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by shawabawa3 2552 days ago
> - no physical branches

Massive positive for me. I've never had a good experience going to a physical bank branch (if they're ever even open), and now I'll never have to go again

3 comments

I recently visited my local branch after shooting myself in the foot when re-installing their app and locking my account.

After waiting a couple of minutes, a lovely lady sorted out my problem with no fuss at all.

I agree, mostly I never need to step foot in a branch but sometimes it helps to be reminded that there are advantages of doing business 'face to face'.

I agree. If a bank has physical branches to fall back on, they can squander the online/phone story. This has happened with another bank I use which has a website with a broken account creation form and phone lines that just die.

For most banks, they might as well not have any branches as I can't get to them at a reasonable opening hour and they have no incentive to change that.

> I agree. If a bank has physical branches to fall back on, they can squander the online/phone story

And meanwhile First Direct has a mediocre website and terrible mobile app experience when compared to the likes of Halifax, TSB, RBS, Barclays, all of which are sub-par compared to the likes of Monzo or Starling as far as the app experience goes.

Then again, Monzo and Starling don't have a desktop experience, so good luck if you wan't to do anything more than just looking at a few transactions on the go.

Taking away the option of doing something is positive?
One of my bank accounts didn't let me change my address online. I had to go to the bank and do it.

A branchless bank must have an alternative

So what you actually need is the ability to change your address online. Not the ability to go into a physical branch removed.