Great British Banking at its best! (Birmingham Midshires)

Member Name: caravaningqueen

Product:	Birmingham Midshires
Date:	10/01/09 (100 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Customer Service

Disadvantages: None in my experience

I have been a customer of Birmingham Midshires for around about 20 years.

More recently over the last 5 years I have had a telephone account with them.

***Background***
Birmingham Midshires has roots dating back to 1849 and is the result of an amalgamation of some 50 building societies including the Midshires and Birmingham & Bridgwater Building Societies.

They concentrate mainly on savings, mortgages and investments offering a wide range of products to its customers.

Accounts can be opened as on-line accounts, telephone accounts or branch based accounts.

Birmingham Midshires have been voted Best Online Savings Account Provider 2008 for the fifth time and Best Direct Savings Account Provider 2008 for the fourth time by the readers of Your Money Magazine.

Birmingham Midshires continues to be a key financial provider in today's competitive market place, providing leading products and services to UK consumers. This continued growth and success has seen Birmingham Midshires become the largest private employer in Wolverhampton.

In April 1999 Birmingham Midshires became part of the Halifax Group, further enhancing its position and strength. Retaining its well-established brand and product range, Birmingham Midshires now draws on the considerable resource and expertise of its parent.

In September 2001, Halifax and Bank of Scotland merged to form a new force in banking - HBOS plc.

****Telephone account****
Having a little spare cash available myself and my husband decided to open a telephone account with Birmingham Midshires in 2003. The interest rate was favourable at the time, based on comparing it to many other service providers.

Opening the account was very straightforward. A quick call to the customer service number and the forms were sent out. They arrived within 3 working days which was quicker than the promised time of 5 working days.

We filled out the forms promptly and returned them with all the necessary documents. Within a further week our account was open and ready to use.

****How the account operates***
Via telephone where either deposits (from a linked account) or withdrawals (to a linked account) can be made.

****Customer Service****
I have to say that in my experience the customer service via telephone has always been excellent. I have always been able to speak to a customer service respresentitive within around 1-10 minutes. They introduce themselves when answering the telephone. I have found them to be helpful and knowledgable in answering any questions I have.

****Verdict****
Great product, great interest rates (well, were!) and fantastic customer service.

Summary: Brill Birmingham Midshires