Ulster Bank Reviews 

If I could give zero rating I would. One star is one star beyond too many. I opened a Loyalty savings account. However, I cannot withdraw funds from this account because of the hash that Ulster Bank have made recently when closing two unused accounts from way back. It took a lot of hassle to get those accounts removed from the page, only they then removed the details of my nominated bank. Only they seem incapable of sorting out my access to withdrawing funds. How long has this gone on for? Weeks and weeks and weeks, only now today they have sent another email to say that it will take another twenty business days to look at this. Hey ho, this is of course total rubbish service, non service altogether. And on this rubbish proliferation goes. No end in sight for something which should never have happened and now seems totally beyond the bank to deal with in a timelty manner. If they're doing this to me over something simple, who knows what else they are doing to other people. It really doesn't bear thinking about, the amount of frustration and outrage and fury that their 'customer service' engenders.
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I wrote to the CEO, someone contacted me after this and eventually sorted the whole mess out with grace and fulsome apologies, plus compensation for three months worth of indigestible gyp.

The open banking facility within their app does not appear to function. However, open banking for the corresponding natwest app does. Different technical standards seem to apply within the same banking group. Very worrying for financial security.

What a DISASTER! I can't believe I got myself into this. Their savings rate was so good, hence I thought I would be a bit patient with their services. I can blame only myself for choosing this bank. It's so silly that for anything meaningful (for e.g. increasing payment limit) for one to do online or using the app, you need to have a card reader or biometric approval.

One can pay only £1000 back to your source or to anyone else per day until you have a card reader or registered for biometrics. You can pay in as much as you can per day. TOTAL HYPOCRISY!

I've waited for more than a month and even after multiple chases I still haven't got my card reader. The app wouldn't let me register for biometrics because it thinks I am new to the app (well I've been using the app for a month now). The app recommends that I should just not keep viewing my transactions and that I should put more money in and only then it might show me ways of registering my biometrics. Why can't the biometrics feature be made available by default? Why should I have to put more money it? THIS IS ETHICALLY SO WRONG!

The Cora chat is so dumb. It closes down half way during the chat and you can never access the chat ever again. It briefly pops every now and then and is hidden permanently. No matter of clearing cache or cookies or opening in an incognito window would help. In a rare chance that I was able to get hold of the chat window, it kept telling me that I have an authenticated chat conversation open already and that I should use it instead and it wouldn't let me do anything further. The problem is that one can't access the previous chat that is probably more than a day old. THE ONLY WAY TO CONTACT CUSTOMER SERVICES IS NOW GONE.

My wife, she finally succeeded in opening her own account after nearly a month now and hours of web chatting via Cora. She is so frustrated with her experience, that we've had a few unnecessary arguments already over me choosing this bank. IF YOU WANT PEACE, YOU SHOULD LOOK ELSEWHERE.

Absolutely useless. Confuluted system with minimum instructions on how to proceed. A simple step-by-step guide is all that is needed to simplify the process. Eventually managed to speak to someone on the phone, must have been their first day as they didn't understand the system either. I eventually managed to get assigned a password and pin, then when logging in, told I needed to wait for a card reader before I could log in. Not for me, I will save somewhere else.

Totally agree with many other reviews, ref their poor service. I tried opening a new savings account, absolute waste of time, customer service is none-existent , digital assistant is total c****. Dire company!

No surprise to see their rating is low I have no intention of pursuing my application any longer. Going round in circles and all you get is Cora talking out of her backside prefer to castrate myself with a rusty pair of scissors;

The account opening process is as antiquated and cumbersome as everyone says..

1 week in and still no details received.

I have spent ages trying to open a loyalty saver account. Seriously terrible and cumbersome process. Don’t bother trying to call because even when you do get through (after waiting for ages) the knowledge of the person answering is astonishingly low. They give you the wrong information and you are right back where you started. Believe the other one star reviews, they are completely accurate.

If they can’t deal with opening an account how can I trust them to let me have access to my money when i need it? The answer to that is that I can’t. Natwest (owing Ulster) should be ashamed of itself. The joke is that we poor taxpayers still own a stake in NatWest after having bailed it out of trouble! Truly pathetic.

Like others, wish I'd checked on here first. I've been spreading funds for FSCS security so have opened several savings accounts without any bother. Ulsterbank.co.uk is remarkable in its incompetence.

My account was confirmed as open three weeks ago but I still don't have any of the details necessary to access it.

The support bot is dreadful. And even when they put you through to a person (apparently) they seem unable to communicate or get to the point of anything.

If their application process is any reflection of how they look after your savings, steer well clear!

** updated to 3 stars. It did get sorted but involved a ridiculous amount of time and lack of clarity. With the benefit of hindsight I would not have started this application.

A follow up from my previous post.
Still no success in opening my account which I started 3rd October.
Just received this
"Please note we're currently experiencing higher than normal complaint volumes and there may be a delay before we're able to start investigating your complaint. We appreciate your patience, we'll contact you as soon as we can to update you on our findings."
Need I say more...........?

Step by step instructions via email and text and then letter. Identification process on line simple. Doesn’t open overnight so a little patience for checks and opening account but otherwise easy process.

Woeful customer service! Trying still to open a Savings account on line. Their systems cant deal with it. Cora chat service is not a live chat - yet it states it is. Finally got through to an advisor.
Telling me now that even though I have applied on line I have to come into my local branch to verify my ID and complete the application. Seriously??
All my local branches have been closed.
Ulster Bank have just lost out on a substantial savings investment. I'm finding another home for my money!

Tried opening an account on 19.10.23. Entered all my details, uploaded passport and was told my account would be open within 48 hours.

Over a week later, over two hours spent on the utterly awful chatbot / live chat and an hour on the phone to a lady who said they are unable to deal with such issues on the phone (has to be via live chat). The final outcome - "There has been a glitch and you will need to re-start your application".

If they can't do the most basic task of opening an account or rectifying with their own error, god knows what a mess they would have made with my savings. A lucky escape.

Registered for a savings account a couple of weeks ago. Long delay in getting to the stage of having an account. Finally get activation code. Letter tells me that I need my customer reference (which they have not sent to me) and to go to a webpage and click "activate now" link (that does not exist there).
Tried their chatbox with its clueless operatives and am passed from one to another. Each operative asks me for slightly different personal information (are trying to get a full profile of my details?) It seems to be an Indian call centre!
The third operative cuts me off.
Just don't waste your time as I have.

Trying to open an account, however, it is such a Pain communicating with them, that I will put my money elsewhere. If it's this difficult to get your money into the bank heaven knows what issues you will face when you want to get your money out. Cora the chat option is completely useless, it just keeps closing mid-chat.
If you're the CEO, get your processes sorted mate.

Ulster Bank Not Fit for Purpose

This is only the third review I have ever posted but I'm driven to it. My wife and I each opened a Loyalty account. There a so many codes drip fed over a span of time. It was not straight forward. Then when I received a code out of the blue I had an online chat with 'Cora'.That didn't resolve my query so I requested to speak with a human. He was basically incompetent and hadn't fully understood and taken on board my questions. We'll let our accounts go dormant even though they were set up to accept a transfer. We just do not trust them to give us the access we need to easily withdraw our money.

First rule of business: If you can't deliver it, don't offer it. Trying to set up an instant access savings account and it's like pulling teeth. There is very little point to offering an attractive headline rate if when someone applies for it, you make Fort Knox look accessible by comparison. It's a week since I started the process and still have no account. Oh and as for that ludicrous digital assistant on the website (CORA), just bin it. It's as much use as a chocolate teapot, (unless you want to go around in circles for twenty minutes).

I just tried to open an account online.
The account opening process said I had to chose a branch, and to find one enter my post code.
I did that and it came up with the message
Sorry there aren't any near you.

No way to continue the process so I will be going else where.
Shame as it looks like a good product otherwise

Well like others I was drawn to Ulster Bank due to their market leading interest rate on their instant access loyalty saver!
The application process and the steps to actually open the account is arduous and inefficient, that's why I only gave 4 stars as it took me about 3 weeks from application to having the account up and running which is a little crazy! I prefer digital only banks where you can open and use an account within minutes but as they can't match Ulster rates...!

Now that my account is open all seems to be good, rather wish interest was paid monthly than annually but their app seems good. I haven't tried withdrawals yet but will report back if I have any issues, so far so good!

Went for the saving account purely for the good interest rate.Am not interested in banking services, daily withdrawal limits etc. Got account open in 48 hours, made deposit, Did not need chatbox or to speak to anyone (which I know can be frustrating). All went like clockwork. I'm also happy with Natwest online interface with card reader, gives good sense of security. Not sure why others encountered so many problems. Early days but so far so good