Banking can be tedious, with long queues and nowadays the cut-throat feeling that someone will jump…read moreon you to get you to buy / take out a product with them. The Nationwide is a nice building society, no hard-sell, friendly staff and is open from 9-12pm on a Saturday which is very useful. My only critiscism is that the building is very small and the queue directly behind the cashier window. You can of course speak to an advisor in a private room but its a shame that there is little privacy at the counter. This however is a flaw with building design - not the staff in anyway who are courteous and discreet. As a customer I can recommend Nationwide highly.

Lloyds TSB is on the main high street in the town, although not absolutely central on the main…read morestreet. There is parking on the High Street though it is Market day on a Wednesday and Saturday so you may have to venture futher afield to either Tesco car park or one of the pay car parks in the town. The branch is light and airy, has a prominent welcome desk when you enter and there are four counter positions. The staff are very friendly and helpful and most have been there for some length of time so you really feel that they know most of their customers. Three interview rooms are available for privacy.

Located on Pavement and York, this Lloyds Bank branch might be located in an old building but…read morethey've done quite a good job bringing the store into the 21st century, making it feel welcoming, spacious and modern. The store has a large amount of comfortable seating, and an emphasis on technology with high bar-style tables with tablets on, of which you can use the Lloyds Bank online banking application. In a way it feels like the store is slightly too big so space is wasted, staff don't seem as friendly or eager to help and there could easily be more cash machines for basic banking activities due to the size of the branch. The store does have free wi-fi which is pretty common of most high-street banks in the UK. Overall, it is a comfortable, spacious branch with the main downfalls being service and space utilisation. 3*

I love this branch of Lloyd s TSB, right in the center of the square and an impressive building -…read morebanking as it used to be. There are cash points outside which make it nice and handy for your shopping or so you can nip over the road to M&S for lunch and there are more cash points inside. It is a really high ceiling ed branch with lovely architrave details (if you happen to be looking at the ceiling that is). The staff are always really friendly and they open on a Saturday so if that's the only time you can get into see them somebody will be free - be warned though there are always a lot of tourists in the summer so there may be a queue. A lovely branch though and great service.

The little branch of the HSBC situated in Sedbergh is like many of the banks, housed in a splendid…read morebuilding with high ceilings and fancy stonework outside. Inside, there is just one counter with one or two members of staff waiting to serve you. It used to be a problem letting the staff know that you had arrived if they were round the back but this has now been solved - the door makes a loud electronic bleating noise as you push it open. The staff are always very friendly and efficient but the branch has cut its opening hours down to just three days a week. I do hope that they don't decide to close it altogether.

My company has an account at this branch but most of our use is via internet banking these days…read morewhich is probably a good thing. There are helpful people within this branch, they are just rather hard to find and actually keep hold of! The building itself is pretty old but easy to access being right in the centre of town and all on one level. There are cash machines both inside and out so if you are using them during opening hours and are worried about taking money out you can at least put it away in a purse/wallet before you leave and feel a bit more secure. The red sofas in the reception area could do with being replaced though as they haven't stood up to the wear and tear!

I received great professional service. The branch was branch and litter free. The staff are always…read morevery friendly and there are rarely any queues. The ATM inside is handy as it's more private than the one outside and the paying in machine saves having to see a cashier.

My bank. Part of the HSBC group…read more I can not recommend this bank highly enough. One of my favorite things is having my call answered by a human being 24 hours a day all year round. The more you use this bank, the more convenient it gets. If you've made the payment before, you could quite simply phone them up, go through security, and say "I'd like to pay british gas, £39 from my current account, thank you" job done. They also sent me a case of wine when I signed up for my credit card a few years ago. The staff are attentive and always keen to help.No pushy up-selling. HIGHLY recommended.

First Direct is a brilliant bank…read more I moved to the UK when I was 32. From the moment I arrived I heard horror stories from other expats about the difficulties they had setting up bank accounts. With no prior address, utility bill, or credit history they were often laughed right out of high street banks. I spotted ads for First Direct at the time that were promoting them as the UK's first virtual bank, with all interactions processed online, by phone, or by post. With nothing to lose, I applied for a current account online. They immediately gave me one. They set me up quickly and professionally with no fuss at all. They asked me if I wanted a credit card and gave me a generous limit. I continue to be with First Direct, 7 years and counting, and have always found them to be excellent. If you ring them you get a human being right away, and after answering a couple of security questions they're happy to help you. They keep a close watch on my account and card activities and always ring up if they see anything suspicious. Their web site is easy to use and comprehensive. I've used it for credit card limit increases, savings accounts, foreign currency, and several foreign transfers. First Direct are a subsidiary of HSBC, so if you do need to go into a branch to speak to someone or make a deposit you can do it at any HSBC branch. First Direct had an ad campaign a couple of years ago saying they were the UK's most recommended bank. Everyone I know that uses them feels the same as I do. They're tops.

This Branch is in a great location right on the corner. It has cash points in the lobby which are…read moregreat if you just want to pop in, though I personally wouldn't use the lobby on a Friday night, I don't like enclosed spaces, especially when others may be on a night out! The branch is light and airy and the staff on the enquiries desk are really welcoming and helpful. There are private rooms for interviews or if you just want to discuss an item in a little more privacy. I have always found the service I have received to be honest and straight forward. They have often tried to save me money but I have never felt pressurized into taking out accounts that I haven't needed.