Best online Banks with real people and buildings

Former Member

I have an online account with Smile Bank in addition to a main account with Natwest and Halifax but I never really feel like my money is safe..

Anyone else ever feel this way about online banking?

If I was to open another Internet Bank Account I reckon I'd feel safest putting in somewhere like Tesco's Savings cos at least I go there often and I can't imagine them ever going bust ..

Anyone anyone got any recommendation on a Good Online Bank Account tied to real bricks and motar ? (e.g. to a High Street Bank, Post Office, SuperMarket, etc)

Former Member

smile is the co-operative bank's online only account.

I bank with the co-op, who do have a coventry branch. AFAICS they use the same webinterface.

Former Member

Nationwide is nice and easy to use, quick friendly efficient, you can walk into the branch and ring up as well as use them online.

Gets :thumb: from me.

Former Member

smile is run by the co-operative bank, and lets be honest, they're not going to go bust. they are a major banking institution, and they do really exist (i bank with them).

tesco finance is operated by RBS, not the supermarket chain, and they've as much chance of going bust as the co-op does.

Former Member

Big Gay wrote: »

smile is the co-operative bank's online only account.

I bank with the co-op, who do have a coventry branch. AFAICS they use the same webinterface.

Yeah I know .. but it still feels funny .. also what I hate about Smile Bank is that I can never log into it by memory alone ... it asks for sort code and account number .. like that's very memorable

However that service I found from First Direct Works Really well so if I put in my smile details once then it's not so bad..

Former Member

I think HSBC is the nuts for internet banking. I dont think I have found any other bank with such good Internet banking facilites.

:thumb:

Former Member

Calvin wrote: »

I think HSBC is the nuts for internet banking. I dont think I have found any other bank with such good Internet banking facilites.

:thumb:

Well considering how bad their staff are in our local branch they probably needed to find a way to improve things!!

so what's special about it and how do you login into it?

can you do it from memory or does it ask you some hard to remember stuff like Smile Bank

Former Member

DiamondGeezer wrote: »

Well considering how bad their staff are in our local branch they probably needed to find a way to improve things!!

so what's special about it and how do you login into it?

can you do it from memory or does it ask you some hard to remember stuff like Smile Bank

Nah, you can log in with a username (IB Number) and password. If you can remember these its easy. You can do most things on there, transfer money between accounts or to third party accounts. Set up and cancel direct debits. Check statement etc etc all the things you would want to do really.

The staff at HSBC are never very good, and the call centres even worse, but the internet banking site is the nuts.

:thumb:

Former Member

Scary Monster wrote: »

Nationwide is nice and easy to use, quick friendly efficient, you can walk into the branch and ring up as well as use them online.

Gets :thumb: from me.

I would have to agree, I've not had any problems with the staff, or the net banking.

Former Member

I do Halifax online and it's fine.
Never had any problems and never felt like it wasn't safe.

I have to have an RBS account for my job in September so will be interesting to see how that goes.

Former Member

I'm with A&L (Alliance and Leicester). 4 accounts, 1 login. Very handy. I have spoken to customer services a couple of times and they are based over here, not outsourced overseas.