Sounds more like the Zero account to me, and this only pays the 5% for 12 months. THEN you decide which account at which bank suits best.

I don't know when the information on the Santander bank account was last updated but I have had this account for many years and last month received notification from the bank that the 5% interest on sums up to £2500 was being dropped to 1% from January 1st. I am looking to change.

I agree about the Santander service quality but they are not on their own. I also have a Halifax account and their service is no better. I believe that most of the consumer banks are split into two areas;

1) those that are cash rich and thus service suffers as technology is enhanced (capital spend) by these banks and the "savings" interest rates fall as they don't need to attract savers' money.

2) those that are not cash rich and thus attempt to attract more savers, this shows in their better "savers2 interest rates and their service level.

While this is an oversimplification of events, technical spend is always necessary but Santander has had a more agressive expansion philosophy than other banks and they are geared to bring in more consumer spending by cash giveaways for more "spend related" accounts.

Unfortunately, this is the way of the banking world and my advice is to use the banks and play them at their own game, in other words take them for all you can get!!!!!

I had an alliance and leicester account for over 30 years, since santander took over the quality of service has gone down and their latest round of interst changes made me think of changing banks. they have now forced my hand as when I tried to change details on a standing order I was informed that I had to set up a one time pass code facility where they send a pin no to your mobile phone each time you want to alter your account. fine in theory, but being hard of hearing I don't have a mobile or secure access to one. I went to my local branch but was told this is bank policy and there was nothing they could do. so in my opinion avoid santander. after looking I think I will be tranfering my account to the co-op.

Jay1953:It's like everything else, check for yourself whether or not it is a good deal, everyone is different and have different needs. Forums are there to provide advice and other peoples experience but only you can make a decision, AFTER you have checked the details, play the banks at their own game. I have more than one current account. Money is just another commodity for bartering and manipulating. While the current economic climate limits the amount of manipulation for ordinary people you should still benefit from the deals that banks are offering, albeit very poor at the moment.

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The transfer of the account from RBS to Santander is a compulsory takeover so no deals are involved. With so many complaints against Santander, I have advised my wife to move elsewhere.

It's like everything else, check for yourself whether or not it is a good deal, everyone is different and have different needs. Forums are there to provide advice and other peoples experience but only you can make a decision, AFTER you have checked the details, play the banks at their own game. I have more than one current account. Money is just another commodity for bartering and manipulating. While the current economic climate limits the amount of manipulation for ordinary people you should still benefit from the deals that banks are offering, albeit very poor at the moment.

My wife's RBS current account transfers to Santander sometime in the next 18 months. Would it be advisable for my wife to move elsewhere before the change takes place?

I don't know when the information on the Santander bank account was last updated but I have had this account for many years and last month received notification from the bank that the 5% interest on sums up to £2500 was being dropped to 1% from January 1st. I am looking to change.

d201281:

get up to £300 cash back.

Yes, this is the only way, it seems, that they can encourage new customers. There are quite a few hoops to jump through to get the £300 though. Even if it was a wad of cash for signing a form, personally I would rather let them keep the money and know that my money was being properly looked after somewhere else.

Santander sounds like a great deal transfer your bank account to them and depending on meeting certain criteria you could get up to £300 cash back. But as someone who transferred to them about 6 months ago i have to tell everyone to beware. The customer service is non existent and you seem to get nothing but hassle i personally have already reported them to the financial ombudsman due to financial loss and know that friends of mine have also had similar issues with them causing financial loss. They drag there feet or take payments to early and don't accept responsibility for there errors and as a customer you are left to pick up the pieces. So i would advice everyone to skip this bank and go else where.