any warning to me. I have lost nearly £10,000 and Barclays has refused to do anyhting about it. Beware of Barclays and beware of reallocated accounts!! Barclays was fine over 50 years until they got caught napping. They offered to refund half the money and now refuse to acknowledge their offer. So if you have problems, Barclays is the last to sort them out.... Read review

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Advantages: quarterly statement, good service, bank card
Disadvantages: poor rate of interest

...I have been a member of Barclays bank for a few years now and have been overall totally impressed with it. Although the rate of interest isn't that good, you get a bank statement every 3 months which is really good. Also, the staff at Barclays are really helpful and friendly and provide a good service. I am under 18 so i use the 'Barclay Plus' scheme which allows me to withdraw cash from a machine using my bank card. Although the bank doesn't get that much good publicity, i can't see any faults.... Read review

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Advantages: If you have Sky Digital you can even see your account on TV.
Disadvantages: None worth mentioning.

...Well I wrote an opinion about the online banking section for the Barclays, now the turn of the Mortgage section. Well I hace my mortgage with the Barclays (purely by choice)! First of all if you have looked at the interest rates offered by the Barclays Bank then your right, they are no where near the best, BUT, the customer sefvice is brilliant and everthing is made as clear as possible to you when you are signing up for the mortgage. If you are looking for the specifically for the best rate of interest that you can get then you should use a mortgage broker and not go directly to a bank, but if you are interested in helpful staff and good sound advice then Barclays come first! I worked for the Woolwich Bank a while back beforey they merged with the Barclays and I would strongly recommend their Open plan Mortgage Account, the way... 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: It is so easy to use Barclays Online Bank and it is very secure!
Disadvantages: It takes it's security very serious, but a little too serious! If you click twice instead of once in your account area you are logged off!

...The Barclays Online Bank is the biggest of it's type in the Uk and the best! You have access to absolutely everything you could need:- balance, transfers, payments, loans, direct debits, etc, etc. It is so easy to setup too, either apply online or just pop in to the bank and they will send you the set up package. If you have a business account you can swap funds between your normal online aqccount and your business account which makes life easier than having to go into the bank every tie you need to move money. You can even pay the balance on your Barclay Card this way. With the online services you also get to check out the latest in their loans and mortgages too which is good if you have a mortgage or laon with the Barclays. This service is truly fantastic and deserves fully to be the Uk number one!... Read review

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Advantages: excellent customer service
Disadvantages: long queo

...When applying to university it is a natural step to apply for student account too. But the unanswerable question is which BANKS? The more choice there is in the market the difficult it gets to decide which bank to apply to. But one could argue what are friends and family for? They have adviced me to join Barclays bank. When i asked them what were their reasons, they simply said 'IT IS A GOOD BANK' surely there must be a distinctive reason. To elminiate my choice i decided to go for Barclays bank. From the entarnce i knew what my family and friends were talking about. The availabilty of support and information on how to join was that of endless. Joining the back took me less than 10 minutes, all i needed was an ID and a letter confirming the univeristy acceptance. EASY, EASY!!! Plus they tend to treat you as an individula whom needs... Read review

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Advantages: Good even after you graduated.
Disadvantages: non

...This bank is still good even though you have graduated. There are many many goodies for postgrade. Barclays really take care of graduates, very kind of them. As a student, we always face the same problem -- money! Let's see what can Barclay do for us. There is a £1800 interest-free overdraft, tempting! On top of that, a graduate can loan up to £10,000 with 3 month repayment holiday. Barclay also catch up with the new era of banking style, they provide also FREE on-line banking and FREE internet access. Do you like that? And you can also apply for a Graduate Barclay Card.... Read review

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Advantages: Efficient, Good Variety of products, Best offered Cash ISA 2 years running
Disadvantages: Try and sell you products that are not always beneficial to you.

...Although I have read a lot of negative reviews on Barclays - I personally have never had an issue or any problems with then that Barclays haven't dealt with in a professional manner. *I have both personal & business bank accounts with them. *I rarely have ever needed to go into branch unless I'm paying in cheques. *I bank on-line and in comparison with Lloyd's bank find Barclays on-line banking facilities meet all my needs. *Telephone banking is always efficient and I feel I get what I need done with ease. I dont recall waiting times but cant be too long for me to not recall. Yes sure all companies will try and promote their products to you in order to sell you something - But its down to you as a person to assess the pros and cons of a product. Its always in your best interest to choose the correct products for you... Read review

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Advantages: 'Big' bank. Personal account gives some real added features which other banks do not
Disadvantages: Online banking is the future, but is there system secure?

...Banks have always had a bad press, and Barclays have had a very bad press recently. Investing massive amounts of money in having Anthony Hopkins and Robbie Coltrane telling how 'big' Barclays is, at the same time as they close a whole host of branches, is marketing suicide! However, their personal account seems to be the best one at the moment. Features include being able to withdraw cash from any Link cashpoint machine for no charge (at the moment at least), and being able to draw against an uncleared cheque for no charge (as long as the cheque does not bounce) are real bonuses to have. Their bank statements are very well laid out also. Conclusion: Barclays the best of a bad bunch.... Read review

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