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.

VT Markets Information

VT Markets was founded in 2015 and headquartered in Sydney, Australia, has over ten years' experience and expertise in global financial markets. As a regulated broker, VT Markets operates under the oversight of the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA).

VT Markets offers a suite of trading instruments, including major, minor, and exotic currency pairs. In addition to forex, the broker also provides access to other financial instruments, including precious metals, energies, CFD shares, indices, soft commodities, ETFs & bonds. Traders can benefit from competitive trading conditions at VT Markets, including low minimum deposit of $50, fast execution speeds, and flexible leverage options up to 500:1.

VT Markets supports the industry-standard MetaTrader 4 (MT4) trading platform and MetaTrader 5 (MT5) trading platform, as well as webtrader, known for its robust functionality, advanced charting tools, and customizable features, with access to a wide range of technical indicators, expert advisors (EAs), and automated trading capabilities.

Pros & Cons

However, the ASIC license is just general registrated and residents of United States, Singapore and Russia are not allowed.

Is VT Markets Legit?

VT Markets operates under the regulation of multiple regulatory authorities, including the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC, general registration) in Australia and the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA) in South Africa.

Market Instruments

VT Markets boasts an extensive and diverse range of over 1,000 market instruments, making it a highly attractive option for traders looking to diversify their investment portfolios. This broad selection includes major categories such as forex, which offers a variety of currency pairs; precious metals like gold and silver; energies including oil and natural gas; and CFD shares that cover numerous global corporations.

Additionally, VT Markets provides opportunities to trade indices, soft commodities like coffee and sugar, as well as ETFs & bonds.

Account Types

VT Markets offers a versatile range of account types to cater to different trading needs and preferences, including Standard STP, Raw ECN, Swap Free, Cent, and Demo accounts. The minimum deposit required is accessible, with $100 needed for the Standard STP, Raw ECN, and Swap Free accounts, and a lower threshold of 5,000 USC (equivalent to $50) for the Cent accounts, making it easier for traders with varying financial capabilities to enter the market.

The base currencies available also provide flexibility; Standard STP and Raw ECN accounts support AUD, USD, GBP, EUR, CAD, and HKD, while Swap Free accounts offer all except HKD, and Cent accounts operate exclusively in USC. Additionally, VT Markets enhances trading opportunities by offering bonuses for Standard STP, Raw ECN, and Swap Free accounts.

How to Open an Account?

Opening a trading account with VT Markets is a straightforward and user-friendly process designed to facilitate quick access to the trading world.

To begin, simply click the ‘Trade now’ button on their platform.

You will then be prompted to enter your personal information, including your country of residence, email address, and a password of your choice; there is also an optional field for a referrer if applicable. Once these details are filled in, click the Open a live account button to finalize the setup of your new trading account.

Leverage

With a leverage of up to 500:1, its customers can trade 40 different currency pairings and spot gold contracts. One can use a leverage of up to 1:333 on energy commodities, 1:100 on Silver Spot, and 1:20 on soft commodities such as cocoa, coffee, cotton, orange juice, and raw sugar (Crude Oil, Natural gas, Gasoline, and Gasoil). Stocks of the 50 largest U.S. and Hong Kong firms are available for trading via Contracts for Difference (CFDs), with leverage of 1:20. You can trade 15 stock indexes, including the SP 500, DJ30, and US 2000, with high leverage (up to 1:333).

Spreads & Commissions

VT Markets offers a competitive and varied structure of spreads and commissions tailored to different types of trading accounts, ensuring traders can select the option that best suits their trading style and strategy.

For those preferring simplicity and no commission costs, the Standard STP and Standard STP (Swap free) accounts offer spreads starting from 1.2 pips, and the Cent Account STP starts from 1.1 pips, all with zero commission charges.

Conversely, for traders looking for tighter spreads and are comfortable with commission fees, the Raw ECN, Raw ECN (Swap free), and Cent Account ECN accounts provide spreads starting as low as 0.0 pips with a commission of $6 per round turn.

Trading Platforms

VT Markets offers a range of advanced trading platforms to cater to the diverse needs of traders. With their selection of robust platforms, including MetaTrader 4 (MT4), MetaTrader 5 (MT5), WebTrader, and the VT Markets App.

WebTrader: The WebTrader platform is a web-based trading solution that provides traders with the flexibility to access their accounts from any web browser without the need for software installation. It offers a user-friendly interface, real-time market data, and essential trading features. Traders can analyze charts, place trades, and manage their positions conveniently through WebTrader.

VT Markets App: The VT Markets App is a mobile trading platform designed for traders who prefer to trade on the go. Available for both iOS and Android devices, the app allows traders to access their accounts, monitor market conditions, and execute trades from anywhere, anytime.

Copy Trading

VT Markets provides an innovative copy trading service that allows traders, especially those who may not have the time or expertise to trade independently, to automatically replicate the positions of more experienced traders.

Deposits & Withdrawals

VT Markets supports a variety of popular payment methods. These include major credit cards like MasterCard and Visa, bank transfers, and several e-wallets such as Neteller, Skrill, UnionPay, and FasaPay.

Bonus

VT Markets offers enticing bonus schemes to both new and existing clients, enhancing their trading potential. New clients are welcomed with a 50% bonus on their initial deposit, applicable to all account types. This welcome bonus is designed to give traders a substantial boost as they begin their trading journey, with the bonus credit being added to their accounts within just one business day after the deposit.

Additionally, VT Markets provides a recurring 20% deposit bonus for all subsequent deposits over $1,000, allowing traders to increase their trading capital by up to $10,000 in extra funds. This ongoing bonus can be claimed multiple times, offering continuous support to enhance trading activities.

Educational & Tools

VT Markets provides a comprehensive suite of educational resources and analytical tools. The learning center at VT Markets is extensive, featuring a trading glossary for beginners, detailed courses on forex trading, and specialized tutorials on using MetaTrader platforms. Additionally, they offer podcasts that delve into various trading topics, catering to learners who prefer auditory content.

On the analysis front, VT Markets provides daily market analyses and weekly market overviews to keep traders informed about the latest market trends and opportunities. Their blog also serves as a valuable resource for deeper insights and trading strategies.

Furthermore, VT Markets enhances trading efficiency with practical tools such as an economic calendar, trading signals, and access to Trading Central MT4 tools and ProTrader tools. They also support automated trading by offering expert advisors.

Customer Support

VT Markets prioritizes exceptional customer support by providing around-the-clock assistance through various channels, ensuring traders can receive help whenever required. Their 24/7 Help Center is equipped to address and resolve common issues instantly, facilitating a seamless trading experience.

For more interactive and immediate assistance, VT Markets features a live chat service where traders can communicate directly with knowledgeable support staff in real-time.

Additionally, traders can reach out via email at info@vtmarkets.com, with the assurance of receiving a detailed response within 1-3 business days.

VT Markets also extends its customer engagement through active social media presence on platforms like LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram, offering updates, educational content, and a platform for community interaction.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)