OPENED ACCOUNT, 2DAYS SENT CARD AND ALL OTHER STUFF, WENT IN BRANCH TO APPLY FOR OVERDRAFT, BOOOM 1000 STRAIGHT AFTER 1 WORKING DAY. TRYED HALIFAX AND A FEW OTHER BANKS THIS BY FAR BEST

Being a student most of us vary where we live throughout the year between our family home, halls of residence in 1st year and private accommodation after. For each time I have moved and changed my address Natwest have still weeks and months afterwards sent statements and letters to my past addresses. While it seems they can update the address in branch very quickly the back office takes months to catchup which requires a lot of chasing around. Even now I wouldn't be surprised if rogue post was still going to the wrong address. Other than that all fine.

i applied to natwest railcard on 8th october but they declined my photo.. i don't see any problem with it as my brother's one was worse but they accepted it. they didn't inform me that there is a closing date for the application, they only said use the code by 30 nov not finish the application by that date. it is only a photo issue, if they are kind, they should forgive me. plus i had to go uni which is a stress because i had to give 2 couseworkd on the same day.. please natwest give me a railcard!!!!!!!!!
i would have liked to know if they can excuse me and give me a railcard..

The way my account has been dealt with is absolutely APPALLING. I went in on 16th of Sept 2010 with all my evidence and opened the account and was told that my cards etc would be arriving within the week. THREE weeks later I received a letter through to my address - but with completely the wrong name on it. I then called up a branch and tried to re-open an account over the phone, and was told that my account was open and I would still qualify for a railcard (the account has to be open by a certain day to qualify for it). I rang up the railcard number to check and they told me that in fact this wasn't the case and I would have to go into a branch and show them my evidence, regardless of the fact that another branch already had photocopies of everything. When I went into the branch they told me that actually they DIDN'T need to see it and that everything was fine, and that my cards would be sent out to me soon. About a week later I have just received a letter saying they DO need to see my evidence and that I have to go into a branch yet AGAIN. Only when this is done can I get any information to finally get my railcard. I applied well within the deadline for the railcard yet for reasons which aren't my fault at all, I have only just persuaded them to actaully let me get one, and it looks like i won't get it for at least another 2 weeks, which will be almost SIX WEEKS since I first set up my account. I am livid that I've been dealt with in this way because I planned to use my railcard recently but because of Natwest's incompetence I still haven't been able to apply for it completely so I will have to use the full price. I would say to people thinking of applying for a Natwest account in order to get the railcard that unless you have the patience of a saint and the determination to go through all their ridiculous red tape, it would be less effort and quicker to just buy a railcard independently and have nothing to do with Natwest at all.

My daughter opened a student account half way through August. At the start of September Natwest sent her debit card, cheque book and PIN to her university address three weeks before the start of term. Guess what ....?? All of them went missing and had to be stopped. Asked for another set to be sent home this time and again they were sent to her university address. Time to give up I think and close this account. It's not worth tthe hastle. I'll just pay for her a rail card and keep her bank details secure.

Went into Natwest in Loughton on the 26 August with all relevant paperwork and proof etc to finalise opening an account for my son, so he could recieve ema. We were 4/5 days with in the 28 day period, only to find out today that our application has expired and so now have to re-apply!! Spoke to four different members of staff from different departments within the customer service department/complaints department but to no avail! Tried to contact Natwest in Loughton, couldn't get through (wanted to find out why my application had expired when i had done my part?) 2 emails were sent from the complaints department to Loughton branch to contact me direct regarding this situation, and no reply! Very disappointed and could potentially lose my son some of his ema, and also a great inconvenience to myself as have to find another account for my son tomorrow with 2 young children in tow.... not an easy job! Don't bother with Natwest! The account is Adapt for 16+

so many problems - tried to open student account in branch -sent away even though i had all the documents with me i has to make an appointment - jumped throught their hoops but still no account details as head office got to ok it - head office cant help chase/branch - LEIGHTON BUZZARD/so unhelpful!!!! stay clear of nat west if my advice

One of the conditions to receive the railcard is that you must check a box to stop receiving statements by post when you sign up to online banking. Upon receiving my activation code etc. in September 2009, I went to the website and entered all the appropriate information in order to activate my online banking, which included a tick box asking me whether I wanted online statements only, which I ticked. I then applied for my railcard, well aware of the condition that I must register for paperless statements, and assuming I had done so. After my first term at university, I had not received my railcard, and when I came home, I noticed I had received several bank statements. I found this odd, since I knew I had asked not to receive them. I logged into my online banking and found that for some reason I was still registered to receive statements by post, so I immediately altered this setting so that I would not receive them in the future. It was also obvious why I had not received my railcard. Upon calling the Natwest student centre, I explained that I had signed up to paperless statements and submitted my application long before the application deadline, and that having statements sent to a place I wasn't living was of no benefit to me. The only record they had of me registering for paperless statements was in December, after the railcard application deadline, so they would not honour my application.

The only reason I went with this account is because of the railcard, so it's not as if I wouldn't have made sure I had satisfied all of the conditions in order to receive it.

The level of customer service, ease of use, and the overdraft facility are largely irrelevant in this respect, as all banks offer much the same service, if not better. Therefore, as far as I'm concerned they may as well receive 1 star each, as I have received no benefit from having this account, that I couldn't have received elsewhere.

As far as student accounts go Natwest's isn't too bad. The overdraft is fine, customer support is...satisfactory but where I take issue is the free railcard. I was late in applying for mine, around November, but sent it off in time. I found out from them AFTER the 31st Decembember deadline that they had not received it and I was no longer eligible as the deadline had passed. I then rang them up to explain it all and they told me that they could not accept another application from me as the deadline had passed and I quote from the support line "the railcard was a one off offer" so I couldn't even try again in my second year. This is all despite either Natwest themselves or Royal Mail losing it. My second year came around and, lo-and-behold, they were offering a railcard again. So, in short, the account is fine but they *will* mess you around with the railcard application, so get it sorted early to avoid being lied to by someone just wanting to dodge some paperwork.

Haven't had a single problem with NatWest. Every time I've rang them up or been into the bank to take care of anything, fron standing orders to overdrafts, service has been prompt and efficient, without any hitches. Railcard application was easy and the replacement arrived in excellent time. Only problem is that I'm skint, and I can't blame NatWest for that! Would definitely recommend.

Awful Awful Awful.
I have had so many problems! They told me I can't open a student account til the 19th August as I won't recieve the welcome pack!? WHY can't they just give it to me when it comes so I can give student finance my details?
So in branch I set up a current account which they said they can upgrade to a student account when the welcome pack is available.. left the building with no account details etc because i was told I'd recieve it through the post.. that was TWO months ago. I called natwest and I'm not even on the system. So over the phone I set up a student account and was told they'd send me an application and i needed to take it into branch to confirm, did that and then was still told I couldn't open it til August 19th.

AWFUl communication and the branch tells you one thing, while the call centre another.
Having problems with halifax aswel due to no credit rating(im 18!!)
Brilliant. no student account for me!!

Not a great choice, especially if your course includes a year abroad, internet banking doesn't cover transferring money to an account abroad. In my experience transferring money or paying bills in the US has been expensive, not easy and has been problematic. Might be fine, if you're on a campus Uni with a Nat West on campus.

The fact that you can get a five-year railcard for free from Natwest is their saving grace.

If it wasn't for this, I would not recommend them to anyone.

Customer service: Very poor.
Internet banking: Very poor.
Interest free overdraft facility: Reasonable.
Savings rates (just in case you are a student with savings!): Very poor in general, other than the occasional good ISA rate.

I would advise students to open an account at Natwest for the free railcard, but make sure that you have another account at a 'proper bank' (e.g. Halifax or HSBC, etc) that you can use - otherwise Natwest will most probably drive you crazy!

Natwest raildcard farce. Have been with Natwest all year and is my only account. No renewed railcard. Tried my branch ...no help gave me number to ring. Tried number they said go to website ... you guessed ...website said try number. Eventually spoke to someone who said card had beed declined this year (didn't bother to tell me) because of lack of activity on account .. when I told them it was my only account they said go to branch. Main objection is they have my business and were not much bothered about this issue which was entirely their fault. Indifference to customer.

General attention to needs at branch/ATM level fine.

I joined natwest backin september set up seemed eas althogh had ver rude cstomer services who were ver unhelpfl simpl telling me I need a utilit bill (I am 18 wh wold have a bill???) anwas got it set took forever for all the mass of paperwork to come through. I turned off paperless statements expecting me email about the railcard but nothing when I rang I got told the had sent me a gradate pack not a stdent one and now couldnt get m railcard

m advice dont go with natwest very very rude customer service, very in efficient services go somewhere else!!!

An irritating race.

The first meeting seemed correct. Everything had gone through with success although a few things remained hazy.

The account took exactly 10 days to be opened. Letters arrived one after the other confirming the accessibility to the account and its resources...but things got complicated when for the fifth time, poping down for another missing form, a withdrawal on the account wasn't possible.

Now starting to feel a little lost in the tremendous maze of forms, they sat me down and nicely offered me - as well as the worst coffee made on earth - to run a credit check which ended...negative and without a clear explanation of the situation. Why? Shouldn't I be aware of this refusal...

So here I am with tones of papers, a debit-card, a credit-card which I don't remember applying for and finaly cuss all.

Piece of advice : Banks weren't created to help you in difficult situation. In a world led by money a bank is a business and will find any opportunity to make the most of your feeble financial situation. So please, do avoid getting caught into their admnistrative webs. Check all papers, notes and make sure you get to a quick end within the second interview. If not...abandon.

they are rubbish- they wouldn't even give me a railcard!