N&P closing, Metro bank or other?

[Clunegapyears]

Since we started full time, with about 70% in mainland Europe we've been using a Halifax Clarity credit card (as a back up) and a Norwich and Peterborough debit card (used nearly all the time) for payments and ATMS. Both do not charge fees for use in Europe and this has saved us a LOT of money.

N&P are closing all their bank accounts in August. Grrr!

I have looked on the web and the only other debit card which does not charge Euro fees is Metro bank. You have to walk in to open an account ... can do this in April. Has anyone experience of them, as I'd not heard of them before?

Or ... who do other Euro travellers use? I know there are pre-loaded cards, but can you use them in an ATM?

 

[IanH]

Assuming you're old enough, we both use Saga Visa cards
No foreign charges and usually quite a generous rate for the Euro conversion on the statement
We ONLY use these abroad though (Don't know why, ask SWMBO!!)
We also do NOT use them in ATM's just take Euro's with us, always a much better rate than an ATM, I guess?

 

[Pauljenny]

Look at Nationwide Building Soc.

Their Flexdirect debit card is similar to the Halifax.... And gives a 1/2 % cashback.
Terms and conditions apply.

 

[Clunegapyears]

Need a replacement debit card

Assuming you're old enough, we both use Saga Visa cards
No foreign charges and usually quite a generous rate for the Euro conversion on the statement
We ONLY use these abroad though (Don't know why, ask SWMBO!!)
We also do NOT use them in ATM's just take Euro's with us, always a much better rate than an ATM, I guess?

Thanks, but the Halifax Clarity does the same job as Saga ... it's the ATM issue that will start to cost us ... we are on Euroland for 6-12 months ...

 

[Clunegapyears]

Thabks

Look at Nationwide Building Soc.

Their Flexdirect debit card is similar to the Halifax.... And gives a 1/2 % cashback.
Terms and conditions apply.

Just checked ... seem to be free at ATMs but 2% on transactions .... and I already have one of these, as most of my savings are with them.

 

[StevenJ]

You could use your Clarity card to draw from an ATM and as soon as you get your monthly online statement pay it online , that way you only pay a small amount of interest , I think I paid a couple of quid interest on about 900 - 1000 euros.

 

[iampatman]

You could use your Clarity card to draw from an ATM and as soon as you get your monthly online statement pay it online , that way you only pay a small amount of interest , I think I paid a couple of quid interest on about 900 - 1000 euros.

If you pay off the amount you withdraw within 48hrs you don't pay any interest.

Pat

 

[Tezza]

Revolut have this week giving existing customers a bank account with account number and sort code. You can have your wages or pension payed in and use as a standard bank account.......I think???

 

[chrismilo]

Since we started full time, with about 70% in mainland Europe we've been using a Halifax Clarity credit card (as a back up) and a Norwich and Peterborough debit card (used nearly all the time) for payments and ATMS. Both do not charge fees for use in Europe and this has saved us a LOT of money.

N&P are closing all their bank accounts in August. Grrr!

I have looked on the web and the only other debit card which does not charge Euro fees is Metro bank. You have to walk in to open an account ... can do this in April. Has anyone experience of them, as I'd not heard of them before?

Or ... who do other Euro travellers use? I know there are pre-loaded cards, but can you use them in an ATM?

Metro bank is a bank opening up all over the place I have a second account with them depending on which account you have is whether they charge abroad for Atm use
They are open Sundays too and dog friendly always a bowl of water and a treat on arrival

 

[Clunegapyears]

Treat on arrival

Metro bank is a bank opening up all over the place I have a second account with them depending on which account you have is whether they charge abroad for Atm use
They are open Sundays too and dog friendly always a bowl of water and a treat on arrival

Oscar de Boscar would love this! Do grown ups get a treat too? Could not keep up with making payment to Halifax Clarity within 24 hours of using ATM to avoid charges, but it is worth knowing in case of an emergency.

Does anyone use a prepaid card for ATM transactions? Does not seem to to be dissimilar to a current account!

 

[Tezza]

Oscar de Boscar would love this! Do grown ups get a treat too? Could not keep up with making payment to Halifax Clarity within 24 hours of using ATM to avoid charges, but it is worth knowing in case of an emergency.

Does anyone use a prepaid card for ATM transactions? Does not seem to to be dissimilar to a current account!

Yes I use revolut....first £200 in a month is free....then for all other ATM withdrawals that month is charged at 2% . So if you were to take £500 out through a ATM it would cost £6.


Revolut ? Introducing Revolut current accounts

 

[Clunegapyears]

Thank you

Yes I use revolut....first £200 in a month is free....then for all other ATM withdrawals that month is charged at 2% . So if you were to take £500 out through a ATM it would cost £6.


Revolut ? Introducing Revolut current accounts

I like the way you can manage it easily on the phone as well as open up an account without having to go into a branch. And fee-less international transfers. And a second card. Looking good ... just we take out more than £200 per month in cash per month! Direct debits coming soon.

Will compare with Metro bank.

 

[Tezza]

I don't draw to much in cash so for me because I'm getting one of the best rates around I think I'm still slightly up over most cards.

 

[jennyp19]

It's free to draw cash at ATMs in Spain with a Santander account if that's any help.

 

[jennyp19]

You can overpay on a Halifax Clarity card - so don't have to worry about sorting it in 24 hours

 

[StevenJ]

It's free to draw cash at ATMs in Spain with a Santander account if that's any help.

It wasn't the last time I used my santander card at a santander bank atm , although that was 2 years ago , have things changed in that time ?

 

[barge1914]

N&P / Nationwide

Since we started full time, with about 70% in mainland Europe we've been using a Halifax Clarity credit card (as a back up) and a Norwich and Peterborough debit card (used nearly all the time) for payments and ATMS. Both do not charge fees for use in Europe and this has saved us a LOT of money.

N&P are closing all their bank accounts in August. Grrr!

I have looked on the web and the only other debit card which does not charge Euro fees is Metro bank. You have to walk in to open an account ... can do this in April. Has anyone experience of them, as I'd not heard of them before?

Or ... who do other Euro travellers use? I know there are pre-loaded cards, but can you use them in an ATM?

Hi
Same problem for us too. We are already with Nationwide but have a Flexdirect card and account. This used to provide free European withdrawals but when they stopped this we also opened a N&P account which now will die 31st August. Nationwide also do a Flexplus account. This costs £10 per month. Compared with using the Flexdirect card at todays rates you would need to spend £6000 abroad for the free withdrawals on the Flexplus to break even against the annual £120 a year cost of running the account. However if you keep a minimum of £2500 in the account you will earn £75 back in interest over the year. To decide whether this account is for you you would need to consider whether you can benefit from the other perks of Free Travel insurance (limited to 31 days but upgradeable for longer), Free UK/European Breakdown Cover, Free Mobile Phone cover, Worldwide Card Assistance, and Identity theft cover. For anyone who already banks with Nationwide it may be attractive if only in that it offers a quick hassle free account change.

We are currently pondering this question for ourselves, it would certainly save us a lot on the insurances, however we would need convincing that the breakdown and travel insurances adequately cover all the circumstances of a motorhome. I have some reservations for example concerning the level of cover/ exclusions etc. for contents, valuables and documents, and getting pulled out of soft ground and suchlike that are more clearly described and covered in a dedicated motorhome (but not cheap) policy like those of Safeguard and The Caravan Club.

I would be very interested to hear views from anyone who currently has a Flexplus account and has experience of their insurance offerings. In fact I may start a new thread on this particular insurance issue as we are soon to renew all our insurance policies.

Regards
Ian

 

[Clunegapyears]

Opened Metro Bank account

Ok ... a review ...
Really easy to open, if you have a branch near you (i.e. In the South! And close to London!). Take your docs in and you walk out with the debit cards and internet banking sorted out. You can even take kids and dogs in! They will do bank switching for you too.
Using it in England and Ireland has been absolutely fine. There is an app, but it is fairly basic, as you cannot set up STOs, or one off payments on it.... yet. BUT they have a 24/7 telephone service, where they will do it for you.
Reason for change to Metro Bank .. N&P closing and Metro Bank do not charge overseas fees or % for transactions or cash withdrawals.
Impressed - yes so far.

 

[Canalsman]

You can overpay on a Halifax Clarity card - so don't have to worry about sorting it in 24 hours

So preload this card for your expected cash withdrawals and the Clarity card will cost you nowt!

But why go to this bother? There is hardly any need to use cash these days. Everywhere accepts cards ...

 

[jennyp19]

So preload this card for your expected cash withdrawals and the Clarity card will cost you nowt!

But why go to this bother? There is hardly any need to use cash these days. Everywhere accepts cards ...

Not in a lot of Spanish towns they don't.