I have a Halifax Easycash account, which I have had since 2007, after closing my Thinkbanking account down (had issues with them!) The Easycash account is conducted either on-line through internet banking, or in-branch at a special free-phone. You can't use the counter staff. You get a Visa Electron card for purchases, and most places now accept Electron so its not as restrictive as it once was. Three and a half years in and I've had no problems at all, even when my card got swallowed by a cash machine, one Sunday morning, I got home, reported it, and my new card arrived on Wednesday. (Replacement cards via Thinkbanking took 2 weeks!)
59 months down, 1 to go... whoop whoop!