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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

Do not bank with them. Terrible customer service.

I have been banking with smile for 20 years. Today, I learnt that they denied a payment, while I have enough on my account and an agreed overdraft limit. Tried to contact them on the phone... left hanging for 30 minutes and gave up in despair. They blocked my card without reason so I cannot even withdraw £10 !! Appaling customer service. Will change bank as soon as possible and advise any current client to do the same !!! Reviewed on: 27th December 2021

Ethical and easy to use online account

The Smilemore account isn't free, but includes valuable travel and gadget insurance. Reviewed on: 16th April 2021

Well Run Professional Bank with a customer focus

I have been with Smile many years and have found them to be decent and professional. They are sometimes slow to adopt new technology, but I suppose better safe than sorry but overall a very good bank Reviewed on: 13th April 2021

stay away...no customer service at all

Have been with Smile for about 20 years and used to really enjoy being a customer. Recently tried to open another current account and was denied (I am a home owner, mortgage free and £70,000 sitting in a current account with them). I emailed for an explanation and was told to contact the credit company. When I asked for further explanation I was given info about how to close my account. Absolutely disgusting customer service. Then received a bill for £25 for having my account...which by the way earns 0% interest. Smile have gone way downhill, they used to be ethical and friendly, nothing of that now. Disgusted by them. Reviewed on: 12th April 2021

Perfect service

Essential that we stick by a bank with a critical mass of customers committed to returning to cooperative ownership. Excellent service always, and ethics matter. Reviewed on: 14th February 2021

Failure to close account 3 years ago

I have concerns with all of my Cooperative bank accounts. Be very careful. Charges are excessive. Their phone service offers different information to the phone representatives. Twice today, phone representatives terminated the call before anything was resolved. I closed my ISA and current account with them 3 years ago - today I was told I'm about to exceed my OD limit with them because of direct debits on the current account. They refused to provide written confirmation that both accounts are now, in fact, closed. AVOID THE COOPERATIVE BANKING GROUP, in my experience they are failing and not secure. Reviewed on: 22nd January 2021

Their latest website needs improving

Been with them for many years and been very happy until their lates software upgrades. I understand getting software that works well with every device and every version of operating system must be a nightmare but if you wish to be internet competitive this is where you need to invest. Reviewed on: 11th September 2020

still good after many years

Still good. Not 100% - but better than the competition. Helpful staff, good products, I appreciate the ethics very much. Been with them since 1991 - longest I have been with any bank. Reviewed on: 5th July 2020

simple to use - highly recommend

I have held a smile bank account for almost 20 years now and I highly recommend it. The App is easy to use, always up to date and you can access your savings account and credit card from the same log in. Hassle free way of using your money Reviewed on: 2nd July 2020

Great simple bank account

Everything runs so smoothly. Works well Reviewed on: 28th April 2020

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