Ray

Midland or First Direct to you ......

anotherlimey

You mean the one started by a Scottish guy with it's HQ in London?

anotherlimey

I think Midland got rebranded....

Ray

Dunno .... never been to the UK for years..

Patrick Hasler

OK ! What about Citizens Bank ? They are after all Royal Bank of Scotland, do you have them in your area ?

Yorkieabroad

They got taken over by HSBC didn't they....kind of a rebranding I guess

Patrick Hasler

They used to be Midland Bank, they were taken over by HSBC who are always refered to on BBC World service as a 'British' owned bank.

Jerseygirl

I'm with the Nat West who are brilliant. They send all my mail to the US address. If you call them and explain your position calmly they just might waive the charges providing you don't often go in the red. I had a similar conversation with Nat West and said that I wanted to keep the checking account open as we intended to return to the UK in a few years (that was 10 yrs ago) they even gave me a free overdraft facility. As many others have said do not close the account, it could prove very useful one day.

I always use my UK bank and credit card for purchases etc. when I am over there it is cheaper than using the US CC and having to pay commission on each transaction.

ladygwennie

Well I managed to get a hold of my mother and no help at all, apart from the fact that she tells me ive been getting statements with the name of the new account on them, i think i almost screamed the phrase "why am i only hearing this now" but theres nothing i can do until tuesday morning, so im hopin it isnt gonna be too much of a mess to clean up, but i think that might be wishful thinking. In the mean time, gonna have to figure out how to make sure the bank changes my acct, back to what it was or to just any one with NO monthly charges, and replacing the money taken out and making it back to damn normal all from over here, grrrrz

ladygwennie

Ok so i spoke to my bank and i very much played the helpless female, and to be honest they were very very nice and accomodating about it all. They agreed to reverse the charges and i just have to in writing formally ask for the account to be changed and for my statements to come to indiana. PHEW now i just have to mail the letter and hopefully all will be good! Thanks for all the advice everyone, appreciate it and cheers

Jerseygirl

I've found it works every time in the UK, but don't think for one minute it would get you anywhere in the US.

ladygwennie

haha boy do i know it, I have to admit i have become so used to the american way that i was pretty much assuming i would have a battle on my hands, as i know if it were a bank over here theres no way they would readily offer reversing charges.

Elvira

Actually, I have not found that to be the case. Having a friendly relationship with a real person at our local branch probably helps though. This relationship is something I have actively cultivated.

ladygwennie

ahhh ur really lucky! we never seem to get the same person at our branch when we need something and if there has been any issues they havent been overly helpful, but we take what we can get lol.

Jerseygirl

You need to be friendly with the bank manager to get anywhere and our's doesn't seem too helpful. Although I bet she will be in future after I called a board member and complained about her, she soon sorted out the cock up they made with my international wire transfer.