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Smile Bank: Current Account reviews

Name: Current Account
Rating: 3.87 (104 reviews)

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3.83

Based on 104 reviews, last reviewed 5th Apr 2025

No new 5 star reviews

in the past 90 days

No new 1 star reviews

in the past 90 days

56%

19%

21%

Latest highest rating:

5

Secure Online portal . Online portal works perfectly, feels secure. Reviewed on: 5th April 2025

Latest lowest rating:

1

Failing to provide an adequate service have been a customer for almost 25 years, and service now seems to be at the worst level in all of that time. Anything more than a nominal payment wit... Read more Reviewed on: 19th March 2024

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About this product

Smile Bank is an ethical online bank. Its Current Account doesn’t charge a monthly fee and is available for individuals and as a joint account. Every Smile Current Account comes with a £500 overdraft. Applicants must be eligible for the overdraft to open the account.

Considering opening an account with Smile Bank? Find out what existing customers have to say first. Discover the ins and outs of the account by reading the Smile Current Account reviews on Smart Money People.

Find out more about the sign-up process for this online bank. Learn how long customers have had their accounts with Smile Bank and how satisfied they are with the Current Account. Find out the pros and cons of the account and what people think of the bank’s customer service team. Make an informed decision about your new account by reading our Smile Bank Current Account reviews.

If you have a Current Account with Smile Bank, take a moment to share your experience with others. Tell us how long you’ve had your account open and whether this is your main bank account. What is your favourite feature of the account and is there anything that you feel could be improved? Have you encountered any issues with the account, and if so, how well were they resolved? Would you recommend the account to your family and friends? Whether good or bad, write an honest Smile Bank Current Account review today. Together, we can help others like you make better financial decisions.

Smile Bank Current Account reviews (104)

Review of the Smile Bank, Current Account:

Disgraceful banking service

I’m likely to be taking my issues with smile to financial services ombudsman. Today, I contacted the number on my smile banking app about a disputed or fraudulent payment. The customer service operator refused to help, citing that I need to log my concern via livechat / webchat. I tried explaining that I don’t have easy access to undertake such process, I get easily anxious with unfamiliar websites. I also don’t find it easy to articulate myself in written form, I have dyslexia. It takes lots of preparation for me to form something in writing. I personally don’t feel confortable using webchat or live chat (as smile call it) When I tried explaining this over the phone to his manager he was dismissive and not prepared to take my learning difficulty into consideration. Im saying this as non-verbatim recollection of the call, but he suggested cause “him and his son are dyslexic then, I shouldn’t have any issues with using website” - I’m genuinely confused what relevance this had with me struggling to use the web chat facility. He was very dismissive of my problems and anxiety. I was questioned on my motives for opening an ‘internet’ bank which I’ve had open for many, many years. This manager refused to consider my condition and assist me any further over phone. Despite having a smile account for many years, I have never used this webchat facility. I simply wanted them to understand my condition and current position. I’m having to escalate this matter to the complaints procedure and then the ombudsman. I feel very upset and let down by smile and the coop bank - they preach ethical practice. However, my experience today is anything but ethical. I’m going to get some guidance on my recent experience with smile, on what I view as possible discrimation. I’m also interested in understanding my rights with accessing my data over the telephone, whenever I satisfy the identification process, this I’ll take up with the ICO. My advice - Its better to use a bank service that you can communicate over the telephone, especially if you are like me anxious with using an instant webchat service. Smile always offered telephone support for general queries and since they have taken that facility away. It’s a banking service is substandard. This use to be an amazing bank, with today’s experience, I will be looking to leave smile and coop for ethical reasons. I recommend anyone reading this review to avoid opening a bank account with the coop and smile. Just read at all the reviews and the disappointed customers, that should give you an indication this is a substandard bank that has lost its way. I still haven’t resolved my query relating to the disputed / or potentially fraudulent payments I hope coop / smile take some learnings from the customer dissatisfaction and improve its service. They need to deal with telephone banking enquiries when they arise and listen to people’s concerns without dismissing them out of hand. I was once very loyal to Smile and the Coop bank. I will instead be leaving them after today’s experience! Reviewed on: 13th June 2018

35 minutes waiting on hold to Customer Services.

35 minutes waiting on hold to Customer Services. Abysmal Reviewed on: 1st March 2024

Best of both worlds; online and branch

Been with Smile bank as long as I can remember. Sceptical at first about online banking, but smile bank changed my mind. With the added bonus of being able to use co operative bank in branch, smile cooperative gives the best of both worlds for convenience and peace of mind. The ethical banking principles we prefer are a significant reason for our choice too. Reviewed on: 26th February 2024

Great Bank , very secure and easy to manage

Great Bank , very secure and easy to manage Reviewed on: 10th February 2024

Good but waiting times on the phone are very long.

Waiting times on the phone are very long. Once connected the service is good. In cases of scams and fraud they sort things out quickly and retrieve any lost funds. Reviewed on: 17th January 2024

Online banking and telephone support when required

Online banking and telephone support when required The bank also pursues ethical policies Reviewed on: 16th January 2024

Payment Stopped but no notification!

A large transaction was stopped by the Fraud Team although the funds were shown as leaving my account. No notification (sms, email, or telephone) was received alerting me to this. Funds not received by recipient account so panic sets on following day. 1 hour wait on phone before being told that the payment had been stopped by Smile! Another 30 minutes to release the funds! Dreadful Reviewed on: 25th October 2023

Straightforward banking - spots unusual transactions quickly to protect your money

I am happy with Smile Bank. The mobile app and online banking does the things I need it to. It isn't as up to date as many recently launched digital banks in terms of functions and operations so it needs to keep an eye on that. It is good at spotting unusual transactions and making you aware and checking things very quickly. Would be good for messaging to be possible on the app and not just via online banking. Smile was the leader and pioneer when it began in the late 90s and needs to keep on top of things but I remain a satisfied customer. Reviewed on: 25th July 2023

Not fit for purpose.

Smile bank has some serious systemic issues when it comes to customer service. They do not listen to what is said to them, they do not read what has been written to them. There are much better alternatives out there, why put up with Smile incompetence and abuse? Reviewed on: 27th May 2023

A bank with good ethics

Happy to have an account with Smile Bank. The app and online access are easy to use. Great to know they are committed to their ethical credentials. Scored 4 out of 5 because they do need to make their mobile app much more stable and reliable. Also, you still have to take too long getting through to people on their phone line. Once you speak to someone they are friendly and efficient. I particularly like the fact they avoid bombarding you with marketing and don't keep trying to sell you new products. They just focus on dealing with your query. Reviewed on: 6th April 2023

Brilliant, ethical banking

I've used Smile for decades, it's a brilliant bank where you know your money isn't being invested in damaging the world, like other banks. The customer service team are always helpful and efficient as well! Reviewed on: 5th April 2023

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