Choosing Your Bank
While many people are with their bank because they’re used to them or because it seems like an unwanted hassle to change accounts, there can be benefits to shopping around. And just because you keep your main account in one bank, there’s no need to keep all your accounts or credit cards with one firm.
If you have a poor credit rating or a large overdraft, you may find it harder to change banks, but some banks will ‘buy’ your overdraft from you, or offer to convert it into a loan. For a small fee you can request details of your credit rating from Equifax or Experian – the two leading credit reference agencies.
Convenience
Depending on your circumstances, you may find you’d be better off with one of the new internet banks, like Smile or Cahoot. These can give better interest rates, because they have lower overheads than high street banks that have to run branches in ‘real time’. On the other hand, you may rather stick with a large bank you know and trust – perhaps you have a good relationship with your branch manager and can expect extra support when you need it. The larger banks also have plentiful local branches, which could be a plus point if you need to, say, pay in cheques frequently.






