Natwest - A must for students? (Natwest Bank)

Member Name: Palmer89

Product:	Natwest Bank
Date:	24/06/09 (79 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Int free overdraft, customer service, online banking

Disadvantages: Card reader, could find better deals if not a student?

I became a account holder with Natwest 2 years ago now when I became a student, previously I was with Barclays who did a rather poor student account, I switched to Natwest who offered a free railcard (which i've never used) as well as free over draft for 3 years, to add to this they will put me on a graduate account when I, well, graduate which will give me a futher 3 years interest free overdraft.


**Services**

I currently hold a student account, this is just like a normal account I am guessing except there is a free overdraft facility, I hold a Natwest debit card which I use to make all my transactions with. I also hold a Natwest E-ISA which I opened just recently so that I can regularly save some money each month.

Both of these services are very easy to use, I mainly use the online banking service to check on my bills, balance and to pay standing orders such as rent, thus I don't have to remember to pay every month. The only annoying aspect of paying bills is when making a single payment, you need to use your natwest card reader, which I didn't have to begin with.

I can easily switch money between my ISA and my main account, my student account gets very little interest on it, usually earning about 6p or so every month or 2, my E-ISA has I believe a 1.1% interest so this also isn't the greatest you could get.


**Customer Service**

I have had to go into my local branch of Natwest a few times over the past year for numerous reasons, such as changing address, creating standing orders or just cashing a cheque in, each time I have been into my branch to do something I have been out again within 2 minutes, the services is that good, easy and quick.


**Security**

My debit card was targeted as a cash point to be cloned and within a day Natwest had sent me a letter asking me to phone them to talk about any recent transaction, nothing had happend but on the off chance they sent me a new card and cancelled my other

Online banking is also very secure, when you sign up you are given a 4 digit passcode, to login to your banking you must enter your date of birth followed by this 4 digit passcode, after this you are asked to enter 3 digits of your pin number followed by certain characters of your password.

This is a 3 stage security process which if someone can get all 3 bits of information from me I would be extremley impressed, compared to Lloyds certainly it's a tighter system and not difficult to remember.

**Overall**

I believe Natwest is a very good branch to be with, I have had zero problems with them and the extras as a student are great if you want to use them, the interest free overdraft for 6 years and railcard swayed me to their account from Barclays, if you're using Natwest for anything else you could probably find a better bank in terms of interest and savings (although Natwest do offer a vast range of savings accounts to choose from) but as a student I believe I made the right choice.

Great service, great deal for me.

Summary: Great student/graduate accounts