“I visited NatWest bank ( Hounslow High Street branch) in December 2020 to withdraw £3000 cash from the counter . Although ,I showed them a valid form of an ID ,they refused to give me my money and wanted to see an invoice or a receipt ; to proof why I am taking such a large amount of payment . Horrible bank .”
“This is my non 5 star review ever. After 40 years of very satisfactory in branch and on line service, I get this letter from the NatWest Accounts Closure Team that all my accounts with NatWest are being closed in 60 days. No explanation.
I have only once ever gone overdrawn, got a good cash flow and £10,000 on account.
So I call up to find out if there is something I did wrong, see if I could rectify it, because I thought I have always been a good, satisfied client, contributing to the bank with a good cash flow, money on account and good word of mouth.
The polite answer on the phone is that the bank does not need to give any reason, she would put in an appeal. A few days later I get another letter from the Accounts Closure Team reconfirming closure.
So I find myself with the inconvenience of needing to transfer my accounts and payees to another bank and changing account details with all concerned making payments to me. Uugh.
I'm sorry, but after all my earlier praises, I find my faith broken and can no longer recommend this bank. Fortunately there is no shortage of other banks who welcomed me.”
“Ref: R-ART1853259982
I've had a personal bank account with natwest for over 12 years then 4 years ago switch my business account to make things easier.
OMG WORST MISTAKE.......NOW DUE TO COVID I have been informed that Mr Craig Piper and his so called account review have a covert and strategic way of slowly putting black business owners out of business by profiling them and disabling them by removing business accounts from the app.
They asked me for information thats is very far fetch within the time constraints then remove access to my own hard earned money. Leaving me unable to pay staff, creditors and make 2020 the worse year yet RUINING Christmas whilst they are on leave.
I regret leaving Barclays.
Please I implore you guys switch to a different bank.
I spoke to mine and other accountants who has never heard of this in their in 25 year history.
They lost over 1 billion due to fraud in covid but why attach legitimate business owners.”
“Ref: R-ART1853259982
I've had a personal bank account with natwest for over 12 years then 4 years ago switch my business account to make things easier.
OMG WORST MISTAKE.......NOW DUE TO COVID I have been informed that Mr Craig Piper and his so called account review have a covert and strategic way of slowly putting black business owners out of business by profiling them and disabling them by removing business accounts from the app.
They asked me for information thats is very far fetch within the time constraints then remove access to my own hard earned money. Leaving me unable to pay staff, creditors and make 2020 the worse year yet RUINING Christmas whilst they are on leave.
I regret leaving Barclays.
Please I implore you guys switch to a different bank.
I spoke to mine and other accountants who has never heard of this in their in 25 year history.
They lost over 1 billion due to fraud in covid but why attach legitimate business owners.”
“Stay away from them!!!
On December 9th I have received a letter saying that my account was closed. On that day I already did not have access to my online banking to make transfer arrangements for the money that is still sitting there. In other words I do not have access to my money!
I have called the team over the phone and went to a branch to get some help. On the phone they HANG UP ON ME! And in the branch all they say is for me to fill out a form to get my money transferred within 60 WORKING DAYS, which is by far not acceptable at all!
Since my account with Natwest is my main bank account, this is the only money I have, and Natwest REFUSES to release my money, which is a criminal delict.
But not only that: We are in the middle of a pandemic and Natwest forced me to go to their branch, putting me and an elderly person I live with, and who is having a condition, in risk.
Further, the elderly person I live with is my landlord. I will now not be able to pay my rest for the next 3 months, and the landlord will cancel my contract, accordingly.
Not to mention that it`s 10 days before ChrIstmas!
However, my case is by far not the only one. On Facebook and Trustpilot you can read about many Natwest customers whose account was closed WITHOUT ANY WARNING – HOLDING THEIR MONEY.
I will need to inform the government about this incident. Further, I will have to take court action against you and contact the Daily Mail as well as BBC and Money Box. I will make this case public in any way possible!”
“Absolutely useless bank.
Applied for a mortgage with perfect credit score, paid all my bills on time, paying rent for 10 years without missed payments, my house deposit was ready as well and got refused due to claiming covid 19 grant.”
“FRAUDULENT BANK! STAY FAR AWAY!!!!!
Awful service/ staff hang up on you and talk over you constantly, not considerate of your situation that you can not access you own money!
I tried to transfer money from my account, all of a sudden I was logged out of the app and the fraud team call me to confirm the transaction. I confirmed all was fine and it was myself, I then got told another team would call me back in 12/24 hrs.
After 48 hours of waiting with no call back, I decided to call the same number that called me, (the fraud team) so I could speak to someone and find out what was going on, I had to call back numerous times and being on hold for over 1hr & 10 mis the first time, then got hung up on and then called back and waiting 48 mins to get shouted at by some mouthy little girl who couldn’t even spell. I was told I would have to wait 24/ 48 hrs for a different team to call me.
Lucky I have a credit card.... NOT WITH NATWEST, but would have been left with no money to feed my little girl and pay my bills etc. MASSIVE INCONVENIENCE & VERY CRUEL OF THEM.
Here it is x3 days later and they have decided to text me advising that my account will be closing and that they no longer want to provide me with banking services.
Like what the hell?!
I was advised by Warren in their fraud team I could go into branch with my I.D. to withdraw my money from both my business and personal accounts, which I attempted today, a Saturday only to arrive at branch and branch advised me that they need authorisation to release my money... IT IS MY MONEY!!!
Apparently I have to go back on Monday as they didn’t have cashier desks open on a weekend... that is not my problem. What an absolute shambles of a bank, I really do not know what they are playing at and DO NOT recommend them to anyone, I will also be convincing my family members and friends to change banks to anything other than NatWest.
UPDATE....
Popped into branch today with my I.D. as advised on the Saturday to withdraw my money from my accounts due to NatWest closing them for no valid reason what so ever.
Rachael, branch manager in Bristol was very helpful and called the fraud team while I was there to try and rectify this and get me my money but unfortunately the fraud team advised me that regardless o previously being advised I could go into branch to withdraw my money with my I.D., that they wouldn’t release my money from my account for me and was told that I have to fill out a form to request a withdraw to another account and this could take up to 60 DAYS??!!
Absolutely ridiculous, they are thieving swines and messing me around, the fraud team are rude and not clear with what needs to happen to get my money back. They go back on their word, advising you to do one thing then changing their minds when it suits for what? To annoy customers and antagonise them. Still do not have any reason as to why my account has been closed either.
I am appalled at the way I have been treated and stand by my comment that I DO NOT recommend NatWest to anyone ever due to their complete disregard for customers and resolving situations. It’s almost as though they know they have power as a bank and like to bully and abuse people during a pandemic this has been dreadful to say the least.
I look forward to the day NatWest go through the hoop and cease to exist.”
“What a joke of a bank. Don't become a victim of fraud with these clowns. Their investigation consists of ensuring they don't have to recover your lost money, don't follow up with the police and see where to money went and info you, it's gone. That's it. As for after care, they tell you, that you'll receive a new card and details in the mail in 3-5 working days. Nearly 3 weeks later, nothing. I can't access my account. Pay anyone. Can't contact the bank by phone because my details no longer work. You get the run around on their website. Avoid this bank at all costs.”
“Switched from YBS 12 days ago - still cannot access on line or through the app. Reregistered a dozen times to generate an activation code to gain access. No code texts received other than ‘thank you for reregistering’ and ‘your account is up and running’ and ‘everything has been transferred across! Fine if I could access it but despite over 5 hours of on line chat and phone calls, I cannot find anyone with the authority to take responsibility and put it right. I wish I had done some research beforehand. Needless to say I shall close it assuming I can eventually get into it. Hopeless!”
“I have been a NatWest customer since about 1970 (although I keep the bulk of my savings with another bank). I have just tried to open a new account but was refused, as I do not have a mobile phone. I think it is pathetic and shows just how inflexible NatWest is. They forget that it is the taxpayer who owns them, since they were bailed out by the Government some years ago!”
“Closed my current bank account with no reason! Avoid NatWest at all costs! The worst bank, terrible. I hold other bank accounts with other various UK banks, I have never experienced this.
received a letter as my bank account is closed, contacted them and they are unable to explain or to tell me any specific reason as to why the account is closed! All they say it's 'according to our terms and conditions section s 12.2'' DISGRACEFUL!! waste of time, never again with NatWest”
“Closed my account without any notice kept my money !! no explanation !! still waiting next steps !! awful awful bank !!!! stay away run away call a cab !!! anything but go near nat pest !!!”
“I have made a customer call on 21 October 2020 at 18:53 and the agent named Robert has answered the call. He started to ask inappropriate queries. I found he seemed very rude and Natwest bank didn't train their customer agents such Robert how to offer a good customer service. I lodge a complaint however I feel this bank has failed to provide better service as other banks offer in the UK.”
“Over 12 months trying to change signatories on a Business Account. Deadlines not kept, further mandate instructions not actioned and the latest development is they want new mandate forms filled in as they can’t find those submitted 12 months ago using their online portal!
Local Branch very apologetic and have done all they can to try to resolve the issue, but their central complaints team just have no sense of urgency in resolving the issues.”
“My son’s student account with National Westminster was blocked in 19 November of 2019 without any valid reason given.
We were told by The Financial Ombudsman that it is in within NatWest guidelines ‘(Terms and conditions) to do so.
My son received this text message saying-
IMPORTANT
Following a review of your banking arrangements, we have made the decision that we can no longer offer you banking facilities. Accounts have been blocked & a letter sent to advise this decision & next steps. This decision is in line with the T&Cs of your account & we are unable to discuss the rationale for this.
There was no letter sent regarding the closure of his account.. He couldn’t log into his account nor use his bank card immediately after receiving that message. He had no money for food or any other means for me to get money to him. He was distraught, shocked stressed, disappointed, emotional distressed and defrauded. He could not sleep because of a level of worry. He was an emotional wrecked student.
His Natwest account was opened in 2001 as a savings account. In 2019 he requested for NatWest to turn it into a student account which they did.
In December 2019 National Westminster sent him a threatening letter regarding the £500 overdraft they gave him at the start. Now! where must he get that money from so soon knowing he was living off his overdraft away from home. His dad sent him £160 and they took it which left him without. This overdraft was to be paid back at the end of the 3 years by the agreement of the bank. The outstanding balance is around £140. This overdraft was not a loan so they should have set up payment plan with him.
By January they sent his name to debt collectors {Moorcroft}
By February there was a default on his credit file
NatWest is the worse and disgusting bank ever. Please do your research on this bank before you decide to open an account with them.
My son had been a victim of Kafkaesque”
“I've only given them one star because I can't give zero. They sent over £2000 ponds of my money to the wrong account, and have done nothing to attempt to get it back apart from blaming the other bank. I've proved that it's not the other banks fault at least once but there's still no attempt to address the issue-although I have found out through an online article that they have 'beefed up' their security systems so it can't happen to other people while simultaneously denying they did anything wrong!!”
“I have been waiting 3h+ and counting on their customer waiting line for fraud prevention (they blocked a payment I made without informing me and now i have to wait forever to tell them its ok to pay)
Their customer service is absolutely pathetic
I was transfered twice to different departments even though I clearly explained what the problem is.
I have been on the phone for 3h + to speak to someone and waiting.
Really pissing me off now”
“Their website and apps are not fit for purpose. Links don't work, emails don't arrive, text messages don't have links that work with certain browsers. Do yourself a favour and steer well clear. They don't provide a business relationship manager unless your turnover is £2 million so there's noone to help with anything.”
