Permanent TSB

BelaWinchester

Hi, considering switching from bank of Ireland to PTSB.
Anyone know if their online banking/app is any good? Are they a good bank to have a joint current account with? Any info welcome.
Thanks!

JTMan

The online app is good. Has all the normal main features.

Why are you choosing PTSB?

KBC will give you free banking if you deposit at least 2,500 EUR per month into the account. KBC have a good app too.

Bob24

KBC's app is definitely better IMO (at least on iOS), and yes the pricing model is indeed more convenient and straight forward as long as you lodge 2500 per month.

But the drawback to keep in mind is that they have fewer branches and fewer associated services available (for exemple no cash lodgement facilities which will be a problem for some people).

The J Stands for Jay

PTSB app is terrible. Online banking does the basics, but far too often they force you to come into a branch to sort things out.

JTMan

McGaggs wrote: »

PTSB app is terrible. Online banking does the basics, but far too often they force you to come into a branch to sort things out.

Not my experience at all.

McGaggs

McGaggs wrote: »

PTSB app is terrible. Online banking does the basics, but far too often they force you to come into a branch to sort things out.

Not been in a branch in about 3 years. Only time I have to call them is to move money from my savings account into my current account. Everything else I can do via the App or the web portal.

Matter of interest, what features do you think is missing from the app?

The J Stands for Jay

JTMan wrote: »

Not my experience at all.

For example: I closed one account with them and they decided to delete my online access. After an hour on the phone, they finally told me to go into the branch. It took about half an hour of signing a form, waiting while they did a load of typing, then signing another form...

The J Stands for Jay

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Not been in a branch in about 3 years. Only time I have to call them is to move money from my savings account into my current account. Everything else I can do via the App or the web portal.

Matter of interest, what features do you think is missing from the app?

Unless it's changed in the last couple of years, it's missing a proper login method. Needing the entire number was very inconvenient, requiring reading the number off my debit card. May as well just do it on a PC. I don't quite remember, but I don't think the app could set up payees.

monkeysnapper

McGaggs wrote: »

PTSB app is terrible. Online banking does the basics, but far too often they force you to come into a branch to sort things out.

What!!!!!

I've not been in a branch in years , only thing I had to go in then was because I was given a check to cash .

I find ptsp app good ,

MarkR

Same as above. Only reason I had to go in was to lodge a cheque. I've got standing orders, direct debits, I transfer money to other accounts etc. Have a credit card with them also.

gawker

McGaggs wrote: »

Deleted User wrote: »

Not been in a branch in about 3 years. Only time I have to call them is to move money from my savings account into my current account. Everything else I can do via the App or the web portal.

Matter of interest, what features do you think is missing from the app?

Unless it's changed in the last couple of years, it's missing a proper login method. Needing the entire number was very inconvenient, requiring reading the number off my debit card. May as well just do it on a PC. I don't quite remember, but I don't think the app could set up payees.

It has been updated, and now remembers your Open24 ID. So you have to put in a password and the 6 digit code, which isn't an issue for me. I know what you mean about the previous app, it was pretty basic in functionality, but the new one is a good improvement. I use both TSB and N26 and they UX on PTSB is catching up.

My boyfriend used KBC and I think they are about even now in terms of apps. My main worry is PTSB will now wait another 3 years before an update, but it does look like they are investing in this side of things finally.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nearform.ptsb&hl=en

OP - I use PTSB and have had good experiences with them. KBC are a good option too, but as was mentioned already lack some banking functionalities. I also had a terrible experience trying to join them "online" - they now seem to send me customer emails but I never got a card or account despite multiple attempts online and in-store. They seem to be a small operations growing fast, with niggling pains.

Tayschren

I have nothing but good experiences with PTSB, moved away from AIB and BOI a few years ago. Did the savings thing with them, have credit card from them. Got a mortgage and other loans from them (not the best interest rate but straight forward). use the App all the time.

Compared to AIB and BOI they are brilliant, cant say anything about KBC as I never used them

The J Stands for Jay

gawker wrote: »

OP - I use PTSB and have had good experiences with them. KBC are a good option too, but as was mentioned already lack some banking functionalities. I also had a terrible experience trying to join them "online" - they now seem to send me customer emails but I never got a card or account despite multiple attempts online and in-store. They seem to be a small operations growing fast, with niggling pains.

KBC were a bit painful to get set up with; like you say they seem to have expanded faster than they were set up for. But once the accounts were set up, they've been pretty good, no need to go near their hubs. I have my mortgage with them, and when they offered a discount on the rate for opening a current account with them, I was straight out of PTSB (not quite straight out, as they forced me into a few trips to their branch to allow me to leave).

If it wasn't for the mortgage deal, I'd probably only be banking with N26 and Bunq.

KiloDelta

Business banking with PTSB is such an unpleasant experience.

Only for the fact I have a lot of Standing Orders from customers set up and the hassle of changing, I'd have left long ago.

You cannot access your account on a mobile phone. No app, not even access in Safari/Chrome etc

This is for security reasons it says yet you can access your current account so I can't see the difference?

bk

Permanent TSB app while it has been updated recently, is still the worst banking app in Ireland!

Revolut is by far the top, with touch ID login and instant notifications of transactions and great security features for blocking cards, etc. All banks should be copying them.

Ulster Bank and KBC are next with support for Touch ID making it quick and easy to login without needing to remember stupid passwords.

AIB next down, they don't support Touch ID, but you only need to enter three digits of you pin and you can also quick view the balance of your account without logging in, handy.

Permanent TSB's app, despite the update, continues to be the worst app, no touch id login, requires you enter both the password and three digits of your PIN every time. And once you do login it doesn't immediately show the balance of your accounts, that requires yet more button presses!!

I'm really shocked that it took them so long to update their app and when they finally did, they still managed to make the worst app!

I'm seriously thinking of moving my current account to AIB or KBC as a result.

ct5amr2ig1nfhp

BOI has to get the award for worst Android app and worst online banking. There's no other bank comes close. Truly awful. Both services are regularly offline as well.

PTSB android app is excellent.
@bk fyi (not that it helps you) but the android ptsb app shows you the balance of each account on the first screen after you login.

bk

Gibson Shrilling Selenium wrote: »

BOI has to get the award for worst Android app and worst online banking. There's no other bank comes close. Truly awful. Both services are regularly offline as well.

I admit, I've never used that one. Actually now that I think of it, it is the only one I've never used. But PTSB app is definitely far inferior to Revolut, Ulster Bank, KBC and AIB.

Gibson Shrilling Selenium wrote: »

PTSB android app is excellent.
@bk fyi (not that it helps you) but the android ptsb app shows you the balance of each account on the first screen after you login.

From the screen shots on the Google Play store, the android app seems to be exactly the same as the iPhone app. And no the balance of each account isn't on the first screen, the first screen just says hi after you log in and you then have to click "Accounts Overview" to see the balances for your account. Very stupid!

Compare that to the AIB app where you don't even have to login to check the balance or the KBC and Ulster Bank apps where you can quickly view your balances with touch ID, no login required.

Also in the KBC app you can even open an account and even upload your ID documents using your phones camera, brilliant. No need to trapeze down to a branch office like PTSB recently wrote to me expecting to do again, despite me haven given them all the ID docs just 12 months ago!

AlmightyCushion

bk wrote: »

From the screen shots on the Google Play store, the android app seems to be exactly the same as the iPhone app. And no the balance of each account isn't on the first screen, the first screen just says hi after you log in and you then have to click "Accounts Overview" to see the balances for your account. Very stupid!

That first image from the play store is what you see when you open the app (except it will say welcome instead of saying you're logged in). Once you log in it takes you straight to the accounts overview page. So there is no extra step after you log in. Instead, rather stupidly, the extra step is before you even log in. When you open the app it should show you the log in screen straight away. It's not like you can do a lot on a banking app without being logged in.

OP. I'd go with KBC instead of PTSB. I recently moved from PTSB to KBC and I can't see myself going back. The app is better, savings rates are better. If you do have to visit a branch it's a much nicer experience. The KBC staff were more pleasant than any staff I've met in a PTSB branch and they even offered me a cup of tea (only been to a KBC branch once so maybe I caught them on a good day or maybe they're just really nice to people interested in opening an account). I've found KBC's chat service to be pretty useless though, unless it's a general query they can't answer it and ask you to call them.

bk

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

That first image from the play store is what you see when you open the app (except it will say welcome instead of saying you're logged in). Once you log in it takes you straight to the accounts overview page. So there is no extra step after you log in. Instead, rather stupidly, the extra step is before you even log in. When you open the app it should show you the log in screen straight away. It's not like you can do a lot on a banking app without being logged in.

Actually so we are both correct there is two different ways to login!

So the way I was logging in is:

1) Launch the app, you and I see the same screen that says "Welcome"
2) I then click "Log In" at the top right hand corner
3) I log in and then it brings me to the following screen that says "Welcome BK"



4) I then click on "Accounts Overview" which brings me to the accounts screen.

What you are doing differently is from step 2:

1) Launch the app, you and I see the same screen that says "Welcome"
2) You click directly on the "Accounts Overview" button
3) You log in and then it brings you directly to the account overview screen.

So yes, your way involves one step less and thanks for that tip, it makes it slightly easier to use. However it goes to show how bad the app is, your faster way isn't obvious at all at first glance, I suspect many people like me click on the "Log In" button first.

They really need to hire a user interface designer or just copy the Revolut app which has it done perfectly.

AlmightyCushion

bk wrote: »

Actually so we are both correct there is two different ways to login!

So the way I was logging in is:

1) Launch the app, you and I see the same screen that says "Welcome"
2) I then click "Log In" at the top right hand corner
3) I log in and then it brings me to the following screen that says "Welcome BK"



4) I then click on "Accounts Overview" which brings me to the accounts screen.

What you are doing differently is from step 2:

1) Launch the app, you and I see the same screen that says "Welcome"
2) You click directly on the "Accounts Overview" button
3) You log in and then it brings you directly to the account overview screen.

So yes, your way involves one step less and thanks for that tip, it makes it slightly easier to use. However it goes to show how bad the app is, your faster way isn't obvious at all at first glance, I suspect many people like me click on the "Log In" button first.

They really need to hire a user interface designer or just copy the Revolut app which has it done perfectly.

Never realised that. Yeah it's a bit crap. They should put the log in screen where that blue picture is so that the first thing you see is the log in screen.

Bob24

bk wrote: »

From the screen shots on the Google Play store, the android app seems to be exactly the same as the iPhone app.

I could be wrong but it seems like to me the apps are essentially wrappers for a mobile website (both look exactly the same and the look and feel as well as some delays for exemple to display the list of transactions on an account make me think I am looking at webpages). This would be easier for PTSB to maintain, but makes the whole thing less dynamic/reactive and prevents fancy features such as the neat trick on the KBC app which can read an IBAN code using the phone's camera to make it easier to add a payee.

bk

Bob24 wrote: »

I could be wrong but it seems like to me the apps are essentially wrappers for a mobile website (the porch look exactly the same and the look and feel as well as some delays for exemple to display the list of transactions on an account make me think I am looking at webpages. This would be easier for PTSB to maintain, but make the whole thing less dynamic/reactive and prevents fancy features such as the neat trick on the KBC app which can read an IBAN code using the phone's camera to make it easier to add a payee.

Yup, it looks like their iOS, Android apps and their website all share a html backend and that apps are largely just a wrapper.

Pretty poor development practise really. You would think that a bank could afford one or two people who specialise in iOS and Android to develop native apps, which would allow for extra functionality.

BTW I didn't know about that KBC feature with IBAN's, that is very cool, IBAN's are a serious pain in the ass to enter.

Bob24

bk wrote: »

Pretty poor development practise really. You would think that a bank could afford one or two people who specialise in iOS and Android to develop native apps, which would allow for extra functionality.

Yes agreed. I guess it comes down to cost and they went for the cheapest and easier to maintain option. I don't necessarily mean this in a bad way but after visiting a branch and compared to other banks, PTSB seems a bit like the Ryanair of banks to me: cheap and quite reliable, but simple, very cost oriented and a bit cheasy or pushy to sell you stuff you don't need at times (having said that there is a strong argument to be made that an outstanding app - as opposed to a decent app - saves them lots of money in the long run as it reduces customer visits to branches).

bk wrote: »

BTW I didn't know about that KBC feature with IBAN's, that is very cool, IBAN's are a serious pain in the ass to enter.

Yes it's pretty neat, although I guess they don't take responsibility if the app miss reads an IBAN number and you send money to the wrong person ;-)

bk

bk wrote: »

Yup, it looks like their iOS, Android apps and their website all share a html backend and that apps are largely just a wrapper.

Pretty poor development practise really. You would think that a bank could afford one or two people who specialise in iOS and Android to develop native apps, which would allow for extra functionality.

BTW I didn't know about that KBC feature with IBAN's, that is very cool, IBAN's are a serious pain in the ass to enter.

If you check all the apps on your phone I'd say nearly half of them are web wrappers. Its not poor development practice. It is however, very common.

Donal55

McGaggs wrote: »

PTSB app is terrible. Online banking does the basics, but far too often they force you to come into a branch to sort things out.

Never had that problem. Im able to set up, close down direct debits, inter bank transfers and inter a/c transfers, standing orders, mobile top ups , print statements, apply for loans. 48 euro per year charges.
What else do people want?

bk

Deleted User wrote: »

If you check all the apps on your phone I'd say nearly half of them are web wrappers. Its not poor development practice. It is however, very common.

Nope, I just checked, every single app on the first two pages of my iPhone are native apps, with the exception of one which is semi native (Wunderlist). I should point out that I'm a software engineer and I can easily enough tell and I also well know the trends in the industry.

The trend in the industry is to have three platforms, native iOS, native Android, and dynamic web for desktop and other mobile platforms.

Of course they can share assets, such as images, logos, etc. across the platforms, have a similar look and feel and of course share backend web services, etc. But the vast majority of the industry has moved to native apps to take advantage of more advanced features like Touch ID, GPS location services, etc.

Donal55 wrote: »

Never had that problem. Im able to set up, close down direct debits, inter bank transfers and inter a/c transfers, standing orders, mobile top ups , print statements, apply for loans. 48 euro per year charges.
What else do people want?

Quick and easy login. A lot of people want to keep a close eye on their finances day to day so that they don't overspend. Being able to quickly and easily view your balance is very important to many people. Having to enter a long password (that should be unique to this site ad not used anywhere else) and then a 3 digit pin and then have to click a few more buttons just to view your account balances is pretty poor design.

Once you have used an app like Revolut or KBC with touch ID, you realise how much faster, easier and more convenient it is too use these apps. Their simply is no comparison. What PTSB are doing is very old fashioned and out of touch with the industry.

It is also very nice in the Revolut and KBC apps that you can upload your ID documents using your phones camera, without needing to drop into a branch or post them in, very convenient.

This is all about reducing friction for your customers.

ct5amr2ig1nfhp

I'll have to give KBC a go soon, although I hate paying bank fees.

@bk, I would hardly call it out of touch if the majority of banks (in Ireland) do it the 'old fashioned' way. I would presume they do not see the feature(s) you mentioned (login via touch ID and uploading of docs) as something their customers are very interested in.

Get the basics right, keep it stable and available!! - that's all I'm interested in.

Excluding the login feature you mentioned, why do you recommend the KBC and Revolut apps? I'm not knocking your opinion, just wondering why you're recommending them over others. What additional features are in their apps?

The J Stands for Jay

Donal55 wrote: »

Never had that problem. Im able to set up, close down direct debits, inter bank transfers and inter a/c transfers, standing orders, mobile top ups , print statements, apply for loans. 48 euro per year charges.
What else do people want?

All that, plus fingerprint login, push notifications of all transactions, card management from the app, transaction categorisation and statistics, and all for free. I have better things to spend 48 yo-yos a year on.

ct5amr2ig1nfhp

In fairness, it is only 'free' if you keep 2k in your account with KBC, which I would guess a lot of people cannot do. You could be earning up t 3% interest on that 2k, so you effectively are paying about 35 EUR anyway. "Free" in banking terms is all relative.

Unless you're on a legacy account of course. Most of the banks have "free" current account banking options - be it having a minimum amount, or using your card a number of times etc.

McGaggs what is card management?

The J Stands for Jay

Gibson Shrilling Selenium wrote: »

In fairness, it is only 'free' if you keep 2k in your account with KBC, which I would guess a lot of people cannot do. You could be earning up t 3% interest on that 2k, so you effectively are paying about 35 EUR anyway. "Free" in banking terms is all relative.

Unless you're on a legacy account of course. Most of the banks have "free" current account banking options - be it having a minimum amount, or using your card a number of times etc.

McGaggs what is card management?

Being able to activate and deactivate the card, turn on or off ATM withdrawals and foreign transactions.

There are other options out there that have no charges beyond stamp duty.

AlmightyCushion

Gibson Shrilling Selenium wrote: »

In fairness, it is only 'free' if you keep 2k in your account with KBC, which I would guess a lot of people cannot do. You could be earning up t 3% interest on that 2k, so you effectively are paying about 35 EUR anyway. "Free" in banking terms is all relative.

Unless you're on a legacy account of course. Most of the banks have "free" current account banking options - be it having a minimum amount, or using your card a number of times etc.

McGaggs what is card management?

The KBC extra account only requires 2,500 to be deposited into your account a month. For a lot of people their wages would cover that and if it doesn't just transfer it to a savings account and back again until you've reached the 2,500.