Five Alternative Things To Look For In A Bank Account

By Author: Bonny Kominek
Total Articles: 32
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Just over one third of all Brits, according to a recent poll carried out by the BBC, think that all bank accounts are essentially the same and that, therefore, there is no point changing between them. With interest rates so low across the board at the moment, many accounts are the same in terms of the money they can earn you, but that doesn''t mean there aren''t a whole range of things that are worthy of consideration.

Customer service ? customer service is probably the most important consideration for any customer. Most banks pride themselves on their service, but if you''re giving an institution your cash, don''t put up with anything less than the best treatment.

Call centres ? calling any bank is an absolute nightmare, there is almost always a whole series of different people that you have to talk to before you get the answer you want. Some banks guarantee that all their call centres are based in the UK, and this is something that some people like to look for.

Account extras ? every bank in the world wants you to give them your money so they often offer extra deals to make things a little more attractive. ...
... There are hundreds if not thousands of optional extras, and they''re always worth a look.

Opening hours ? nowadays, thankfully, bank opening hours is less of a pain, but there are still a lot of banks around that only open nine to five which isn''t ideal for anyone who works from nine to five.

Additional accounts ? most banks offer more than one account and it can be easier to open new accounts if you''ve already got one. So if a bank has a great reputation for stunning investment opportunities, it could be worth a look.

And one extra ? internet security. Online banking is fast, convenient and often offers excellent rates, but if your details aren''t kept safe, then it can be a nightmare. So make sure that the bank you pick has additional security measures.

Ultimately, the first thing you should look for with any bank account is the right interest rate, but with rates so low at the moment many are offering similar deals but that''s not an reason not to change, it just means that you might have to look a little deeper for the right account. Bonny Kominek is a financial writer with over 10 years of financial experience. They recommend you take a look at Alliance and Leicester for your bank accounts options.