Pros
- No fees
- No minimum deposit requirements
- Minimum early withdrawal penalty
- Competitive APY on savings
Cons
- No physical branches
- No live chat support
About Barclays
Barclays’ history in banking goes back to 17th century England and is a trusted name in banking. Although they have a long history, Barclays has managed to remain relevant and innovative as a financial institution. With that reputation, it’s curious to see what services Barclays can offer to online banking consumers. Customers can enjoy minimal to zero fees, high APYs, and rewarding CD accounts.
How is Barclays Better than Other Traditional Banks?
The convenience, speed, and security that online banking has to offer to make it a popular choice for customers. Barclays is keeping up with the game with their online savings account. New customers are not required to meet a minimum deposit if they want to open a new savings account. Unlike typical bank accounts, there is no application or monthly fees. There is also a good variety of tools to manage accounts on the go and make it easier for customers to do so online. For customers who want convenient banking and huge savings, Barclay’s online bank is a practical choice.
Banking Services Offered by Barclays
Barclays knows what customers are looking for with online banking. They took advantage of developments in tech and came up with a mobile app you’ll love, the latest security measures, and tools for automation to make banking easier.
Convenient fund transfer
Customers want to be able to quickly fund their accounts. Barclays lets you transfer money from your other Barclays account or from another bank. You can also schedule direct deposits so you don’t need to worry about it all the time.
Easy account linking
Barclays does not offer checking accounts. So in lieu of this, they have made it possible for customers to link up to three accounts from other banks with their Barclays savings account. You can connect a checking or savings account, whether that’s from Barclays or another bank. Fund transfers become a piece of cake once you link these accounts.
Mobile check deposit
Barclays customers can use the Remote Deposit future to deposit checks into their savings accounts. Using a phone or computer, you can scan your check and instantly receive the money in your account. This is one of the fastest and most convenient ways to move money into your account.
Because Barclays allows you to link multiple accounts with your online savings account, it is more convenient to move your funds or withdraw money when needed. You can transfer funds from the online savings account into any of the linked accounts through ACH transfers. This usually takes 2 to 3 days to process.
One thing to note is that Barclays online does not offer ATM services. This is quite common with online banks although you will find some banks that partner with ATM networks to allow customers to withdraw funds.
Online Savings Account
Barclays online savings account offers competitive APY rates going up to 3.40%. You are not required to meet a minimum balance or pay monthly fees so you can open an account with the extra funds you have. It goes without saying that you do need to fund your savings account if you want to earn interest. This can be done through online transfers or direct deposits. Barclays has planning tools to help customers with money management. You can check your account status online anytime you want.
Online Certificate of Deposit
Barclays offers CDs with terms ranging from 3 to 60 months allowing you to find something that fits your needs. You get a fixed APY rate so you know exactly what to expect every month along with FDIC insurance. CD rates for a 60-month term can go up to 4.30% with no minimum balance or hidden charges. Barclays has a CD calculator so you can have an idea of how much earnings your account will accrue. Just choose the correct deposit amount and term and see how your savings grow. Barclays also allows CD Ladder. Customers can free some of the funds from their investment during the maturation period. They can use this to reinvest or convert to cash which is a great feature providing flexibility.
What Do People Say About Barclays?
Accessibility and Security
Barclays has a mobile app that allows you to manage your online savings account. You can find it on Google Play and the App store. With the mobile app, you can configure your online savings account settings. You can choose which notifications you want to receive, review your account history, check your account balance, and schedule automatic transfers or deposits. We mentioned earlier that you can also deposit checks with the mobile app through scanning. Funds are immediately deposited into your account which is faster than going to a bank or queuing at an ATM.
Security is a priority for banks. For Barclays, there are several security measures in place to protect their customers. The website is protected by Norton Secured by Verisign, a leader in the online security industry. Barclays also employs RSA digital risk management software to protect from hacking threats. All web pages are protected by an SLL and Transport Layer Security, 248-bit encryption, and a firewall. There is an added timeout function that automatically logs out users if they remain inactive for several minutes.
Each online account can be accessed with a SecurPass code determined by the user. This also comes with constant monitoring and $0 fraud liability. Their monitoring centers check accounts for suspicious activities and send fraud alerts to account owners if something is detected.
Customer Support
Customer support is open Mondays to Fridays, 8 AM to 8 PM. You can call the toll-free number 888-710-8756 or the dedicated international line 1-704-719-1515. They also have an email center that lets you send secure messages. Barclays is also known to be quite responsive on Twitter so you can try reaching out to them through this platform for general queries.
Bottomline
Barclays is dedicated to providing advanced technology features with a personal touch to your online banking experience. Low fees and high yields make their savings and CDs attractive to customers. With additional layers of security, customers can enjoy the convenience and security of online banking with Barclays.