No decent rates at the moment. (Birmingham Midshires)

Member Name: stokx

Product:	Birmingham Midshires
Date:	14/01/09 (42 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good online service.

Disadvantages: Poor savings rates.

Birmingham midshires are normally good for savings but at the moment they are only paying 3.38%, this is lower than both Tesco's and ING.
The website is poorly designed with overlapping tabs but the online service is excellent, allowing you to close accounts your self without having to explain your reasoning as is the case with every other bank I have dealt with.
A loading screen is displayed after entering your details, it is quick but other banks are instant.
To log in you need a username which B&M choose for you, that's inconvenient because they use numbers so you can't remember it.
You also enter a password and answer a security question but this is all typed into a generic log in box there is little to prevent key logging or phishing.
Recently they have started requiring you to have interest paid away which is annoying since transfers have not yet been speeded up and there seems to be no timetable for doing so.
BM's ISAs are postal access only and pay 3.5%, you loose 90 days interest if you withdraw. Alliance and Leicester pay the same rate, instant access, no interest lost.
It is not possible to get any details on mortgages online as the site just says "Your local IFA will be able to advise you of the products available to you".
B&M is part of HBOS but the systems are completely separate; Halifax tries to steal business from B&M, offering me an investments review when they thought my savings account direct debit to B&M might be a mortgage repayment.

Summary: No use right now.