| Half-decent banks? 16:57 - Jun 14 with 6024 views | Zx1988 |
Can anyone recommend a half-decent bank for general-purpose banking, that has decided to embrace rather than reject modern tech?
I'm with NatWest at the moment, and discovered that I can't deposit any cheque for a half-decent amount without having to take a trip into the local branch (App-based pay-in has both a per-cheque and per-day limit, and using the Post Office requires a paying-in book(!)).
I'm not too bothered about any other bells and whistles that might come with a current account, I just want to be able to undertake fairly standard transactions without having to travel miles to the nearest open branch, or having to try and find the paying-in book I last used about 20 years ago! |  |
| |  |
| Half-decent banks? on 16:59 - Jun 14 with 4553 views | J2BLUE |
What's a half decent amount?
I think you can pay in up to £500 with HSBC and their app does everything I need it to. |  |
| |
| Half-decent banks? on 17:00 - Jun 14 with 4542 views | StokieBlue |
Starling is good and they basically use spot rates for FX so you save a decent amount when abroad as long as you select the local currency of wherever you are as what you want to pay in.
You can deposit cheques in the app but only under 1000 GBP I believe although I never use the functionality.
SB [Post edited 14 Jun 2024 17:04]
|  | | |
| Half-decent banks? on 17:01 - Jun 14 with 4531 views | Zx1988 |
| Half-decent banks? on 16:59 - Jun 14 by J2BLUE |
What's a half decent amount?
I think you can pay in up to £500 with HSBC and their app does everything I need it to. |
It was a four-figure tax rebate; I tend to get it every year once I've reclaimed expenses etc., so it becomes a bit of a faff if I have to head into the city (and all that entails) just to try and bank it.
IIRC if I don't take the cheque option, HMRC will apply the rebate to this years' tax code, meaning I don't get the nice lump sum (which I prefer), so it seems as if I'm stuck trying to bank a hefty cheque every year. | |
| |
| Half-decent banks? on 17:08 - Jun 14 with 4503 views | bluefunk |
Another vote for Starling, very good, great app, paid in cheques infrequently but no problems up to £1000 value. Over this they need to be posted. |  | | |
| Half-decent banks? on 17:13 - Jun 14 with 4484 views | Simonds92 |
Just switched to Santander. £175 for switching to their edge account, which gives you acces to the edge saver, where they pay 7% on balances up to 4000 for the first year. You also get 3.5% on your current account balance. Its a £3 monthly fee, but you can get up to £10 cashback each month. | | | |
| Half-decent banks? on 17:18 - Jun 14 with 4463 views | _clive_baker_ |
I switched to Chase and have to say I'm impressed, not to mention significantly better savings rates than my old bank. |  | | |
| Half-decent banks? on 17:20 - Jun 14 with 4455 views | You_Bloo_Right |
| Half-decent banks? on 17:01 - Jun 14 by Zx1988 |
It was a four-figure tax rebate; I tend to get it every year once I've reclaimed expenses etc., so it becomes a bit of a faff if I have to head into the city (and all that entails) just to try and bank it.
IIRC if I don't take the cheque option, HMRC will apply the rebate to this years' tax code, meaning I don't get the nice lump sum (which I prefer), so it seems as if I'm stuck trying to bank a hefty cheque every year. |
I thought there was an option to have rebates paid automatically into your account but I guess not as I assume you have looked at this closely. [Post edited 14 Jun 2024 17:21]
|  |
| |
| Half-decent banks? on 17:24 - Jun 14 with 4430 views | Pinewoodblue |
| Half-decent banks? on 16:59 - Jun 14 by J2BLUE |
What's a half decent amount?
I think you can pay in up to £500 with HSBC and their app does everything I need it to. |
Barclays limit is £2,000 but not sure they qualify as a half decent bank. |  |
| |
Login to get fewer ads
| Half-decent banks? on 17:48 - Jun 14 with 4364 views | ElephantintheRoom |
Try Santander + Monzo. Added bonus of no rip offs when you travel in Europe | |
| |
| Half-decent banks? on 17:52 - Jun 14 with 4357 views | norfsufblue |
I use Chase and First Direct ( basically HSBC without branches, totally online!), both excellent in my experience... you can get £175 for switching to FD too [Post edited 14 Jun 2024 18:05]
|  | | |
| Half-decent banks? on 18:43 - Jun 14 with 4207 views | GavTWTD |
I love First Direct. Telephone support is excellent.
App is fine, my only complaint is that their credit card is so disjointed and separate.
I don't know what their cheque limit is but I have used it myself.
Edit. Limit of 2k cheques via the app
This post has been edited by an administrator |  |
| |
| Half-decent banks? on 18:45 - Jun 14 with 4194 views | chicoazul |
…..I’m sorry, cheques?? |  |
| |
| Half-decent banks? on 18:50 - Jun 14 with 4166 views | blueasfook |
I'm with Halifax but I wouldn't recommend them. They blocked my fooking ticketmaster transaction when I was trying to buy tickets to see David Gilmour in October. I'll be changing to Lloyds soon. |  |
| |
| Half-decent banks? on 18:55 - Jun 14 with 4136 views | MattinLondon |
| Half-decent banks? on 17:24 - Jun 14 by Pinewoodblue |
Barclays limit is £2,000 but not sure they qualify as a half decent bank. |
I’ve been with them for over thirty years and I’ve never had any trouble with them. |  | | |
| Half-decent banks? on 19:03 - Jun 14 with 4089 views | Swansea_Blue |
| Half-decent banks? on 17:18 - Jun 14 by _clive_baker_ |
I switched to Chase and have to say I'm impressed, not to mention significantly better savings rates than my old bank. |
Chase seem to have nailed the app and online banking. They also don’t charge overseas transaction fees like most high street banks, so great for people who travel a lot. I keep a spare account just for that. They’ve a poor ethical reputation though. |  |
| |
| Half-decent banks? on 19:04 - Jun 14 with 4086 views | ronnyd |
Coutts ?  | | | |
| Half-decent banks? on 19:09 - Jun 14 with 4062 views | GeoffSentence |
| Half-decent banks? on 18:50 - Jun 14 by blueasfook |
I'm with Halifax but I wouldn't recommend them. They blocked my fooking ticketmaster transaction when I was trying to buy tickets to see David Gilmour in October. I'll be changing to Lloyds soon. |
Lloyds is the same group as Halifax.
Probably why Halifax and Lloyds were both down at the same time the other week. Their IT will be the same. |  |
| |
| Half-decent banks? on 19:23 - Jun 14 with 4016 views | Keno |
|  |
| |
| Half-decent banks? on 19:27 - Jun 14 with 4003 views | suffolkpoker |
Nationwide is the people’s bank.
I have had a £100 paid into my account twice recently due to profits.
But you can’t bank cheques through the app.
Halifax you can bank cheques but not sure of upper limit. |  |
| |
| Half-decent banks? on 19:28 - Jun 14 with 3994 views | Vegtablue |
Not useful to the OP but Nationwide gave me £100 out of the blue today! And they let you take a photo of your face now as an alternative to the card reader, when making app payments to new people/businesses (previously I would transfer funds to a different bank as an annoying workaround).
Modern tech and chequebooks feel quite antithetical to me aha but good luck in your search. Alternatively maybe embrace your annual big cheque day out and make it a thing. | | | |
| Half-decent banks? on 19:41 - Jun 14 with 3949 views | xrayspecs |
| Half-decent banks? on 17:20 - Jun 14 by You_Bloo_Right |
I thought there was an option to have rebates paid automatically into your account but I guess not as I assume you have looked at this closely. [Post edited 14 Jun 2024 17:21]
|
There is. I had a circa £2k rebate paid directly into my account. | | | |
| Half-decent banks? on 19:43 - Jun 14 with 3939 views | xrayspecs |
| Half-decent banks? on 18:43 - Jun 14 by GavTWTD |
I love First Direct. Telephone support is excellent.
App is fine, my only complaint is that their credit card is so disjointed and separate.
I don't know what their cheque limit is but I have used it myself.
Edit. Limit of 2k cheques via the app
This post has been edited by an administrator |
Another vote for Firstdirect. Have banked with them since they were first set up, early 1990s, and they are excellent.
I use them for day to day banking, rather than mortgage and savings. | | | |
| Half-decent banks? on 19:48 - Jun 14 with 3912 views | MattinLondon |
What’s that got to do with my bank account? | | | |
| Half-decent banks? on 20:12 - Jun 14 with 3853 views | Pinewoodblue |
| Half-decent banks? on 19:48 - Jun 14 by MattinLondon |
What’s that got to do with my bank account? |
I questioned if they could be regarded as a half decent bank, you responded that you had no problems with them, I offered a link in support of original comment.
I have banked with Barclays for over 60 years, they have never let me down but they do have a history of supporting the wrong people at the wrong time. For example they supported South Africa back in the day. | |
| |
| |
By continuing to use the site, you agree to our use of cookies and to abide by our Terms and Conditions.
