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.

BCR information

BCR is a forex broker that was established in 2008 under the company name BACERA CO PTY LTD. The broker is regulated by ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission) and offshore regulated by FSC (Financial Services Commission).

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Regulation: BCR is regulated by ASIC (Australian Securities and Investments Commission), which provides a level of security and trustworthiness for traders.

• Demo Account: BCR provides a demo account, allowing traders to practice and test their trading strategies in a risk-free environment.

• Commission-free: BCR offers commission-free trading for all account types.

• Advanced Trading Platforms: BCR provides access to advanced MT4 trading platform, offering comprehensive charting tools, indicators, and automated trading capabilities.

• Market Research Tools: BCR offers various market research tools, including economic calendars and market live.

Cons:

• Offshore Regulation: BCR claims to be regulated by FSC, but it is offshore.

• Limited Account Types: BCR only offers two account types, which could restrict options for traders with specific needs or preferences.

• Wide Spreads: BCR offers spreads from 3.0 pips, while the industry average spread is just 1.5 pips.

• No 24/7 Support: The availability of customer support might be limited outside of regular business hours, which could be inconvenient for traders in different time zones or those requiring immediate assistance.

Is BCR Legit？

BCR operates within a well-regulated framework, authorized and regulated by respected financial authorities, including the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC, No. 328794) and offshore regulated by the Financial Services Commission (FSC, No. SIBA/L/19/1122) in the Virgin Islands.

This regulatory oversight ensures that BCR complies with stringent financial regulations, industry standards, and best practices. The ASIC and FSC play a crucial role in monitoring and supervising Doo Prime's operations, ensuring that the broker maintains transparency, ethical practices.

Additionally, BCR's practice of keeping segregated client funds means that client money is kept separate from the company's own funds. This can offer an additional layer of security for traders, since in the event of a company bankruptcy, these funds would not be treated as recoverable assets by general creditors of the company. This practice is common among regulated brokers as it provides more protection for traders' investments.

Market Instruments

Forex, CFDs on metals, commodities, indices... BCR allows clients to access 300+ trading markets. Therefore, both beginners and experienced traders can find what they want to trade on BCR.

This includes prominent global forex currency pairs, allowing for trading in the foreign exchange market.

They also offer CFDs on metals, which may include precious metals like gold and silver, as well as industrial metals.

In addition, traders can access CFDs on commodities, from energy sources like oil and gas to agricultural products.

This is extended to indices, tracking performance of groups of shares in a particular market or sector.

However, cryptocurrencies are currently unavailable.

Account Types

Apart from demo accopunts, BCR offers four live account types: Standard, Advantage, Alpha, and Affiliate. All account types provide leverage up to 400:1, a 50% stop-out level, micro-lot trading (0.01), and access to single stock CFDs, except for the Alpha account. The minimum deposit requirements range from $300 for the Standard and Advantage accounts to $3,000 for the Affiliate account. Spreads start from 1.2 pips for the Advantage account, with the Alpha account offering zero spreads. Additionally, the Advantage account charges a $3 commission per lot per side. The lot size per transaction is capped at 20 for all account types.

How to Open an Account？

Here are four specific steps to open an account with BCR:

Step 1: Visit the BCR official website: Go to the BCR website using a web browser on your computer or mobile device. Navigate to the account opening section: Look for the “Join Now” button on the website on the homepage.

Step 2: Fill out the account application form: Click on the account opening button/link, and you will be directed to an online form. Provide the requested information, including your full name, contact details (such as phone number and email address), and password.

Step 3: Submit identification documents: As part of the account verification process, BCR may require you to provide identification documents. These documents may include a copy of your passport or national ID card, proof of address (such as a utility bill or bank statement), and any other documents requested by the broker.

Step 4: Review and agree to the terms and conditions: Before finalizing your account creation, carefully read through the terms and conditions provided by BCR. Make sure you understand and agree to all the terms before proceeding. If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact their customer support for clarification.

Leverage

BCR provides traders with maximum levearge up to 400:1.

Leverage, in simple terms, is a tool that enables traders to control a larger position in the market with a smaller amount of capital. It can be a valuable tool for experienced traders who understand its risks and benefits. By using leverage, traders can potentially generate higher returns on their investments.

However, leverage is a double-edged sword. While it can enhance profits, it can also magnify losses. Traders should exercise caution and implement effective risk management strategies when utilizing leverage. It is crucial to have a thorough understanding of the market and the associated risks before engaging in leveraged trading.

Spreads & Commissions

Specifically, the commissions and spreads need to pay will differ for the various trading accounts traders have.

The Standard account offers a zero-commission trading environment, allowing traders to execute trades without incurring any additional charges. Spreads for the Standard account start from 8.0 pips.

For those seeking even tighter spreads, the Advantage account is available. With spreads starting from 3.0 pips and no commissions, this account offers enhanced trading conditions for traders looking to optimize their trading strategies and minimize their trading costs.

Spreads and commissions vary on the trading symbol, more details can be found in the screenshot below.

Trading Platforms

BCR provides traders with popular MT4 (MetaTrader4) and MT5 (MetaTrader5) platforms as well as a user-friendly Webtrader and MAM platform. Some other popular and user-friendly trading platforms like cTrader and TradingView are not supported.

Deposit & Withdrawal

BCR provides its customers with over 10 payment options. The options available for depositing and withdrawing funds include Bank transfer, MasterCard, Direct Debit, Visa, UnionPay, Fasapay, helpay2, NPAY, Skrill, Neteller, POLi, and USDT.

In terms of withdrawal request processing, BCR operates a specific schedule. The cut-off time for processing on the same day is 10:00 AM. Requests submitted before this time will be processed on the same day, whereas requests submitted afterwards will not be processed until the following business day.

Additionally, BCR does not charge any fees for deposits or withdrawals. However, transactions between international banks might incur fees such as intermediary fees.

Trading Tools & Education

BCR also provides some trading tools and educational resources to help traders to gain a superb trading environment.

Their economic calendar is a must-have tool for traders, allowing them to stay informed about important economic events that have the potential to impact the markets. Identifying these events can help with planning trading strategies.

Their glossary is an excellent educational resource, especially for beginner traders. It provides definitions for numerous terms used in trading, helping traders become familiar with industry jargon.

Additionally, BCR offers a 'Market Live' feature, which provides real-time updates about market conditions and trends.

These tools, combined with their educational resources, assist traders in making informed decisions and understanding the complexity of the markets, which ultimately contributes towards a more efficient trading experience.

Customer Support

Language(s): English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, etc.

Service Time: 24/5

Live chat, contact form

Email: info@thebcr.com

Phone: +44 3300010590

Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn

Address: BCR Co Pty Ltd, Trident Chambers, Wickhams Cay 1, Road Town, Tortola, British Virgin Islands.

FAQs

Is BCR Legit？

Yes. BCR operates legally and it is regulated by ASIC and offshore regulated by FSC.

What assets can I trade with BCR？

Forex and CFDs on metals, commodities, and indices.

Does BCR offer demo accounts？

Yes.

Does BCR offer industry leading MT4 & MT5？

Yes. It supports both MT4 and MT5.

Is BCR a good broker for beginners ？

Yes, given its stringent Australian regulation and its provision of demo accounts for novices to engage in risk-free trading, BCR could be an excellent option for beginners.

Risk Warning

Online trading involves significant risk, and you may lose all of your invested capital. It is not suitable for all traders or investors. Please ensure that you understand the risks involved and note that the information provided in this review may be subject to change due to the constant updating of the company's services and policies.

In addition, the date on which this review was generated may also be an important factor to consider, as information may have changed since then. Therefore, readers are advised to always verify updated information directly with the company before making any decision or taking any action. Responsibility for the use of the information provided in this review rests solely with the reader.