Northern Irish are the most likely to switch current accounts
26 January 2010
Northern Irish current account holders are the most likely in the UK to say they would switch current accounts if they got bad service from their bank, shows new research by Which?*
85% of account holders questioned in the province say they are likely to switch current accounts because of bad service. Welsh consumers are the least likely to ditch their bank over bad service (58% would be likely to switch). Overall, 68% of UK consumers are likely to switch banks accounts because of bad service.
The research comes ahead of the Which? Big Banking Debate, which reveals that 83% of people in the UK think that the Government should listen to both banks and consumers when deciding how to reform banking.
The Which? Big Banking Debate will take place in London at the Royal Horticultural Halls, 80 Vincent Square, on Thursday 4 February from 5-8pm.
Anyone who is unhappy with how their bank has treated them, wants the chance to have their say in how banks should be run, or would like to attend the debate, should visit www.which.co.uk/banking. All of these views will then feed into The Future of Banking Commission.**
Which? chief executive Peter Vicary-Smith, says:
“Whether they’re annoyed at bad service, poor returns on savings or the huge bonuses bankers continue to lavish on themselves, we believe that all consumers should have their say when deciding the future of banking.”
Notes to Editor
* Which? carried out an online survey of 2,145 adults aged 16-64 in the UK from 29th December 2009 to 4th January 2010. Results have been weighted to ensure they are representative of adults aged 16-64 in the UK.
** The Future of Banking Commission, chaired by David Davis MP, will be the first report to look at the financial crisis from the point of view of normal people and the banking industry.
The commission will consist of four events early this year, the first of which will be the Which? Big Banking Debate, which will give consumers from across the UK the chance to have their say in how banks should be run. The debate will take place in London on 4 February from 5-8pm.
Bankers, politicians, regulators, trade unions and business leaders will give evidence at the subsequent events. A report will then be published later in the year. Its aims are to:
Listen to people's concerns about banking
Listen to the views and concerns of industry and regulators
Enable the restoration of public trust and confidence in the banking system
We'll be taking our findings to the government after the 2010 general election to show whoever is in power how people want the financial crisis to be tackled.
Regional Breakdowns
Q1) Percentage of current account holders who would switch current accounts if they got bad service from their bank
National stat 68%
Northern Ireland 85%
Yorks/ Humber 73%
North West 71%
North East 70%
South West 69%
West Midlands 68%
South East 67%
East Midlands 66%
G. London 65%
East Anglia 64%
Scotland 63%
Wales 58%
Q2) Percentage of people who think the Government should listen to both banks and consumers when deciding how to reform banking
National stat 83%
East Midlands 89%
Scotland 87%
North East 87%
Yorks/ Humber 86%
South East 86%
South West 83%
Wales 83%
North West 81%
West Midlands 80%
East Anglia 79%
G. London 78%
Northern Ireland 75%