HSBC closing my account down... which is best bank to go with?

[The Camel]

Never had a problem with Nationwide.

Only downside is getting foreign currency is difficult, but getting from the bank is the nut worst way anyway.

[SuuPRlim]

I've had more bank issues than hot dinners...

I have accounts at Natwest and Lloyds TSB, most bigger money movements now are from Lloyds and I frequently get phonecalls from my manager (who is an avid poker fan luckily) asking me to cut the number of third party transaction down (payments between poker players basically) the reason being that they have to security check every one and when I'm doing 15 in a week it makes the account unmanageable. In a bid to avoid this I have my two accounts at natwest, which are used mainly for living purposes and 2 at Lloyds with my $ account separate, as a result split between the 4 accounts I can do as many 3rd party Xfers as I want without causing any problems. I really think this is the best option.

Like Keys' said having a good relationship with your manager is great because now If I wanted to a payment of like £5k+ I just email the guy half an hour before warning him and he is always grateful. Since starting with this system I've had no problems at all.

Also, use moneybookers as well, helps cut this stuff.

SO my advice is to try get 2 accounts and split activity between them, that way you should avoid these problems.

[Junior Senior]

Confirmed HSBC are just funny fuckers! Every time i used to pay money in they'd look at me like i must have nicked it or sold drugs and every time i took a load out they would ask me why i needed it.... None of your fucking business sir.


  I moved to Halifax, their switching service is awesome and never had one issue.  Get the account that costs about 12 quid a month as you get travel insurance, breakdown deals and a whole load of other stuff. They even insure iphones at no extra cost as long as you declare it in advance. The online banking with them is great too.

[Machka]

Santander suck on customer service but their 123 Current Account gives 3% interest on balances between £3k and £20k.

[aaron1867]

I bank with two and not sure I can recommend either.

Natwest is where my active accounts are and sometimes they can be a pain in the ass about big transactions. Although their staff are stupid, they don't bother looking into your different accounts which is LOL.

[Dry em]

I've had more bank issues than hot dinners...

I have accounts at Natwest and Lloyds TSB, most bigger money movements now are from Lloyds and I frequently get phonecalls from my manager (who is an avid poker fan luckily) asking me to cut the number of third party transaction down (payments between poker players basically) the reason being that they have to security check every one and when I'm doing 15 in a week it makes the account unmanageable. In a bid to avoid this I have my two accounts at natwest, which are used mainly for living purposes and 2 at Lloyds with my $ account separate, as a result split between the 4 accounts I can do as many 3rd party Xfers as I want without causing any problems. I really think this is the best option.

Like Keys' said having a good relationship with your manager is great because now If I wanted to a payment of like £5k+ I just email the guy half an hour before warning him and he is always grateful. Since starting with this system I've had no problems at all.

Also, use moneybookers as well, helps cut this stuff.

SO my advice is to try get 2 accounts and split activity between them, that way you should avoid these problems.

Your bank manager has to review 3rd party payments over £5k? What, before they get sent? And you message him to let him know you are making one 1st?

Really can't get my head around this.

[DMorgan]

Have always used Nationwide and never had a problem with normal day-to-day stuff and I have a reasonably high volume of transfers

The major downside to Nationwide is that they aren't big enough to receive international wires, (thin etc.) they do them through HSBC which means that you need to give overseas casinos an extra number that isn't on their standard wire form and that the cage don't seem to have heard of. Had 4 attempts at getting a wire through before opening a Santander account and I've been using that as a secondary account for the last year or so without any problems.

Honestly I think it all comes down to whether the bank manager likes you or not. The days I went in, the managers at Barcalays and HSBC were middle aged women that looked fairly bemused when I told them what I did and it was pretty obvious from the off that they weren't impressed. Manager at Santander was a mid-20s guy that found poker pretty interesting and snap set up the account no problem at all.

Definitely +1 for telling the truth though. They aren't silly, they'll work out that you don't have whatever regular job that you claim to have pretty quickly and its just gunna cause more trouble

[Skgv]

Have always used Nationwide and never had a problem with normal day-to-day stuff and I have a reasonably high volume of transfers

The major downside to Nationwide is that they aren't big enough to receive international wires, (thin etc.) they do them through HSBC which means that you need to give overseas casinos an extra number that isn't on their standard wire form and that the cage don't seem to have heard of. Had 4 attempts at getting a wire through before opening a Santander account and I've been using that as a secondary account for the last year or so without any problems.

Honestly I think it all comes down to whether the bank manager likes you or not. The days I went in, the managers at Barcalays and HSBC were middle aged women that looked fairly bemused when I told them what I did and it was pretty obvious from the off that they weren't impressed. Manager at Santander was a mid-20s guy that found poker pretty interesting and snap set up the account no problem at all.

Definitely +1 for telling the truth though. They aren't silly, they'll work out that you don't have whatever regular job that you claim to have pretty quickly and its just gunna cause more trouble

Santander ooooh u have the stress to come ! Trust me !

[Sheriff Fatman]

Santander suck on customer service but their 123 Current Account gives 3% interest on balances between £3k and £20k.

And also cashback on council tax, utilities and media (e.g. phones, Sky, etc) payments.

I set them up as a 2nd current account just to make these direct debits from.

[SuuPRlim]

I've had more bank issues than hot dinners...

I have accounts at Natwest and Lloyds TSB, most bigger money movements now are from Lloyds and I frequently get phonecalls from my manager (who is an avid poker fan luckily) asking me to cut the number of third party transaction down (payments between poker players basically) the reason being that they have to security check every one and when I'm doing 15 in a week it makes the account unmanageable. In a bid to avoid this I have my two accounts at natwest, which are used mainly for living purposes and 2 at Lloyds with my $ account separate, as a result split between the 4 accounts I can do as many 3rd party Xfers as I want without causing any problems. I really think this is the best option.

Like Keys' said having a good relationship with your manager is great because now If I wanted to a payment of like £5k+ I just email the guy half an hour before warning him and he is always grateful. Since starting with this system I've had no problems at all.

Also, use moneybookers as well, helps cut this stuff.

SO my advice is to try get 2 accounts and split activity between them, that way you should avoid these problems.

Your bank manager has to review 3rd party payments over £5k? What, before they get sent? And you message him to let him know you are making one 1st?

Really can't get my head around this.

nah he doesn't need to review but out of habbit as a result of 2/3 of my transfers getting blocked whenever I am going to send anyone £5k+ I just email him and say £x going to X person later and he snap replies saying ty for letting me know will make sure it goes through and since I've started doing this I've never had a problem. I do the same If I am going to do like 5+ xfers on the same day.

Banks are just so tilting now.

[gouty]

It's important to do as many xfers on poker clients as you possibly can and reduce bank transfers to a minimum and it's only going to get worse due to money laundering regulations.

It's easier for a bank just to dump you guys than have to explain to regulators why they allow multi third party xfers.

[SuuPRlim]

It's important to do as many xfers on poker clients as you possibly can and reduce bank transfers to a minimum and it's only going to get worse due to money laundering regulations.

It's easier for a bank just to dump you guys than have to explain to regulators why they allow multi third party xfers.

And poker clients always say "we're not a bank, do your transfers somewhere else please!" it's a nightmare. Gouty right last sentence ofc sigh