Over 12 years with Lloyds as my business bankers I have had continuing poor services, botched service, left-hand-not-knowing-what-right-hand-is-doing service, countless business managers (the last one managed a whole 3 months), mistakes, and all the usual frustrations of being left holding a phone while they try to get the right person almost every time I call. Anyone else experienced similar things, or am I just unlucky .....

been with them for over 12 months business banking and never had a problem

We bank with lloyds and they have been first class. One thing I do agree with, though, is the annoyance when they change their business bankers...all that good will you build up with them disappears over night; maybe in the present climate there will be fewer promotions so they'll be around a bit longer:)
I once went to a presentation by the lady who started coffee republic. She made the point that, when dealing with the banks you're actually dealing with an individual in that bank rather than the bank themsleves (hoping I'm making sense!). Can you ask for a change in business manager if your relationship with them is strained?

dont know about tsb but never never use bank of scotland. have spent all day with no luck trying to sort a error on there part out. only one branch in shefiield were i can go and actually sort out account enquires and there only open mon to fri 9-5. not very good for me with a new businesses to run and currently working 56 hour a week. and trying to get the branch number is impossible
avoid at all costs

I bank with Lloyds. They're okay but we don't ask a lot of them. My main gripe is that they don't seem to understand foreign currency. If I want to pay someone in $ or € they struggle to find the correct forms. I only found out who my Business manager was by accident the other day. There does seem to be a different one each time I phone (which to be fair is probably about 3 times a year). I sort of assumed all banks were much the same.

I would advise you switch to HSBC.
We moved to them from Natwest and their service is brilliant! Not only are there a few business managers on hand (all eager to get to know the individual and business) you can easily contact them - if at any time you cant, leave a message and they call you back within minutes. Foreign currency no problem, we deal a lot with that. You are able to pop in to the town centre branch, help yourself to free tea/coffee and free meeting rooms are available

ta for all your replies. i am currently waiting for Lloyds TSB to sort out a foreign currency issue - still not responded after a week - apart from an auto-response style letter to say they will respond within 8 weeks - how helpful and reassuring is that!!

BTW Raggy, they once returned an American check to me because it was "out of date". The actuality was that because it was an American, writing an American check, they used the US date format. Whoever was dealing with cheques in the foreign department really ought to have known that.

BTW Raggy, they once returned an American check to me because it was "out of date". The actuality was that because it was an American, writing an American check, they used the US date format. Whoever was dealing with cheques in the foreign department really ought to have known that.
Yes they quote the month first then the date hence 9/11.

I don't know the size of your business, but Abbey and Alliance & Leicester both do free business banking for small businesses. It's free up to certain limits of paying in cash and cheques, but the limits are quite generous.

Celia

A colleague of mine is having troubles with Bank of Scotland part of the HBOS group because of loan repayments.

Even though the banks have had millions of pounds they are going to take the vehicles he needs for his business and sell them.

Obsolutely diabolical, aviod HBOS Bank of Scotland and Halifax!

I am with Natwest they are AWFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been waiting for 6 months for a replacement card as it got cloned and money started going out of my bank - its impossiable to get online banking (why doesnt it just come as standard!?!) it does for personal accounts whats the blooming difference - btw how expensive are other banks for business banking as i cant wait to move! also does anywhere offer internet banking as standard?
does anywhere know whether this instant money transfer Act has come through yet? not sure what its called but it'd be good to know so that if i change business banks i know i can quickly transfer money between that and my personal account.

I am a Local Business Manager for Barclays in Sheffield based at the new branch in the city centre. Having read some of the above posts I thought I would get in touch and see if I can help. Steve Roberts is correct when he says you should deal with an individual at the bank rather than think your dealing with the Bank as a whole.

I have a direct mobile and landline number that I encourage customers to use dif they need me for anything - we also have a 24/7 UK based call centre (Chester) who have the ability to do everything I can for you, except see you face to face. On-Line Banking comes as STANDARD, and is FREE on all business accounts, again we encourage customers to use it so they can keep in touch with their accounts easily. It also links up with the Sage and Quickbooks packages we can help provide for customers.

If the above sounds as though it may be of use to you - please sent a PM and I will be delighted to help.