This awesome little Barclays is so convenient for those quick drop ins and withdrawals. The ladies…read morethat work behind the bulletproof glass (or cashiers as they're commonly known) are super quick and polite. Always saying 'thank you for waiting' as you approach the glass, even if you've only just walked in and there's no queue whatsoever. It's pretty cramped so if you need to pay in a large sum of money or do any laundering then this probably isn't your best best as a whisper uttered at one side of the shop can be heard crystal clear from the other. For more personal services, (overdrafts, morgages etc) there is an area for personal bankers, again though, due to the size of the shop, don't expect your private life to remain entirely private.

Barclays has been in Holton Road for a long time, but it has only recently moved into these larger…read morepremises. The staff are helpful and well trained. There is now plenty of room for them to carry out confidential conversations with ther customers. There are also, of course, the usual cashier counters along one wall of the branch. The building itself is over 100 years old and was part of the former Dan Evans department store whch closed down last year. Inside, the accomodation has been refurbished and is well lit and airey. The new location of this branch is better than before and it is now close to the heart of the shopping area.

This is an oddly located tiny bank in Penarth, well away from the glut of other such banky branches…read more(that sounds like a woodland scene) which live on Windsor Road. Inside, the area for customers is very small, and you're often squeezing past one another. But the service is usually swift, and the staff remember you as a customer and are quite chatty. Sometimes too chatty; I once nipped in to draw out some money for the train and ended up nearly missing it as the lady talked on and on about the weather. But too chatty is not the worst of complaints, really. One notable feature about this bank: they have a cash machine outside which is in the most ridiculous location of all time. Firstly, it's right on the corner of a road, so people come and double park in front of pedestrian crossings and on yellow lines so that other cars can't get through. Fools. Secondly, it's halfway up the wall so they've constructed a little set of steps to take you up to it. I hate standing up there because you feel very on display and the top step is pretty narrow. People in their hundreds must have fallen backwards off them without thinking. Banking has become a daredevil sport.

All Royal bank of Scotland customers need to bank in this branch of Nat West in Penarth as we don't…read morehave a branch of RBS here. There is a customer car park at the rear of the building and an automated door and ramp for wheelchair users. The branch staff are always courteous if a little reserved and although the branch is small, it is always clean and presentable. My one fault with this branch is that the ATM outside is only accesible up a couple of steps so if you are in a wheelchair, this is unreachable. Another issue is that when queues build up inside there never seems to be any staff available to come to help and you can have a long wait if the branch is busy.

I grew up in Penarth so this particular branch of Barclays has always been my favourite. I…read morerecognize lots of faces from my childhood and those beautiful halcyon days where my grandparents used to put money in my bank account every week for me to go shopping with. As it's a small town you can usually drop in and see a personal banker without too much waiting although the desks are right near the entrance so private conversations don't exactly feel private. Lunchtime queues can be a bit mad so best to avoid between the hours of 12 and 2.

This bank has a very prominent location in the centre of this seaside town. It is not a very busy…read morebranch and I've never had more than one person ahead of me in the queue. However, the staff obviously have targets to meet and I am always being asked whether I would like an appointment to have a financial review. (Jargon for what can we sell you to make lots of money out of you.) The staff can be a bit grumpy when I decline their offer. There is free parking on the surrounding streets although it can be a bit hit and miss actually finding a space, especially in the tourist season.

One of these new redeveloped banking outlets aimed at mostly a selfservice customer. You pay…read morecheques in through a machine, have termainals to access internet banking etc. There are usually staff around to help out if you get stuck, and they do have the usual consultancy area out the back if you need to talk to your friendly bank manager about anything.

I don't like banks, maybe because I never have any money. Still HSBC was my chosen student bank and…read morethis is my favorite branch. The staff just seem more laid back here and there's never much of a queue which allows me to spend as little time as I possibly can in it. It has fewer opening hours than the main branch on Queen Street, but thats never a problem. It makes my life a little bit easier, so stars for that!

Ah, thank God for this HSBC branch…read more Since the St. Mary's Street branch got converted into a Sainsbury's about a year or so ago, the main HSBC branch has been that godforsaken monstrosity in Queen Street. You know the one; it is run by machines and is going to be the base command for the first attack when SkyNET eventually takes over and Terminator becomes a reality just like James Cameron warned us. And I hate that branch with a passion that could consume suns. Thankfully, we have this branch just off of Churchill Way to salve the wound. Whilst the Queen Street branch tries to speed up the banking process with an array of machines, requiring customers to have a PhD just to be able to cash a cheque, this branch manages to be both efficient and populated by humans, instead of rampaging frustration-bots. Seeing as everyone seems to prefer the main branch, this one remains blissfully quiet, allowing you to complete your banking quickly and quietly, without surrounding you in the whirrs of machines and the slams of foreheads hitting ATM screens in frustration.

Natwest is a great bank as a student they always have the best deals and this one is no exception…read more If you need a bank to do any financial banking then this one has 3 cashier desks and a personal manager to help with advice, they are particularly helpful more so than other banks I have been to. The nearest ATM machine is outside and around the corner opposite the pub on the wall. This a smaller bank so expect to queue and avoid at busy periods such as lunch time.

Oh happy day! A HSBC that gets the balance just right…read more The HSBC on Queen Street is so wrapped up in technology that it has foregone human interaction altogether, instead using human-looking cyborgs designed to take your money and offer no help whatsoever. On the flipside, the HSBC is on Churchill Way is so behind the times the only people capable of depositing money are those who know morse code off by heart and don't mind having a wrestle a minotaur in order to get to a cashier. Here though, is the golden land. A happy medium where there are actual, real, helpful people who can handle any impromptu obstacles and questions you may have as well as having machines that can get the quick banker in and out in a matter of minutes. They even take appointments to speak to people who are capable of performing wizardry with your bank account if necessary. I weep whenever I enter the place. Why can't they all be like this?

The staff at this branch are very sales driven. This is one of my pet hates. I use the bank for the…read moreconvenience of being able to access my money, not for being the butt of loan salesmen. For some reason (I'm being sarcastic, I've just given the reason,) there is never a queue to be served in this branch. So, if you are prepared to tough it out and keep strong to your resolve of saying no then this is a good branch to use. It is conveniently located in the centre of the main shopping area of Cardiff. The staff are polite although pushy (see comment above) and it is modern, clean and airy. There are even comfy seats where you can sit down for 10 minutes if your feet are aching!