Banks - Grrr!

I am a Premier customer with HSBC and a totally different experience. No I don't have loadsa money nor do I pay for the privelege. Last week I tried to phone the non-premier help line. It would have taken over 20 mins to get to an adviser. Rang the premier help line and waited 3 mins, which is unusual to have to wait so long but they did say that they were unusually busy. If I am in Chester and want a coffee I just go up to the Premier Lounge. 

I agree though it was much better 40 years ago. I got through college with the help of interest free overdraft from the old Midland Bank. I has a cracking Bank Manager who was omni present in the Leeds Branch. I was on a 3 year sandwich course. 6 month college and 6 month industry. I had to repeat the first year as my mother was dying for much of it and her funeral was during the 1st year exams. I has a choice of going through to 2nd year or repeating first year and sitting the exams which I chose to do. My then fiance (later wife) was pregnant when I reached my 2nd year at 20. I went into the bank for an appointment with the nabager. We talked of string and sealing wax and holidays, asked what assets I had. A car and a few grand in another bank, I would not be able to get a married grant, my grant was poor with a large parental contribution which I refused to take from my father as he did not like my choice of future bride. (Not that he was not prepared to pat it or that his view did not change but I alwayc preffered to stand on my own two feet and merely accepted the money for a new suit). The deal offered to me was interest free overdraft and no interest until I started work on a level of income over £1,400 per annum - those were the days.

The manager or chief cashire would countersign my cheques. Just before CHristmas the manager would beckon and say 'don't forget to make sure you have plenty of cash for the festive season'. I had been in this situation when I got married. Shortly before my marriage I paid for a mobile own for me and my wife to be. I had neglected to transfer the funds from my TSB account to cover this. Sat in a site office during work on vocational training I had a call from the manager. 'Alan we have had a large cheque presented in favour of Harringtons Caravans'

Me: 'Oops I forgot to do a transfer. I have the money'.

Manager: 'No problem we will honour the cheque can you do a transfer when you are next home?'

Fast forwards to when I bought first caravan some 8 years later and I was then with the Chester branch. We had bought a caravan, and just changed the car and the day we were going away for the first time I had a letter saying I was £200 overdrawn from HSBC and a joint account with lloyds Also was overdrawn by £50. 

I phoned both banks up on the first day of hols and appologised and said that I would sort it when home in two weeks. The Midland manager response was 'OK have a good holiday Alan' Lloyds was 'Ok'.

After we had got home I called into Midlands and the manager asked if I had enjoyed my break. I told him tha tI had and should be able to clear the debt in a few weeks as I had a buyer for my trailer tent and expenses from work. He said that was OK and no charges.

Lloyds were a tad different. My wife called there and they wanted to speak to the husband - I was livid. I went round there, spoke to the manager and offered to pat at 50p a week as he was not happy, Then I thought, borrowed his phone and phoned the manager at Midland and asked if it was OK for me to add to my overdraft by writing a cheque to cover rny debit at Lloyds. No problem - no charge . 

Aye, those were the days of truly peraonal banking!

We've been with Barclays as personal and business customers  for over 40 years  and have a very good relationship with our manager (an agricultural specialist). I can email or phone him and queries are sorted. He also comes out to us (to look at the banks's investment!). 

We did have a period  a few years ago when the managers changed quite quickly. One, which we never got to meet, was a Mr Mainwaring.

Unfortunately ET  I fear those days are generally gone for ever.  Nat West closed our local branch in July and the nearest now is about 7 miles away and about 2 to 3 hours round trip, if you had to use the bus. Even then they have now converted it to mainly machines and only a few counters, so you can queue for ages if you want something non standard. In some ways they are now better off in some of the Dales villages with the mobile bank. Although I suppose these will also be for the chop.

Unfortunately ET  I fear those days are generally gone for ever.  Nat West closed our local branch in July and the nearest now is about 7 miles away and about 2 to 3 hours round trip, if you had to use the bus. Even then they have now converted it to mainly machines and only a few counters, so you can queue for ages if you want something non standard. In some ways they are now better off in some of the Dales villages with the mobile bank. Although I suppose these will also be for the chop.

Sadly you are right Steve. When OH joined me some 12 years ago as a joint account was held she should also be a Premier member, a few years later this was queried and they wanted to charge, I told the bank to pee off a I would go elsewhwere We are both still Premier members and generally recieve the quality of service that anybody would recieved 26 years ago

SteveL's description is the trend nationally. The local NatWest here has closed with Lloyds being the only remaining bank.

Whilst I deprecate the "brush salesman" approach on modern banking, in their defence you lot wanted "free" banking. No professional service can be provided free. When I was still working in retail banking and this was introduced, I predicted tears before bedtime. I was right. Just hope the blighters keep paying my pension.

Our local branch of HSBC closed years ago yet it was always busy. That left us having to go to Holmfirth 3 miles away (bus every two hours ). Now they're closing that branch as well. Just as well we closed our HSBC accounts when they closed our branch..

Banksters? Don't talk to me about banks. You'll all hate them when they start taking your money - which is what negative interest rates are all about but it'll get worse. 

That wont happen? Don't bet your shirt on it! 

I prefer to do all my banking online or on the telephone if it's something out of the norm. Visiting a branch is time I would rather spend doing something I enjoy and I think is a big waste of time and effort. So any bank which doesn't require me to visit a branch is providing a good service in my opinion. 

I also don't have any loyalty to any particular bank. I have many different accounts with many banks to take advantage of their high interest regular savers and high interest current accounts. So I don't expect any kind of personal service from any bank. 

ET, well I certainly dont have loads of money - quite the opposite, but I manage (just), but I find my bank very helpful. I won't use internet banking, which they seem to find quite amusing, but I have to say they have never failled to help me when I needed it.. They know that I have made my will and that they are joint executors. My House is fully my own and not secured anywhere else. So why should they not help when I need it?

TF

I have been with my HSBC/Midland since 1970 and yesterday I got a letter from them to say they were going to close our bank and I can use the post office for transactions. I certainly won't be standing in any post office queue to carry out any banking transactions with the gossips that pass for staff!

Banks are making ever larger profits and yet are treating their customers with total disdain

I like the personal touch provided by the staff in the current branch and would like it to continue.