Ulster Bank Reviews 

I'd give 0 if I could. Hopeless customer service. Simply trying to withdraw money from my account They contradict each and are all wrong in what they advise (e.g. that I can just "pop in" to my local RBS who will handle the transaction - not so said the shocked RBS manager). Now I can't get into the app and they insist it's a problem with my wifi -which it clearly isn't as I'm writing this.

I along with family opened an account, staff, interest and all really great, you just need to follow their rules.

Simply awful! I tried to open a bank account. Despite they are saying on their webpage the identification can be done digitally it wasn't possible. They sent me via post an application for which I needed to drive 40 minutes to the nearest Natwest branch to certify my passport. I sent off the application, the certified copy of the passport and a proof of residence and got the feedback that I need to bring the original document for the proof of residence to the next Natwest branch. They would take care of it and submit it to Ulster. Unfortunately nobody at Natwest knew what to do as the computer systems are different. They needed an address for which I asked for at Ulster. I spent today over an hour with an AI generated Help chat bot, which is annoying, with a real person on the telephone and then finally with a real person on a chat. I explained what happened and asked her for an address that we can proceed. Nothing! Apparently they gave me the wrong reference number but they were not able to tell me the correct one. The aimed solution of Ulster was that they would send me again the application form and that I would need again to travel to the next Natwest branch to do it. I asked for a simpler solution as everything is already there and we just need an address, nothing! No help, no support. I'm glad that this happened before I opened a bank account. It will save me time, energy and money in the future because I certainly will not open a bank account at Ulster anymore!

Unbelievably poor app. Incredibly difficult to transfer money, abysmal customer service. Every other banking app - especially Chase and First Direct - make banking a doddle. Ulster need to seriously get their act together.

I have a cash ISA and lost my cash card for the account.When I requested another one the customer service advisor who could barely speak English told me the account doesn't have a cash card. Yes it does I replied,I had it yesterday and now I have lost it.He then just cut me off . Absolutely shambles of a bank.Then another advisor told me yes I have found the card that came with the account, cancelled it then told me I won't be getting another one as they don't issue cards on the ISA Absolute shambles!!

No interest paid. Been trying to get the interest they owe me for 3 months now. Multiple calls and nothing. Trying to make a complaint online is impossible and they have no email address. This is theft, plain and simple.

Absolutely rubbish bank very rude customer services close account even though you have been with them for a while go to reputable bank not these cowboys

As with many of these reviews, awful experience. Account set up was okay. But getting money out of loyalty saver? Dreadful. I needed out in a hurry. Was advised to write a letter, and also a fax (you try finding a fax machine these days!), to close the account, rather than transfer. Neither of which actually arrived / allowed me to access my money. In the end someone was able to close the account electronically after all. But no interest paid. Now they are saying it was paid, but are unable to provide statements for a closed account. Every time I call up - which is quite painful itself- I am given different advice. TBH, the staff are really polite, and seem to be trying hard, but they seem powerless to actually help you. Utterly useless

This bank is a sham. No customer service. Don't expect to be able to close your account once you've fallen in, and certainly do not expect to be sent any interest due to you.

Megan-contacted ulster bank as they stole £392 from me. Spoke to a girl who actually knew what she was talking about and she put me through to the correct dept who didnt answer the phone I then phoned back and Megan answered and she was extremely rude and said there was nothing anyone could do and i wasn't getting my money back. I explained I had proof that ulster bank had taken my money but she said it didn't matter and that the letter from the complaints team about it was not correct at all l. She wa rude,didnt know what she was talking about and hung up the phone on me

Tried to close my savings account to receive my interest. That's ONLY possible apparently if you have a current account with them. I don't, never have. They said I can visit a branch instead. I am based in Hertfordshire and they are in Belfast, so how does that work? Now I have to send them a letter to close the account because they need my signature apparently. What are they going to compare it against given the account opening doesn't require a signature.

Why can you just not close online and they send your interest to the linked non-Ulster Bank account you fund the account from?

This bank is living in the dark ages. Don't bother.

An absolutely infuriating web of madness and misinformation. Utterly hopeless at solving any issue. It took me three hours to sort a problem because they they repeatedly gave me solutions that were completely wrong. Avoid at all costs it’s not worth the extra % interest.

Impossible to sign up to open an account, wish I’d looked at the feedback first. Better shop around elsewhere I think.

I have been round and round the houses trying to setup an account attracted by the 5.2% interest promised. The web pages don't work, the terminology randomly changes from one bit of information to another. You go round an endless loop trying to get it to work and there is no help line - only Cora - chat - another waste of time. Don't expend any effort applying - find something better to do and a company that has a working online presence!

Ulster Bank's attractive Loyalty Saver interest rate of 5.2% lured me in. Fool that I was. I negotiated a labyrinth of telephone numbers yesterday to reach an operative who, after 30 minutes of inconsequential information, made the telephone appointment for me with an advisor which I wanted. it's now 5 hours after the appointment time and I'm still waiting for her to call.
I've withdrawn all my investment and will try Yorkshire BS, offering an interest rate of 4.8%. That''s an upcoming £1m investment Ulster Bank just lost. I should have checked their reviews on TrustPilot before I opened the account. I never would have opened it!

What a waste of my time applying for an account was!
Nothing recieved via email after 2 days, contacted them and told a snail mail paper application must be done (when eventually recieved) and my passport posted to them.
Not gonna happen.
Online applications exist but "the system" chose a paper application.
Lucky me.
Nothing can be done by anyone at the bank as its "an automated system" course it is 🙄
I'll be away on a trip 2 months and the snail mail paper application expires after 28 days so complete waste of my time.
I'll but my 250k elsewhere.
Who knew a bank would make it sooooooo hard to give them money.
Ridiculous.
Now I see why their rating is 1.6 here!

Complete garbage, having opened a loyalty account with them & put in £22k I am only allowed to withdraw £750 a time. There was no limit to putting it in ! Its going to take me 30 days to get MY money back from the -----s.
PS Barry from Customer Services who was going to ring me back in 10 minutes when his boss was out of a meeting that is now 2050 minutes ago and counting...

Awful, frustrating, deliberately difficult.

Ulster have made it impossible to close my savings account (and therefore actually recieve my interest) without sending a letter to NI.

Can I close it in the app? Of course not.

Can I use the online form? Nope, it's broken and they won't fix it.

Can i use their chat bot? Don't even bother trying, it is the worst one I have dealt with.

Can I do it over the phone? Inexplicabily the answer is also no and good luck finding a phone number.

They apparently need my signature to close the account. Odd requirement considering that I have never given my signature to Ulster.

This is nothing short of strategic incompetence to hold on to what is mine. Absolutely hateful.

I currently have an Ulster Bank (UK) Loyalty Saver account paying 5.2% interest. This is a MARKET-LEADING instant access savings account. Happy with my experience. I am based in Scotland. I opened this account whilst it was possible to have a Loyalty Saver without also having an Ulster Bank current account.

The security, layout & functionality of the Ulster Bank Online Banking (it's the same as RBS & NatWest) is also superior to other rival banks (Ulster Bank card & card reader required for withdrawals). I can therefore be sure my money is secure & safe. The Ulster Bank App also works fine.

As per all the other reviews. Probably the most incompetent business I've ever had the displeasure of interacting with.