How did you decide on your first bank?

Anyone but Barclays - who appeared to be taking a lethargic approach to apartheid.
Ended up at Midland
 
I'm old enough such that when we went to university we called it university, not 'uni', and banks weren't giving bribes. But there was a branch on campus so I picked that one.
 
If a young person is going to travel around the UK its maybe good to join one with a good national network, but the way banking is going there will not be many branches left in 10 years time. Some of the new banks are geared up to be run from a phone. (Starling Bank?)

Nationwide are good on ethics, owned by their members, offer good interest rate on their current account for the first 12 months, lots of branches. They also generally offer good deals on mortgages. They are really a building society, but offer everything a bank does. I believe its free to use their debit card abroad while most of the others charge a fee.
 
Capybara said:
I'm old enough such that when we went to university we called it university, not 'uni', and banks weren't giving bribes. But there was a branch on campus so I picked that one.
Click to expand...


We did and all the main high st banks had a branch on my campus. Infact they were all next to each other virtually. Ive fallen into the trap of abbrevieting on social media for which I apologise.
PS How old are you? They were certainly “giving incentives” as early as 1979”
 
Barclays, branch at university. Stuck with them as they do OK for me and the fraud team were really good when I did have an identity theft issue a few years ago.
 
I banked with the Halifax Building Society in Normanby from the age of 14, but opened an account with the Yorkshire Bank when I started my second year at Smith’s Dock.

I continued to save with the Halifax and more regular when a girl I was really fond of worked in there. A few years later she became and still is my wife of 33 years.
 
Norman_Conquest said:
I banked with the Halifax Building Society in Normanby from the age of 14, but opened an account with the Yorkshire Bank when I started my second year at Smith’s Dock.

I continued to save with the Halifax and more regular when a girl I was really fond of worked in there. A few years later she became and still is my wife of 33 years.
Click to expand...
You charmer Norman 😉
 
Wound up following my old man to the Midland Bank and, living in a small town at the time, was a constant source of embarrassment to him during my frequent 'interviews' there through my 20s
 
Opened first bank a/c when I started uni. Went to my parents' bank, Barclays and they were welcoming. I then said 'I'm skint now, can I have an overdraft straight away?' They said 'sure, but there's just one problem. We won't be able to print your cheque book until next week, will cash be ok?'

Reminds me of those Carlsberg tv ads. It did not prepare you for real life, though.
 
Anton_Berg said:
Opened first bank a/c when I started uni. Went to my parents' bank, Barclays and they were welcoming. I then said 'I'm skint now, can I have an overdraft straight away?' They said 'sure, but there's just one problem. We won't be able to print your cheque book until next week, will cash be ok?'

Reminds me of those Carlsberg tv ads. It did not prepare you for real life, though.
Click to expand...
Ah the first overdraft, followed by an access card (your flexible friend) and I've been skint ever since, but bought a lot of crap!
 
Natwest on Norton Green, next to Patersons. Long gone - isn't there an eaterie in the old vault now??

Changed to Barclays when they were giving students bigger overdrafts, back to Natwest when said overdraft maxed. Horrible bank but I'm still there through inertia.
 
Added name to future wife's account. Different times 25 years old and never had or needed a bank account. Saved for things I wanted.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top