When I wrote previously about always looking out for a better bank account deal, I mentioned I was opening a savings account. What I didn’t mention, was I had to open a new bank account with the bank to get it. This gives me the perfect excuse to test my own advice (again).

Today the forms for opening the new account came through. I could opt to have my new bank move my salary and all direct debits to the new account automatically, along with closing my old account. For the purposes of this experiment, I chose to use all of their facilities.

Even though I’ve gone through this process once before, switching your main current account is always going to leave you with a slight trepidation. After all, what if someone messes up and one or more of your bills (such as your mortgage) don’t get paid? Or worse - your accounts just vanish into the electronic ether! Banks will tell you there is nothing to worry about - and by and large there isn’t - but it’s natural to worry when your money is at stake!

If first impressions are to be made, the forms for any banking service would be where you judge them. I’m glad to report the forms in this case were extremely easy to fill in - name, post code, current bank account number and sort-code, employer address and payroll number, and a signature. That’s it. All-in-all, it must have taken me about 2 minutes, with three quarters of that time devoted to finding my payroll number. Pop the form in the post and job’s a good’un. So far the impressions of the service are positive. However, having had many, many, “unfortunate” incidents with banks in the past, I’ll reserve judgement until the whole process is complete. I’ll also not name the bank in question until everything is completed, so they will only get a recommendation if they come through on the service front.