General Information

Santander UK is a large retail and commercial bank based in the UK and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the major global bank Banco Santander. It is registered in England and Wales, authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority, and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. It manages its affairs autonomously, with its own local management team, responsible solely for its performance. It has its origins in three constituent companies—Abbey National, Alliance & Leicester and Bradford & Bingley—all former mutual building societies. It is one of the leading personal financial services companies in the United Kingdom, and one of the largest providers of mortgages and savings in the United Kingdom.

Regulation

Santander UK Plc is a regulated institution under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with License No. 106054. It holds a Market Making (MM) license type and has been regulated since December 1, 2001. The institution operates with the license type of “No Sharing.” You can contact them via email at customerservices@santander.co.uk and find more information on their website: https://www.santander.co.uk/. The regulatory status does not specify an expiry date, and Santander UK Plc is located at 2 Triton Square, Regent's Place, London NW1 3AN, UNITED KINGDOM, with a phone number of 448003897000. Certified documents related to their regulatory status are not provided in the information provided.

Pros and Cons

Santander offers a wide range of financial products and services to cater to diverse customer needs. However, it's essential to consider both the advantages and disadvantages when evaluating their offerings.

Pros:

1. Comprehensive Product Range: Santander provides a diverse selection of banking, investment, insurance, and borrowing options, allowing customers to find suitable solutions for their financial goals.

2. Accessible Customer Support: Customers can easily reach Santander's support through telephone, live chat, or the ATM/Branch Locator. The extended hours of operation and accessibility options accommodate various needs.

3. Regulated Institution: Santander is regulated by the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), providing customers with confidence in their financial stability and adherence to industry standards.

Cons:

1. Monthly Fees: Some of Santander's current accounts come with monthly fees, which may not be ideal for individuals seeking fee-free options.

2. Complexity: With numerous products and services, navigating Santander's offerings can be overwhelming for some customers who may prefer simpler banking solutions.

3. Eligibility Criteria: Eligibility criteria apply to certain products, such as personal loans, which may limit access to individuals who do not meet specific income or credit requirements.

Here is a table summarizing the pros and cons of Santander:

Market Instruments

The Santander UKs segments include Retail Banking, Corporate & Commercial Banking and Corporate & Investment Banking. The Retail Banking segment offers a range of products and financial services to individuals and small businesses, through a network of branches and automated teller machines (ATMs), as well as through telephony, digital, mobile and intermediary channels. The Corporate & Commercial Banking segment offers a range of products and financial services include loans, bank accounts, deposits, treasury services, trade and asset finance for small medium enterprises (SME) and corporate customers. The Corporate & Investment Banking segment serves corporate clients and financial institutions.

Here's a summary of their products:

1. Current Accounts:

• Santander Edge Up Current Account:

• Earn cashback on selected household bills, supermarket, and travel costs.

• Earn interest on credit balances up to £25,000.

• Requires funding the account with £1,500 each month and setting up 2 active Direct Debits.

• No charges for using the debit card outside the UK.

• £5 monthly fee.

• Santander Edge Current Account:

• Earn cashback on selected household bills at supermarkets and travel spend.

• Access to an optional savings account with exclusive rates.

• Requires funding the account with £500 each month and setting up 2 active Direct Debits.

• No charges for using the debit card outside the UK.

• £3 monthly fee.

• Everyday Current Account:

• Simple and straightforward account with no monthly fee.

• 1|2|3 Student Current Account:

• Free 16-25 railcard for four years.

• Interest-free overdraft of £1,500 for the first 3 years of studies.

• Requires regular deposits of at least £500 every 4 months.

• 1|2|3 Mini Current Account:

• Designed to help children and young people learn money management.

• Offers interest on balances at certain thresholds.

• Choice of contactless debit card or cash card.

• Basic Current Account:

• Suitable for those with poor credit history or newcomers to the UK.

1. Mortgages:

• Services for first-time buyers, home movers, and those looking to remortgage.

• Options for changing lenders, borrowing more money, and managing existing mortgages.

• Later life mortgages for individuals aged 55 or over.

• Partnership with ufurnish.com for home furnishing experiences.

1. Credit Cards:

• Range of credit cards for various needs, including:

• All in One Credit Card

• Long Term Balance Transfer Credit Card

• Everyday No Balance Transfer Fee Credit Card

• Santander World Elite™ Mastercard®

1. Savings and ISAs:

• Savings and ISAs for different goals, including:

• Easy Access Saver

• Regular Saver

• Santander Edge Saver

• Easy Access ISA

• Fixed Rate ISAs

• Fixed Term Bonds

• Junior ISA

• Inheritance ISA

1. Investments:

• Investment options with cashback incentives.

• Investment Hub for online advice and fund selection.

• Investment advice and resources available.

1. Insurance:

• Home insurance, including contents insurance for renters.

• Life insurance, including critical illness cover.

• Health insurance.

• Mortgage life insurance.

• Family and lifestyle insurance.

• Over 50s Life Insurance.

• Car insurance, including electric vehicle insurance.

• Travel insurance.

• Business insurance and landlord insurance.

1. Personal Loan:

• Personal loans with fixed interest rates.

• Loan amounts from £1,000 to £25,000.

• Flexible repayment terms.

• Loan eligibility criteria apply.

Santander provides a comprehensive range of financial products and services to cater to their customers' banking, investment, insurance, and borrowing needs.

Accounts

Six digit account sort codes are used in the range between 09-00-xx to 09-19-xx. Sort codes for accounts formerly held by Alliance & Leicester use the range 09-01-31 to 09-01-36.

Credit Rating

In October 2011, Moody's downgraded the credit rating of twelve financial firms in the United Kingdom, including Santander UK, blaming financial weakness. In June 2012, Moody rated Santander UK as being in a more financially healthy position than its parent company, Banco Santander.

Deposit & Withdrawal

In November 2009, Santander launched the first current account in the United Kingdom without fees (including unauthorised overdrafts) for its current and future mortgage customers. In January 2010, the bank began waiving fees for customers using Santander's automated teller machines in Spain, which traditionally would incur fees for transactions in a foreign currency.

Accepted Countries

Santander's Corporate and Commercial Banking division operates from a number of regional business banking centres across the United Kingdom. Less than 1% of Santander UK's business is held abroad.

Customer Service

Santander has frequently been rated the worst bank for customer service in the United Kingdom, although by July 2011 had sought to improve, notably by returning call centre operations to the United Kingdom from India. Its '123' product range was ranked third best in the United Kingdom in 2013, and in a moneysavingexpert.com poll in February 2014, customers ranked their satisfaction higher than with any of other main high street banks.

Santander's customer support offers several ways to contact them and obtain assistance:

1. Telephone Support:

• Customers can reach a Customer Service Center Advisor at 1-877-768-2265.

• Hours of operation are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST, Monday to Saturday.

• For customers with hearing/speech impairments, there is a dedicated relay service at 7-1-1.

1. International Calls:

• For customers calling from outside the United States, there is a local number: 1-401-824-3400.

1. Live Chat:

• Customers can use the live chat feature on the Santander website to get real-time assistance with their inquiries or problems.

1. ATM/Branch Locator:

• For information on ATM and branch locations as well as their hours of operation, customers can use the ATM/Branch Locator on the Santander website.

Santander's customer support is accessible through various channels, including phone, chat, and online resources, ensuring that customers have multiple options to address their banking needs and inquiries. The telephone support hours are accommodating, and they provide accessibility options for customers with hearing or speech impairments.

Summary

Santander UK Plc is a regulated financial institution under the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with License No. 106054. They offer a diverse range of financial products and services, including current accounts, mortgages, credit cards, savings and ISAs, investments, insurance, and personal loans. Santander provides accessible customer support through telephone, live chat, and an ATM/Branch Locator, ensuring customers have various ways to seek assistance with their financial needs. Their customer service hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST, Monday to Saturday. Santander's comprehensive product offerings aim to meet a wide array of customer banking and financial requirements.

FAQs

Q: What types of current accounts does Santander offer？

A: Santander offers various current account options, including the Santander Edge Up, Santander Edge, Everyday Current Account, and specialized accounts for students and children.

Q: How can I contact Santander's customer support？

A: You can reach Santander's customer support by calling 1-877-768-2265 for general inquiries. For international calls, dial 1-401-824-3400. Alternatively, you can use the live chat feature on their website.

Q: Are there fees associated with Santander's current accounts？

A: Some current accounts may have monthly fees, such as £5 for the Santander Edge Up Current Account and £3 for the Santander Edge Current Account. The Everyday Current Account, however, has no monthly fee.

Q: What types of insurance does Santander offer？

A: Santander provides a range of insurance options, including home insurance, life insurance, health insurance, car insurance, and travel insurance, catering to various coverage needs.

Q: Can I apply for a personal loan from Santander？

A: Yes, Santander offers personal loans with fixed interest rates. You can apply for loan amounts ranging from £1,000 to £25,000, with flexible repayment terms. Eligibility criteria apply, and you can typically get a decision within 5 minutes.

Overview of Axiory

Established in 2012, Axiory is a forex broker registered in Belize that claims to offer online trading services for a range of financial instruments, including forex, gold and metals, oil and energies, CFD indices, CFD stocks, exhcange stocks, exchange ETFs with leverage up to 1:2000.

An interesting feature of Axiory is its commitment to social responsibility. The company has established the Axiory Intelligence initiative, which is a research-based program that aims to promote education and social responsibility in the financial industry.

Axiory also supports various social causes through its Axiory Care program. In terms of trading platforms, Axiory offers multiple choices, including the popular MetaTrader 4 platform, MetaTrader 5 platform, as well as cTrader, with its proprietary trading app called MyAxiory App.

Besides, this broker also offers advanced charting tools, technical analysis indicators, and other features to help traders quickly acquaint themselves with online trading.

Pros and Cons

One of Axiory's biggest strengths is the wide range of trading instruments available. Traders can choose from a diverse selection of assets, including major and minor currency pairs, popular stocks, and popular indices. Additionally, the broker offers commodities such as oil and gold, which provide traders with opportunities to diversify their portfolios. Another significant advantage of Axiory is their multiple account types of low minimum deposits.

On the downside, Axiory's regulation is only offshore by FSC in Belize, which is not a top-tier regulator. Plus, no 7/24 online customer support available, and clients from Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Croatia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Kenya, Mali, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Philippines, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Venezuela, Vietnam, and Yemen are not allowed.

Is Axiory Legit?

Axiory is authorized and offshore regulated by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) in Belize. This regulatory body is responsible for ensuring that financial institutions operate in a transparent and fair manner, which can provide traders with some reassurance about the legitimacy of the broker. Axiory's adherence to regulations also means that the company must follow certain guidelines, such as maintaining sufficient capital reserves, which can help to protect traders in the event of any financial instability.

However, it is important to note that the IFSC is not a highly-respected regulatory body in the financial industry, which may lead some traders to question the level of oversight and protection provided. Additionally, the regulatory requirements of the FSC may not be as stringent as those of other regulatory bodies, which could result in less protection for traders.

Market Instruments

Axiory offers a range of market instruments to cater to the diverse trading needs of its clients.

Firstly, the broker provides access to the forex market, which is the largest financial market in the world, enabling traders to trade currency pairs with tight spreads and competitive pricing.

Secondly, Axiory offers exchange-traded stocks and ETFs, which provide traders with exposure to a variety of companies and industries across the globe.

Additionally, Axiory offers CFDs on stocks and indices, providing traders with the ability to trade on the price movements of individual stocks or entire market indices.

Finally, Axiory offers trading in oil and energy products, which can provide traders with exposure to the commodities market and its price fluctuations

Account Types/Fees

Axiory offers a diverse range of trading accounts to cater to the needs of traders with varying experience levels and trading styles. The broker offers five types of trading accounts, including NANO, STANDARD, MAX, TERA, and ALPHA.

Demo Accounts

Axiory offers demo accounts to its clients, which are a great tool for traders to practice trading without risking real money. The demo accounts are designed to replicate the live trading environment, allowing traders to familiarize themselves with the platform, test different trading strategies, and gain experience before trading with real money.

Axiory's demo accounts are free and come with up to $10,000 virtual funds that traders can use to simulate trading. The demo accounts are available for all account types and provide traders with access to the same trading instruments, platforms, and tools as live accounts. The demo accounts are not time-limited, which means there is no expiry date on your demo accounts.

Islamic Accounts

Axiory offers Islamic accounts, also known as swap-free accounts, which are designed for traders who follow the Islamic faith and can not receive or pay interest due to religious reasons. These accounts comply with Shariah law and do not charge or pay any overnight interest (swap) fees on positions held open for more than 24 hours.

Islamic accounts at Axiory offer the same features as standard trading accounts, including access to all trading instruments and platforms, customer support, and educational resources. The only difference is that Islamic accounts operate on a commission-based structure, and there are no overnight swap fees charged or credited to the account.

To open an Islamic account with Axiory, traders need to submit a request to the customer support team, and the account will be verified and set up within 24 hours. It is important to note that Axiory reserves the right to revoke the swap-free status if there is evidence of abuse or misuse of the account.

How to Open an Account?

Step 1: To open an account with Axiory, interested clients can simply navigate to the broker's website and click on the “Start Now” button.

Step 2: This will lead you to a registration page where you will be prompted to provide your personal information, including name, email address, and phone number. Additionally, you will need to choose the account type.

Step 3: After submitting the registration form, you will receive an email with a link to verify their account. Once the verification process is complete, you can proceed to fund your account via one of the payment options available.

Leverage

Axiory offers a range of leverage options for traders, depending on their chosen account type. The maximum leverage ranges from 1:50 to 1:2000 on the Max account, while 1:50-1:1000 on the Nano/Standard/Tera Account.

However, it's worth noting that higher leverage also comes with higher risk, and traders should be aware of the potential consequences of trading with a high leverage ratio. It's important to carefully consider your own risk tolerance and trading strategy before deciding on a leverage ratio for your account.

Trading Platform

Axiory offers its clients access to several trading platforms, including the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) platforms, as well as the cTrader platform and the MyAxiory mobile app.

The MetaTrader platforms are widely used by traders worldwide and offer advanced charting capabilities, multiple time frames, and a wide range of technical indicators and analysis tools. The cTrader platform, on the other hand, is known for its fast execution speeds and advanced order management features, making it a popular choice for scalpers and high-frequency traders.

The MyAxiory mobile app allows traders to access their accounts and trade on-the-go using their mobile devices. The app is user-friendly and features real-time price quotes, charting tools, and the ability to place orders and manage positions.

Deposit & Withdrawal

Deposit

Axiory accepts deposits via Visa, JCB, UnionPay, Bank Transfer, Neteller, Skrill, and ThunderX Pay.

There is no deposit fees charged if you deposit using Visa, JCB, UnionPay, and Bank Transfer, but payment fees may be charged by the payment method provider if you deposit via Neteller, Skrill, and ThunderX Pay.

As for the deposit processing time, most deposits are instant, while bank transfers require 3-10 business days and ThunderX Pay requires ip to 15 minutes after confirmation.

Withdrawal

Axiory accepts withdrawals via Visa, JCB, UnionPay, Bank Transfer, Sticpay, Neteller, Skrill, ThunderX Pay.

There is no fees for Visa, JCB, UnionPay, and Sticpay, while withdrawal via other methods may be charged fees.

The processing time for withdrawals varies depending on the payment method used, with e-wallets (instant) typically being the fastest and bank transfers (3-10 business days) taking the longest.

Customer Support

Traders can contact the support team via email, phone, live chat, or contact form. The broker also provides a comprehensive FAQ section on its website, where traders can find answers to common questions related to trading, account management, and more.

Conclusion

Axiory is a forex broker offering a variety of trading instruments, account types, and educational resources to its clients. The broker's trading conditions, such as high spreads and commissions, may not be ideal for all traders, but its leverage options can benefit those looking for higher returns. However, Axiory's weakness lies in lack of top-tier regulation. Ultimately, traders should carefully consider their individual trading needs and goals before choosing Axiory as their broker.

FAQs

Is Axiory a regulated broker?

Yes, Axiory is authorized and offshore regulated by the International Financial Services Commission (FSC) in Belize.

What is the minimum deposit required to open an account with Axiory?

Just $10.

What trading platforms are available at Axiory?

Axiory offers the popular MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) trading platforms, as well as cTrader and MyAxiory App.

Does Axiory offer Islamic accounts?

Yes, Axiory offers swap-free Islamic accounts for traders who follow Shariah law.

What is the maximum leverage offered by Axiory?

Up to 1:2000.