Ulster Bank Reviews 

I opened an account that said I would get interest paid monthly only to find that they decided to add it yearly instead but didn't bother to tell me. So I decided to close my account. They have had two recorded delivery letters and someone phoned me to say I would have my money by the end of the week but not such luck. I tried customer services who said someone would phone me today but of course they didn't. I have now asked resolver to get my account closed and also watchdog. They are the worst bank I have ever dealt with. I would recommend giving them a wide berth!

Terrible service. Went to local branch 12miles away to verify my documents only to get a message to say that one of the documents weren't verified.

Abysmal bank, abysmal service. Will close my account asap

The difficulties I've encountered trying to close my savings account more than cancelled out the appeal of the interest rate. Useless chatbots, unclear directions on website and finally, when I got through to human, they suggested I go to a Nat West bank where my account could be closed. I went to the Nat West branch in Holborn where they told me - categorically - it was not possible. It should not be this complicated to access your own money. Absolutely shambolic.

Wverything about them is sh!t Sh!t app, sh!t staff, and over all sh!t bank. Heaven forbid you need to access your own cash

So I applied for an account at the start of the year. (2nd Jan)....I'm still waiting to hear back from them. I had my initial security check. Then I got sent a link to an external site that did a visual security check. Then nothing....not heard a peep or given any emails telling me that my application is in the process. So my passport details are just out there for a bank account I don't even have! If it's this difficult to open an account just imagine how difficult it is to withdraw or deposit money.... Not gonna wait to find out. Will be immediately cancelling my account when (or at this point IF) it's ever activated. Don't bother. There's so many other better banks out there.

Long standing customer of over 30 years I had a company winding down and received a cheque in the company name which could not be cashed. Followed their instructions and sent in everything requested and was told I would receive a fund transfer, messed me around and now claim they never agreed to that and have sent my money to revenue. Disgraceful and unprofessional luckily all calls are recorded.

Tried to open an account, after 12 days no activation code and CORA worse than useless, decided if I have this bother opening an account what would it be like if I needed to get money out.

Think I missed a bullet here

They sent me a PIN, but the peel-off label didn't remove the covering so the PIN couldn't be seen.
Impossible to get through on the phone, no email was available, I was connected to an agent via webchat but no response for 45 minutes

Diabolical service. My activation code expired so I couldn't set up my bank account. Nobody could help, they just followed a script which basically said follow a login link and login again - er 'no I can't as I don't have an activation code'. Next they advised using CORA AI and when that didn't work a bank colleague on CORA said 'just follow the link and login'. 2 hours wasted and I can't access my money or sort this out. Today I've written to close my account. STEER CLEAR of this bank

Update: Received a letter from complaints department apologising for poor customer service with a promise to carry out customer training in the deficient areas identified. The complaints department were actually very thorough and courteous which I appreciated. However I have still closed my account as the evidence suggests that there are major deficits with overall customer service.(see other reviews re Ulster bank).

Like others, tried to open a savings account. Went through the hooyu verification and thought all was okay as it was approved. Only after talking to customer services after radio silence is it apparent that hooyu actually doesn’t work and due to their technical errors they have cancelled my application without telling me. Will just go elsewhere then!

Well, a complete shambles and I for one would advise anyone even thinking of opening an account with Ulster Bank, DON'T!!!!

I applied for a loyalty saver account and completed the application and the next day uploaded my driving license and facial ID. All I received was an application reference number.

On the same day as I opened the account, or so I thought, I received an email confirming this. I also received a letter dated the same day promising an email with my customer number within 48 hours, an activation code within a further 48 hours......to this date nothing received!

I have spoken via Cora.......useless, connected to an agent three times....also useless and all ended with THEM disconnecting me. I have rung Ulster Bank twice and both operators could not find my application. Both were rude and unhelpful. Both advised me to email and both gave different email addresses......both emails returned undelivered.

If you are thinking of joining think again, I wish I had looked at Ulster Bank before applying because I wouldn't have done it. I will now not join the worst financial institution by far I've ever encountered.

Having been a NatWest customer for 50 yrs+ I thought I would open an account with its subsidiary Ulster bank. Despite my being notified that I had passed their security, they denied that I had done so. They have zero customer support for online customers except the online chatline which cannot answer sensible questions. A telephone call was terminated abruptly. They accept ONLY passport and drivers licence for ID. If you don't have these forget it. An appalling service.

I wish I could give less than one star. This is the worst banking experience I have had in my life. I was initially attracted by their comparatively high interest rate for savings. Although I cannot remember any particular problems with opening a savings account, the real problems started when understood that they pay interest at the end of 12 months and decided to close my savings account. After spending nearly 1 hour on the phone, I was told that I needed to open at current account with them in order to withdraw my money. So I had to go through the procedure to open a current bank account which I never was going to use. It took me awhile to get a car reader (they still use card readers!), my debit card, and all activation documents. Then I made my first payment to my account at another bank, after that they promptly (a transaction to my own previously approved account) because the transaction was too suspicious. So I had suspend at least three more hours on the phone trying to unblock my account. After I have done that, I attempted another payment to the same account. They blocked my account again (online banking, online app, debit card, everything blocked). I spent more hours over the phone with the security team answering the branch they couldn’t unblock my account tomorrow. I’m going to a Natwest branch again tomorrow from where I am supposed to call the ulster bank from my own mobile phone, so that they can ID me. (they couldn’t do today with my debit card and passport). It has already taken me many many hours to try to get my money back, and I’m not sure when I will actually get my money back. If you can stay away from this bank, it is horrifying that this bank is still operating. They are still using my money while I am trying to get them back.

Horrendous experience.

First started to apply for an account online on 21 December 2023. Application goes through but no way to know if it completed the process. Between then and 2 January 2024 albeit Christmas and NY in the mix I’m still awaiting an activation code to be able to register for online access. I have my membership number but the app requires the activation code. Everything is 48 hours, then received followed by another step at 48 hours. Last contact was 30 December and told vide will be sent within 48 hours…still waiting.
I’m at stage of giving up and honestly sticking with my 0.4% less interest where I am.

Well i never read these comments until i had completed the process, and to be honest if i had i would have maybe thought twice. But i must say that the process was flawless and worked very well for me. It's exactly the same App and process as my existing Royal Bank App. Everything went well so far, without any issues. I can only go by my personal experience - but was very easy. No Complaints so far :-D

And here is my second post. Now over a month since I applied, I've now finally got a card 7 days ago. They then separately sent me a PIN number by post. It now emerges in the accompanying letter that the PIN number does not allow cash withdrawals with the card.
Really? Yes.
Frankly, if someone offered me to buy a car with square wheels, I would consider that as a better deal.
Don't be blindly lured by their "competitive" interest rates.
Be warned, you're in for a really crazy experience if you open an account with this people.
Truly unbelievable, but it's true.

As with other reviewers the Loyalty saver setup process was hard - multiple steps with long delays. Most savings accounts do this in under an hour. But for me setup did eventually work. The problem was transferring money out via the web. It required additional security, either a card plus card reader, or biometrics on the app. Meanwhile I could only transfer out small sums from the app. The app continuously pushed biometrics setup, but then said you can't set up biometrics as you have not been using the app for long enough. I ordered card and reader - weeks later no sign of them. After a few weeks app suddenly allowed biometrics, just like registration requiring multiple goes at mobile phone photography. For a savings account has huge functionality - can pay multiple people, link to other accounts via open banking etc etc. I would prefer a simple account paying just to one funding account but with quick setup. Like most savings products. Do not try Ulster Bank if you need to use the account within weeks. I am going to close the account. PS. Even the closure form does not work! Instructed to not fill in destination account if you don't have another Ulster Bank account, form rejected as destination account empty! Sums up my whole experience.

Alas, looks like I'm another victim as all the others writing bad reviews. Just don't waste your time. The process is painful, doesn't work, inefficient customer service (once you can get hold of them) complaint service isn't worth doing (assume they have so many complaints they are just stock piled). They send you texts and letters that provide false information about your opening of the account. Certainly don't want to invest money in an establishment that can't do basic admin or customer service.

Can't register - such a palaver and it still didn't work. I'm good at these things. No way of speaking to anyone or any hope they'll call me. I'm giving up