Advantages: Biggest overdraft, branches are plentiful, great service
Disadvantages: Can't think of any!

...I'm a student and chose the Bank of Scotland mainly because they offered the largest interest free overdraft - In my first year I didn't need this, but I'm thankful that I took it as its proved very handy this year (2nd year) I originally wanted to go with Lloyds - but they said I couldn't bank with them because no member of my family banked with them (great business model) - I hope they go bust now. But them I'm glad they did, because I got to go with Bank of Scotland! Online banking is a breeze - I have two credit cards with the Bank of Scotland, and everything it managed from the one portal. It's secure, easy to use and doesn't require you to write down your password and pick the 7th, 11th and 12th letters from it just to log in. Telephone banking is also relatively easy - with a trusting scottish accent on the automated... Read review

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Advantages: You'll never need to visit your bank again.
Disadvantages: Security errors when they arise.

...I had been using the telephone banking service offered by the Royal Bank Scotland (RBS) for a number of years, when they launched their PC Banking. Being relatively new to the internet I was weary of signing up, although knowing how easy the telephone banking service was I decided to give it a try. The PC banking registration was fairly simple and the security steps in place are reassuring. The additional bonus of this service is that you can use the facility on one or more machines but each with a different registration code. I found this very useful as I can use the service in two places with the confidence of total security at each. Once I started regularly using the service I realised there were a few areas that could be improved and over the past year they have and the options available have made PC banking as easy... Read review

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Advantages: Friendly personal service.
Disadvantages: None that I know of!

...I've been a home-owner now for about eleven years: bought my first house as the market hit rock bottom and and am still there. Naive as I was then about financial matters, I took advice from a professional and ended up with an endowment mortgage. I expect you can guess what happened next. Actually it wasn't that bad: I still had fifteen years to run on my mortgage and am young enough to get another 25-year mortgage. So that's what I decided to do. I have banked with Royal Bank of Scotland ever since they took over Williams & Glynn's Bank nearly 20 years ago and while I've had other bank accounts as well, both personal and treasurers' accounts for some clubs I've been involved in, as well as building society accounts, RBS have always won hands down when it comes to customer service and helpfulness. Also, and this is VERY IMPORTANT, you... Read review

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Advantages: clear organisation of site instruction
Disadvantages: Time allocation for transactions and poor layout of the local RSB Branch

.... knowing they had a poorly designed branch, it was suggested the internet banking for RSB would overcome my difficulties. The site is reasonably well designed and works. However, you must keep your mouse moving around, never take your mind of what you are doing, for if you do, you will be timed out in 5 minutes and then be subject to further levels of security checks, all over again. When this has happened to you a few times you see it all in a different light. I have a lot of pain and my response to responding to giving security details over and over again, does nothing to help my pain or my stress level. When I have spoken to the internet technical team, I have been assured that is how it is to stay - end of story - without any further interest or consideration. No, I would not recommend the Royal Bank of Scotland or their internet... Read review

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Advantages: Respectable company
Disadvantages: Not always competitive

...I currently am an account holder with The Royal Bank Of Scotland. (RBS) I am happy overall with the way in which they help me handle my account, and I have no hesitations in recommending the RBS to anyone else. My Account ---------- I currently have a Route 21 Account, which is for people aged between 16-21. This is normally a very popular account with students, as when you are in this account, you are entitled to many offers, ie free entry into loads of top clubs in the UK. With the Route 21 Account, I can have a switch card, credit card, cheque book, and all the usual facilities, (as long as you are over the age of 18)however, with a normal bank account, I would not receive the special deals for clubs etc. The Royal Bank Of Scotland --------------------------- I think this is a great bank... Read review

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Advantages: Local branches in most towns
Disadvantages: poorly trained staff and ridiculous service charges

...I’ve had a current account with this bank for around 13 years and a business account for the past 5 years, my local branch (Sanquhar) is about the most unwelcome place you could think of, 2” of bullet proof glass between you and some of the most unfriendly and poorly trained people I have ever worked with. In the past I have had money transfers and checks paid into the wrong accounts as well as ridiculous charges for transfers and withdrawals. If all of that isn’t enough to make people stay away from this bank, well then there is the service charges for going over your overdraft, which is more a punishment than an actual charge as I couldn’t find a lone shark with these rates (in my case 100% per day). On the 15th of November 2004 I inadvertently put myself £14 over my overdraft, a transaction had taken place, goods had been... Read review

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Advantages: Local Bank with Prompt dealing
Disadvantages: Inconsiderate towards Customer's needs

...I was a current account holder with the Royal Bank of Scotland since the past six-and-a-half years. During this period I have always abided by the banking laws, have never defaulted on any account and possess a clean / ideal credit-rating with all credit scoring agencies of Britain. I have been selling a few household gadgets over the internet. During this course, I was victimised by fraudsters who sent me fake cheques as payment of goods they were purchasing from me. I deposited the cheques in my account to find that they were fake cheques issued by cheaters. As a result my bank account was frozen and I was asked to explain as to where did I get the cheques from. This happened thrice in a span of a year. Every time I cooperated with the bank by supplying their investigating team a complete set of e-mails exchanged between me... Read review

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Advantages: All round a great service
Disadvantages: None really

...of times. I'd left Lloyds after a year or so because I ran up a big overdraft when I first started working, and I'd moved onto NatWest, only for them to pull the rug from under me, forcing me off to the Co-op bank, where I stayed for quite some time, before getting into difficulties again. In every case, I'd been fairly appalled by the attitude of managers at each of these banks - they were fine when you were doing okay and couldn't wait to throw dosh at you, but as soon as things took a turn for the worse they were soon after your hide. I had grown thoroughly disenchanted with the whole industry, but then when we moved up to Lancashire, we got a mortgage from the Royal Bank of Scotland and opened a bank account with them and the last four years have been a revelation - finally a bank account that worked, managers that cared, staff... Read review

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Advantages: None
Disadvantages: Unhelpful service, unfriendly staff

...the merger with Bank of Scotland. I'm lucky if I get served within 30 mins when I make a visit to the bank as their cashiers seem to take their time. There are no end of complaints about the company regarding waiting time and service. The staff are generally unhelpful and unfriendly and do not meet the customers needs. I feel thats meeting the customers needs is a must, especially when it comes to their money. In my personal experience, Halifax DO NOT treat their customers with respect and their serivce is somewhat a joke.... Read review

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Advantages: very helpful staff
Disadvantages: none that I can think off yet

...I have had a current account with "The Royal Bank Of Scotland" for a number of years now, however I haven't being using it at all for at least three years until last week. The staff in my local branch are so helpful and every time, I go into the bank they are always so cheerful. Even on a Monday morning which is amazing. The bank offers internet and telephone banking, so far I haven't used the telephone banking facility but if it is anything as like the internet banking, then I will not be disapointed. On the banks website you can set up standing orders, directs debits and check all your transactions. You can more a less do everything that you could if you were to go into a branch, it is no wonder that lots of local town and village banks are closing down, it's because you can do all your banking online nowadays. In my local... Read review

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