Internet/Phone/Branch - All in One (royalbankofscotland.co.uk)

Member Name: Chris-Duncan

Product:	royalbankofscotland.co.uk
Date:	31/01/01 (310 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: All in one account, easy to navigate web site

Disadvantages: No special interest rate

The Royal Bank of Scotland does not to my knowledge operate an Internet account as such. The main advantage of this is that by operating an account with them via the Internet, you also gain all the advantages of being able to use local branches and other services. This is in marked contrast to accounts such as the Co-op's Smile accounts, which have had to make separate arrangements. The draw back in that they do not offer preferential rates etc for the accounts. As a current account holder however I have not found this to be a particular problem.

Whilst the logging on system is quite long with several stages of security to overcome and several code names and numbers to recall it is simple to operate and self upgrading meaning that any upgrades are completed when you log on. It has an online technical manual however I have not yet had a need to make use of this due to the ease of use of the system.

The system allows the following operations to be completed

Set-up and canceling direct debits and standing orders
Money transfers to other accounts you may have at the Bank or elsewhere. The system remembers where you have sent money in the past so that full details do not need to be entered every time you transfer money to the same account.
Bill Payment to the majority of companies you are likely to need with further additions having just been made to the list (9/8/00). Of course electronic statements can be obtained as required and downloaded in a number of formats. I use qif files for Quicken, however Microsoft Money is also available as well as some others.

I would recommend the Royal Bank of Scotland's current account (with Internet access) to anyone with Internet access (it is also a free telephone account should you need this service) as a satisfied customer with an account for several years and Internet access for almost 12 months. In addition it is worth noting that this bank does not, and has stated that i
t does not intend to, charge for the use of cash point facilities (including the so called disloyalty fees) which is a key point for someone using the internet rather than a branch

Summary: