Harvey / 15 October 2024 / Categories: Services, Brands, High Street Brands, Corporate Brands

Nationwide

4 Banks Later

When you don’t have loads of money banks don’t really want you I have found. They really only make money off people who shop a lot on credit cards, which is not me or people with massive salaries or savings not me either and yet we all must have a bank to operate.

Like other people who have come to the UK from overseas I struggled to get a bank account. My first experience was with Santander who after a few £25 charges when I was on the breadline (really struggling to make ends meet pretty much) actually closed my account without telling me and left me without a bank account.

Then I went to HSBC, they wouldn’t approve me for a “normal” bank account, so I got one with limited features, no credit history building, no overdraft, no credit card, I think it’s called a basic bank account.

For 8 years I kept my account in credit, I kept asking them to upgrade me to a regular account but they kept saying no.

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Well not no exactly, it was like AI, put all the details into the questionnaire and then the customer service person delivers the bad news without any connection to it. There’s nothing they can do.

Eventually I went to the Nationwide and asked them what they could offer if I put my salary into a current account with them. They were nice to me even though I was apprehensive in the meeting and before I knew it, after 10 years I was back with a bank account and credit card with a super attractive rate.

I enjoyed the low rate on the credit card but after two years when it was time to go back up, the bank didn’t extend another offer. Which of course is fair enough really.

The new account with Nationwide had not only helped me enjoy cheaper credit but also I had finally started building credit so low and behold after begging HSBC for a proper account for years all of a sudden they were courting me with offers of account upgrades and credit cards.

When the Nationwide credit card offer expired I was able to transfer the balance, keep my rate at 0% and close my Nationwide card temporarily.

Nationwide did tell me when I did this I would not be eligible to reapply, reopen my credit card or be eligible for any offers for 12 months. However today one year later I have my Nationwide credit card back again with 0% on balance transfers for 18 months.

They also popped £100 surprise profit share in my account this summer. And every time I refer a friend they give me a little thank you too.

And the ads starring Dominic West blooming brilliant, I love it this bank is actually exposing the banks.

As more and more businesses become cashless and the need for a bank account becomes essential it makes me realise why as customers we have to put up with such poor customer service.

I learned sometimes even when you are treated really badly there’s absolutely nothing you can do. You don’t have enough money.

I have now built a business and deal with several banks, Chase, Lloyds, HSBC, MBNA, and Nat West regularly.

But the bank close to my heart, the bank that lifted me when I was down, didn’t judge me and made me feel valued as a customer even when I had very little is THE NATIONWIDE.

I also just discovered Nationwide sponsored the Centerpoint Awards 2024, host by Prince William at the British Museum, 16th Oct, 2024 to raise money and awareness of the number of young homeless people there are in the UK, a staggering 82,000 in London alone, according to Shelter charity.

I agree.

It is a good way to bank.