Aldermore

My car failed its MOT and I needed the money fast for the repair. Applied on the app on my lunch break and got a decision the same afternoon. Money hit my account the next morning, though the app kept timing out when I tried to upload my payslip so I had to do it on the website instead.

Applied for a small personal loan on the site on a Tuesday evening and had a decision by Thursday lunchtime, which was faster than my last lender. The money landed in my current account the following Monday. Took a bit of back and forth on the income section though, they wanted a payslip I'd already uploaded, so had to send it again.

They made the mortgage top up easy to understand, with a clear breakdown of what the new monthly payment would be. The adviser called back within a day and kept me updated at every step. Valuation was booked quickly and the extra funds came through right when they said they would.

I compared a few savings accounts and bonds before choosing this one, mostly on the rate and how easy it would be to get money out again. The fixed bond was the one that suited me best, and I opened it online in one sitting. The interest has been paid exactly as the terms said and the statements are clear, which is all I wanted.

I needed to move my savings somewhere paying more interest after my old account's rate dropped. Setting up the new account was simple and the money came across within a couple of working days. The one thing I'd flag is that the instant access rate is a bit lower than the fixed options, so you do need to think about what you actually need.

Compared with my high street building society, the online side feels a bit more clunky and the statements take longer to appear. I've been with them for a long time and they've always paid what they said they would, though. Calling up does mean waiting a while in the queue now, which I didn't used to mind but I do now.

I took out a fixed bond with them last spring, mainly because I wanted my money somewhere steady for a few years. The account opening took a little longer than I expected, as they asked for a few extra documents I hadn't thought of. Once that was sorted, everything ran smoothly and the interest arrived as promised.

Easily the best option for an easy access savings account if you already know how these things work. Opened the account online in about ten minutes, the money was in my current account the next working day, and the interest is paid monthly without me having to chase anything. Withdrawals go back to my bank quickly too, no fuss at all.

The phone adviser I spoke to about my account was patient and took the time to explain each option without rushing me. I had been a customer for years and they remembered my details without making me go through everything again. The change I wanted was made the same day and confirmed in writing.

Compared with my old bank's app, the loan application here took a lot more steps and I had to resend the same bank statement twice. It was approved fine in the end and the money arrived the next day. Just a bit of a faff getting there, which I didn't expect from a newer lender.