Danske Bank: Anybody have experience with this bank, good, bad & indifferent?
- Thread starter Redshoes
- Start date
Hello,
I am almost entirely the opposite, I moved to NIB (now Danske) a few years ago and never looked back .... I'm very happy with them, but clearly it depends on what you want from your bank.
Pros:
- Great internet and phone (app & telephone) services, infact possibly the best online banking I've ever seen (compared with other banks in Ireland and also, BNP or Natwest for example)
- Some very good value products (I've the Prestige Current Account, which gets you discounted rates but you pay a fee), their Mastercard Platinum has a great rate too.
- They do what they say they are going to do, well they certainly did in my case anytime I've asked for anything but I've read someone else on AAM was disappointed with them a while back
Cons:
- No real branch network, you lodge cheques through An Post's network
- If you want to meet with them, you have to set up an appointment and go to one of their nine regional centres (not a big deal, as you can apply for loans, open accounts etc online / by phone much of the time)
Regards
Mr. Earl.
I am almost entirely the opposite, I moved to NIB (now Danske) a few years ago and never looked back .... I'm very happy with them, but clearly it depends on what you want from your bank.
Pros:
- Great internet and phone (app & telephone) services, infact possibly the best online banking I've ever seen (compared with other banks in Ireland and also, BNP or Natwest for example)
- Some very good value products (I've the Prestige Current Account, which gets you discounted rates but you pay a fee), their Mastercard Platinum has a great rate too.
- They do what they say they are going to do, well they certainly did in my case anytime I've asked for anything but I've read someone else on AAM was disappointed with them a while back
Cons:
- No real branch network, you lodge cheques through An Post's network
- If you want to meet with them, you have to set up an appointment and go to one of their nine regional centres (not a big deal, as you can apply for loans, open accounts etc online / by phone much of the time)
Regards
Mr. Earl.
Checks
Checks.......interesting concept. I'm moving back to Dublin from a country that has not used checks for the last 20 years. I really didn't realize they were still being used anywhere except for the states which has a very old-fashioned banking system, I think.
I'm hoping that I can pay my bills online and use my debit card, can't I?
I don't need to have a relationship with my bank, so as long as I can do online transaction and use a hole in the wall, I'm happy.
Checks.......interesting concept. I'm moving back to Dublin from a country that has not used checks for the last 20 years. I really didn't realize they were still being used anywhere except for the states which has a very old-fashioned banking system, I think.
I'm hoping that I can pay my bills online and use my debit card, can't I?
I don't need to have a relationship with my bank, so as long as I can do online transaction and use a hole in the wall, I'm happy.
I agree with Mr .Earl. My mortgage is with Danske Bank, and had a current account to service it. Changed to a prestige account recently as all our banking is done with the current account.
I find their on-line service brilliant. We have a current account and savings account and can transfer between them on-line with no issues. I have also had no problems lodging cheques through An Post. Just collect a few of the clear envelopes the next time you are in the post office, and use the lodgement slips that were on the back of your cheque book (but I'm sure you can get them from Danske if need be).
Recently had an issue with one of our debit cards scammed. I rang their emergency number on Sunday night and they could'nt have been more helpful. The card was blocked, a new one issued, and the offending transactions reversed as soon as we filled out the form they sent out.
As long as you are relatively internet/technology savvy, you will have no problem with their internet banking.
I find their on-line service brilliant. We have a current account and savings account and can transfer between them on-line with no issues. I have also had no problems lodging cheques through An Post. Just collect a few of the clear envelopes the next time you are in the post office, and use the lodgement slips that were on the back of your cheque book (but I'm sure you can get them from Danske if need be).
Recently had an issue with one of our debit cards scammed. I rang their emergency number on Sunday night and they could'nt have been more helpful. The card was blocked, a new one issued, and the offending transactions reversed as soon as we filled out the form they sent out.
As long as you are relatively internet/technology savvy, you will have no problem with their internet banking.
DrMoriarty
Moderator
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I had a similar experience with them from about 2004-2010, and our mortgage is still with them. Their online banking was (and arguably remains) streets ahead of the opposition.
I stuck with them even when they closed my local branch and when they went "cashless". But I moved when they introduced current account fees and refused to allow me to service my mortgage repayment from another account or to keep only a service account with them, to replace my old Freebank account.
Oddly enough, I still have access to their online banking system, although I never use it anymore since my only account with them now is my mortgage. But if I wanted to I could, for example, use it to generate a certificate of mortgage interest repaid for the past year. That's impressive.
I stuck with them even when they closed my local branch and when they went "cashless". But I moved when they introduced current account fees and refused to allow me to service my mortgage repayment from another account or to keep only a service account with them, to replace my old Freebank account.
Oddly enough, I still have access to their online banking system, although I never use it anymore since my only account with them now is my mortgage. But if I wanted to I could, for example, use it to generate a certificate of mortgage interest repaid for the past year. That's impressive.
So do you still pay fees on this account that only services your mortgage or were you able to break free from them?
Huh ?
I thought there was something in one of the Regulatory Codes about Banks not being allowed to force additional products on you, you only had to take the individual product you wanted originally ... doesn't make sense, if I'm right as the person who told you that would have been exposed, if I'm correct in my thinking ?
Regards
Mr. Earl.
serotoninsid
Registered User
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That's correct. I queried it at the time of the introduction of current account fees. They reclassified my current account as a service account (for the sole purpose of servicing the mortgage) - and no fees apply.
DrMoriarty
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No, they let me go in the end. But not until I'd quoted them the relevant legislation, escalated the matter to a formal complaint and stated my intention to refer the matter to the FSO if they didn't stop being so thick about it.
I stress that my little spat was with their Head Office/Customer Services and that all the frontline staff in my local branch were always top notch.
Hi DrMoriarty
Thank you for the reply. I imagine that must have been a few years ago, given all Banks appear to be insisting their frontline staff are all QFA qualified, or similar to prevent such mistakes from being made & comply with other regulatory requirements.
Moving on ....
I still really like their online services
Regards
Mr. Earl.
Thank you for the reply. I imagine that must have been a few years ago, given all Banks appear to be insisting their frontline staff are all QFA qualified, or similar to prevent such mistakes from being made & comply with other regulatory requirements.
Moving on ....
I still really like their online services
Regards
Mr. Earl.
DrMoriarty
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No, just between April and June of last year, when the fees kicked in. But it wasn't the frontline staff that didn't know their stuff, it was the "Sales and Marketing" team they seemed to have put in charge of the campaign to push customers off the Freebank accounts and onto one of the new suite of fee-charging products. Once the local branch manager's hands were untied everything was handled very smoothly and attentively, in fairness.
DrMoriarty
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You didn't, eh, wax one?
If you mean do Danske Bank provide them, then the answer is yes, but you'll need either their Easy Plus or Prestige current account package (compared [broken link removed]).
You can certainly pay the vast majority of bills nowadays by other, more modern means, but there are still a few situations where a cheque is the simplest option. I probably write 10 or 15 of them in a year.
If you mean do Danske Bank provide them, then the answer is yes, but you'll need either their Easy Plus or Prestige current account package (compared [broken link removed]).
You can certainly pay the vast majority of bills nowadays by other, more modern means, but there are still a few situations where a cheque is the simplest option. I probably write 10 or 15 of them in a year.
I like Danske. The online banking it top and happily they are to stop using Java. I like cheques, for school things and tradesmen etc. I pay a quarterly fee but I get a .45% reduction in my mortgage rate. Whereas the non-existence of branches hasn't caused me any problems I'll probably open a local Credit Union account so as I can transfer cash there should I need to get my hands on a sizable amount.
galwegian44
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My experience of NIB/Danske Bank has been extremely positive for the last 25 years, especially their online banking which is way ahead of the opposition.
One disappointment is that since their branch network disappeared it is practically impossible to open an account. It took me close to a month to get an account opened for my son, who just wanted to walk up the street, into the local AIB and open one immediately.
I 'encouraged' him to be patient with Danske but it the process was a bit of a mess although it is nearly completed now. I believe that they are so short-staffed now that it takes ages for anything to happen that includes interaction with a staff member. I waited 3 weeks for a scheduled phone meeting with a staff member so I could answer 2 questions that should have been on the form - total length of meeting was 30 seconds.
Anyway, once you're in they're great.
Good luck.
One disappointment is that since their branch network disappeared it is practically impossible to open an account. It took me close to a month to get an account opened for my son, who just wanted to walk up the street, into the local AIB and open one immediately.
I 'encouraged' him to be patient with Danske but it the process was a bit of a mess although it is nearly completed now. I believe that they are so short-staffed now that it takes ages for anything to happen that includes interaction with a staff member. I waited 3 weeks for a scheduled phone meeting with a staff member so I could answer 2 questions that should have been on the form - total length of meeting was 30 seconds.
Anyway, once you're in they're great.
Good luck.
gunnerfitzy
Registered User
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I've been with Dankse for about a year now and I'm very happy with them.
If you want a traditional bank where you can pop in and talk to a staff member then it probably isn't for you. I like the idea of doing the vast majority of my banking online.
The Prestige account that I have costs €125 per year but that includes Worldwide travel insurance and Airport lounge access. Good value in my opinion.
There is normally a six month period between opening an account and being considered for credit including a credit card but it is possible for your advisor to make a case on your behalf to forego this waiting period.
My one gripe with them is that they are still using laser rather than Visa debit. Although they have committed to switching to Visa debit they have yet to make any timeframe public.
If you want a traditional bank where you can pop in and talk to a staff member then it probably isn't for you. I like the idea of doing the vast majority of my banking online.
The Prestige account that I have costs €125 per year but that includes Worldwide travel insurance and Airport lounge access. Good value in my opinion.
There is normally a six month period between opening an account and being considered for credit including a credit card but it is possible for your advisor to make a case on your behalf to forego this waiting period.
My one gripe with them is that they are still using laser rather than Visa debit. Although they have committed to switching to Visa debit they have yet to make any timeframe public.
What was your question about cheques?