Ulster Bank Reviews 259

The worst bank I have ever dealt with. 1 star is too high. Dreadful communications trying to set up bank account, and waited for nearly a week just to transfer in my deposit. I forgot to check reviews on Truspilot, as I would have run a mile to avoid this charade. I can't get any cash from the account & I tried setting up the biometrics which failed. This is supposed to be "easy access"...what a joke! I got the bank link from the Money Saving Expert website. I think Martin Lewis needs to hear the truth.

One of the worst experiences trying to open a savings account.You can't start your account straight away.Have not heard back from them at all.No customer service at all!!

Tried to take money out and didn’t realise limited times allowed. Chat useless. Sent email and given a totally wrong number to call. The number was for HSBC which is not affiliated with Ulster bank. Eventually managed to contact Nat West who could deal with it. Definitely do not recommend a bank who refuses to be contacted

Scandalous - this bank linked to Nat West exercises blackmail to obstruct withdrawals introducing new demands, new limitations and new requirements to prevent you taking YOUR money out. I instructed closure 27 March never actioned! As I am in England to get round the obstructive blackmailing games I arranged to go to their associated Nat West Bank with ID to finally close and withdraw in person and even then they phone having said it was all arranged and then said it can't be done! I can't change the low limit of allowed withdrawal yet they said if I phone customer services I would be able to, customer services say it can't be done!! They said I could do it on the App, again can't be done! They then say if I apply for a card I could change the limit but then....they don't provide a card for my account! Its absolutely outrageous and I am now going to sue them for missing my ISA and I would encourage you all to do same through the Small Claims Court route, check out MoneyClaims Online a government website for recovering your money.

Shocking customer service .keep sending you round in circles trying to take money but will not allow you. Do biometrics and does not work. Rang numerous times but still not able to take money even though its a Instant Savings Account. Do not use this bank.

Too bad traditional savings with bank no longer work the same for everyone.

Lost business deals because of UlsterBank poor services.

It prompted me to exploring modern options which HOUSEMINING ENERGY's cloud mining models/contracts turned out to be a smart move for me.

Two-bit provincial bank. Avoid. Deliberately unhelpful.

One of the worst I've ever come across - IMO a significant culture problem in relation to dealing with customers and customer comms.

Mmmm I feal like i was mislead to open this account. Took them a few weeks to get half my passcode out to me and the other half via email or text message. And then had to use biometrics for the mobile app. I specifically applied to this bank for an overdraft facility to be attached to my new banking with them. Was told no problem once i applied for a bank account. Waited so long for all the codes etc etc and once i managed to log into on-line banking i had no over draft given to me. Applied for it again and got a reply not available to me. Such nonsence. Today i received all the remainder to log into the bank account just really to close it down before it even got off the ground. They wasted my time so account now closed.

Don’t open an account unless you’re within commutable distance of a branch.

Whilst you can open an account remotely (taking a couple of weeks). Many of their processes still require you to visit a branch, so you could (as I have done) get seriously stuck if something goes wrong.

Genuinely is the worst banking experience I have ever had and absolutely no help whatsoever from Customer Services. And it took a ridiculous amount of time to get through to a person; their AI Assistant Cora is poor.

Opened up an easy access savings account end of last year (2025). The account was easy to set up along with confirming my Identity etc. However, when it came to withdraw my money all of a sudden I had to prove who I am! Unbelievable! I need to set up Biometric Approval or use a card reader to confirm its me! Lets forget that I have used my credentials to log in and I am trying to transfer money back into the current account that the money was deposited from; no, now I need to prove I am actually me! I have now been waiting a week to receive the card reader and thus, no access to the money I need. Not quite sure what good a card reader will do me as its a savings account...they don’t come with debit cards! To set up Biometrics I have been forced to download that Ulster app. I am now on day 5 and it still wont let me register….apparently I haven’t been using the app long enough….WTH! According to the “Brilliant” Customer Advisors at Ulster, it can take up to 4 weeks for the app to allow me to register Biometrics and the card reader will take up to a week. A weeks gone and no card reader. According to Ulster, I only ordered the card reader on 11th Apr…..I know I ordered it on 9th Apr. Ulster have said they cant do anything until I set up biometrics or receive the card reader; great banking support. They do minimal checks to accept money, then make you jump through hurdles to take it back! A lot of red flags in my opinion.

So to summarise; Ulster have refused to give me access to my money, forced me to prove who I am even though I did that at account set up, forced me to download their app, don’t care that its affected me with money issues, and have done nothing to support me to remedy the issues quickly. Hopefully this review helps others to make an informed decision about this establishment.

Quite possibly the worst bank I have ever dealt with. Inept, rude, non-existent customer service. Beware and avoid at all costs.

Tried to advise Ulster Bank of a website problem under their “Set up Anytime Banking” page in which it constantly gives an error to enter a “valid date of birth” - their amazing support closed the case straight away as apparently I’m not the account holder!

Great stuff, will be changing to a more competent bank who use customer service with a bit of common sense.

My mother is still locked out of her anytime banking app.

Avoid, cheers.

I have a savings account with a decent balance. Withdrew £20k which is the daily limit. Revisited the following day to withdraw another £20k and told to wait until 6.30pm, when it resets. Waited and the withdrawal failed again with the same message. Tried Monday morning and it failed again with the same message. Called customer services who advised Ulster Bank does not operate over the weekend, can only withdraw on weekdays. It's 2026, we are fully digitial!

Liverpoool-supporting Paul was fantastic in helping us when we were having great difficulties logging in to both the mobile app and to the website. He was friendly, knowledgeable and empathetic. He was able to resolve the issue for us (it turned out that uninstalling and reinstalling the app did the trick). It should also be noted that we were able to get through to a human within 90 seconds of making the call, after passing through a couple of menus.

Very poorly run bank

I made a complaint about the poor customer service and procedures and 10 weeks later still no resolution. Chat bot appalling.
No attempt to contact me to gather information from me.
Branch services also woeful, doing anything to keep you away.

It took me 3 hours to transfer money between Ulster Bank and another account in my name. I could only transfer £750 without having to talk to someone and then had to go through an interrogation by the fraud team.

Not only was the product misleading (a supposed 'fixed' interest rate that was actually only partly fixed on closer inspection), the customer service from this company was absolutely appalling. No one seems to have a clue about their own products, and no one bothers to get back to you when they say they will – inefficient and disrespectful. I am unsurprised they have such a poor score on here and unfortunately very much agree with it.

I would give them nil if I could. Beyond abysmal, bordering on criminal, various ploys to deny you access to your own money/ account closure. Insistence on biometrics....unhelpful staff on phone...I am in process of withdrawing 750 per day till I zero my account, as requests for full closure thwarted. Avoid at all costs