
Newest Review: ... it was eventually lost. So I had to re-apply in branch and now that has got mixed up and delayed too. They continually mess things up, a... more
Kiss good bye to your lunch break with nationwide
Nationwide Building Society

Member Name: daadr
Product:
Nationwide Building Society
Date: 12/04/09
Rating:
Advantages: Safe in this current climate
Disadvantages: Long queues with low intrest rates
There are so many banks to choose from. So many different types of accounts. So many different types of interest rates. I had all my accounts with Nationwide, A cashcard which when I turned 18 turned into a Debit card, A cashbuilder which when I was 18 turned into a Bonus 30 and a Cash ISA.
I had these accounts as when I was younger I didn't have a clue about interest rates and to be honest until about 6 months ago I couldn't be bothered to learn about them either. My mum had an account with Nationwide so I went with them.
I was happy, earning money to go into my debit card, Having a few quid a month direct debited into my savings account and then now and again withdrawing it all and putting into my ISA, As that's what I got told to do.
About 6 months ago, I bought property and that's when I relised everything in this world is expensive. When the recession kicked in all I kept hearing about on the Tv was interest rates. I was 20, I had more important things to do like play and watch football or get drunk than worry about interest rates.
I can't remember why but for some reason I looked into it on the internet and found my savings account with nationwide was at 0.20%!! all I had to do, and what I did do, was switch to Barclay and get 6%. Simple as that.
After lots of comparing on the internet of Nationwides interest rates compared to other banks. I noticed that Nationwides rates seem to be a lot lower than others.
My other moan about Nationwide is their service. They used to have a tiny Nationwide branch where I live but they shut it down. I now have to travel about 20 minutes to get to my nearest branch. That's not their fault, but at this branch I have to go to they have 2 windows to go to. 9 times out of 10 when I go there is usually a massive queue and only one of the windows open. I went there last week, queued for about 10 minutes to get to the front for the man behind the counter to say "hold on a minute mate" and walked off and didn't return for a good 5 minutes. The queue mounted up behind me and they didn't seem to care, about people getting frustrated in the queue. I went in at 2 o clock, people could be on their lunch breaks from work, you don't want to spend your lunch hour in a queue in a bank!
I am thinking of switching all of money across to Barclay as they always when I go in have at least 4 people behind the counter with room for another 4
The good thing about Nationwide is though in this current bad time for banking Nationwide claim to be in a unique position because of their size and strength.
Summary: A bank for the non risk takers who dont mind queing in the branch
