bank accounts

[elizabethr]

The whole family is with Barclays for our banking, myself, husband, older daughter and younger daughter. If I decide to go the IVA route and change my bank account will this affect the rest of the family being with Barclays.

On changing accounts would welcome peoples views on opening other accounts at various other banks - eg bad and good experiences. I was thinking of Abbey as my mortgage is with them but I have heard bad reports about customer experience. Also one of my credit cards is A & L which use MBNA and I know Abbey use MBNA for their credit cards but don't know how this links with ordinary bank accounts.

[MelanieGiles]

Your own financial difficulties are unlikely to affect yor families banking arrangements. I gather the Co-op Bank are pretty supportive of people entering into IVAs.

[luluj]

The Co-Op Smile Internet Banking current account does it for me - there is also a internet saving account you can have to.
I also got a Halifax Easycash account, and last week they allowed me to open a web saver account for my contignency money.

[elizabethr]

thanks for the replies - sound advice. I will have a look. Only been with this forum a few days but it has made me feel so much better.

[Skippy]

I am with the Co-op and I can't fault them, even though I don't have a local branch. Their telephone customer service is really good and you can pay money in either by post or at the Post Office.

[J-DOUBLEYA]

There is no right of set off between MBNA and abbey so you can bank there. Personally, i agree with the recommendation of the Co-Op.

[markss]

yorkshire bank offer a good basic account with dual function debit card its the maestro which is better than the solo/electron cards other banks offer. the account has no credit check and you can arrange dd/wages etc