Barclays rated worst for current account customer service in poll

Barclays has been ranked as the worst current account provider for the third time in a row, according to a poll.

The survey by MoneySavingExpert.com showed 20% of the bank's customers rated its service as "poor", up from 18% the last time it was conducted in February. It said 42% rated the account as "OK" and 38% as "great".

The consumer finance website said the poor rating for Barclays came despite the bank unveiling its Blue Rewards scheme earlier this year, which sees customers pay £3 per month to get at least £7 in return.

The bank's scores were in contrast to First Direct, which again topped the poll, with 92% saying its current account was great, 7% saying it was OK and only 1% saying it was poor.

State-backed Royal Bank of Scotland fared badly, in 12th position out of 13. NatWest, also part of the RBS group - which is 73% owned by the taxpayer - was in 10th position.

More than 9,000 people took part in the survey, which is carried out twice a year.

Guy Anker, managing editor at MoneySavingExpert.com, said: "Our index shows once again the strength of First Direct's service and the continued improvement from Santander, which used to languish at the bottom.

"However, the bottom of the pile is dominated by many high street banks.

"This should be seen as a stark warning that they risk losing customers if they don't raise their game.

"Anyone unhappy with the service they're getting from their bank needs to ditch it, especially as some of the best deals are from banks with good service."

Here is the table of bank current account customer services ratings from best to worst:

1. First Direct

2. Santander

3. Nationwide

4. Smile and Co-op

5. Halifax

6. TSB

7. Bank of Scotland

8. HSBC

9. Lloyds Bank

10. NatWest

11. Clydesdale & Yorkshire

12. Royal Bank of Scotland

13. Barclays