So who do you bank with?

[horsefeathers]

For UK people I guess - though other nationalities can join in.

Quite frankly I am pissed off with Barclays treating me like some insignificant little thing who doesnt make them any money, they never respond to any letters i write, and getting their 'small business manager' to do anything is like getting Bin Laden to wear a St Christopher round his neck. And now that my free banking period is almost up I am looking to move accounts.

The question is probably best aimed at the sole trader. Any recommendations as to which bank I should move to. I am thinking of Abbey (free business banking for life). The downside is that there are fewer branches and I have to go into the City to pay cheques in etc. But a small price to pay for better service.

regards

[prim]

I am with Yorkshire bank, Natwest and HSBC

At any branch of Yorkshire if they are more than 10 people cueing then you have a minimum wait of 20 min, you can hear every one in the cue complaining.

HSBC I don’t do much with them, just a bit of on line savings with them on there First Direct banking account.

Natwest I find the best, I have about four accounts with them and I do most of the business with them on line as I give my customers the choice to pay by BAC’s.

If I have to go in to the back say to pay in chq and say there are 10 people in the cue, it only takes about 3 min before it’s your turn.

[Shrub]

I think they are all as bad as each other, i certainly wouldnt even look at hsbc due to the way they use the money though.

[SteveW]

Barcleys ....

I shall say no more.

I would personally recomend Abbey, free business banking, try this.
They have done me proud so far :winkhttp://www.anbusiness.com/

[Bump]

Definately go with Abbey. Do all your banking on line, post cheques free to the clearing house. Only bummer is you will need to go to town to deposit cash, if ever.

They even pay interest, if youve got any that is!

[nezumi]

I put all my money in the Navy Federal Credit Union and channel it through USAA because it has great interest rates on the credit cards and its 529 plan. Both of them are open to American servicemen and their families (and ONLY to people in that category). I'm guessing there's something similar in the UK. Join the navy and find out, your children will appreciate the gesture.

[Raccoon]

This wouldn't be of much use to the UK lockie, but if you're in the US and have a city with Wells Fargo, they have been absolutely great with me.

I simply told them my plans to open a small locksmith service and they set me up with all the information I needed to start a business, opened a business checking/savings and personal checking/savings and gave me a pre-approved credit card for $2000. I had ZERO credit until now. All acounts are completely free of service fees, and require no minimum balance. Their online baking is superior to any other bank I or my friends have used, and the lines at my branch are never more than 3 people. I have a personal business banker who CALLS ME for casual conversation and gives me excellent advice.

Sounds too good to be true, but seriously, I shite you not. Wells Fargo is the best out of 5 banks I've used.

[MStoddart]

I'm with Abbey National Business - really cannot fault the account or service. Only gripe I have is with the internet banking bill paying facility - once you've created a payee, you cannot change the payment reference, you have to delete and setup again with a changed reference - really annoying if you're paying a regular bill to someone with different invoice numbers!