I like HSBC's Manchester city-centre branch, it is located in St Ann's Square, opposite the Royal…read moreExchange Theatre, it is fairly large for a bank, over multiple floors, with a counter service on the upper level, yet there are still ATM's and staff members who can answer basic questions as you go into the store. I find the staff here to be pretty friendly and helpful, they can help regarding both HSBC and First Direct accounts. I could easily pay in money, even though I had forgotten my card, as I had access to my online banking portal. The branch feels fairly modern overall, I like the "This is Manchester" branding on the exterior window and the overall look/feel of the branch. I do find their opening hours to be a little restrictive, especially on weekends, they close at 1 pm on Saturday and then they're closed until Monday, during the week the hours are the standard 9 - 5. 4* - Good bank branch in the centre of town for HSBC and First Direct customers and one I'll surely be returning to in the not so distant future.

I never thought I'd be giving a bank a 5 stars, especially when it's never showing up the ideal…read morebank balance. But this HSBC is the best HSBC I've come across all around the country. And I've been to a few. It's got quite a few floors which probably meets a lot of different banking needs. There's always lots of staff looking to help you, answer your question, direct you to a floor or one of the most easiest, self-sufficient pieces of machinery ever made to man. Most of the time going to the bank is a hectic, painful experience. But it's made ever so easier at St Ann's.

I don't understand the review I have seen about ur loans interest being high it not true u don't…read morepay back as much as other loan companies and I have never had trouble with my account has never been closed its worth it to save like I do now for xmas every year

I just thought I should put a quick note up here about this awesome branch of Santander. Now,…read morenormally due to work commitments and such, if I am running a bank errand I do so in town before my shift starts. However, if I am enjoying a nice day off, I like to visit the branch in East Didsbury, much closer to my Withington home. It's great - it feels much more like a local bank than the ones I've been to in town (which sounds obvious, but I didn't expect it to be so different). The longest I've ever had to wait to speak to someone there is ten minutes, and that was with me having to queue twice. A ten minute queue is a far cry from the usual half hour minimum in town, I can tell you! The staff are very concerned with making sure people are seen as efficiently as possible which is lovely. I think this stems from the fact that the clientèle there are, for the most part, people such as myself who are just trying to make a very straightforward transaction, or from a local small business doing the same. They are also the friendliest banking staff I have encountered thus far, which is a small but wonderful detail. I don't think I will ever enjoy banking, per se, but this branch certainly does make the whole experience much more enjoyable than the heaving, ridiculously busy, branches in the centre of town. And, the staff are super friendly!! Well done, Santander. You are a truly friendly bank.

I was having a really stressful day and Julie Nessa gave me service with a smile and genuine…read morekindness. Thanks!

A basic yet rather nice Halifax store in Stockport town centre, as a part of the Merseyway complex…read more While the in-store facilities, space and ATM's might be outnumbered compared to branches in Manchester city centre and other large cities, it still made a good bank branch for a small town like Stockport. The staff seemed pretty friendly and professional, they were able to deal with a very aggressive customer who was causing distress outside the store, staying calm which I must add was highly professional as not many people could remain calm in a volatile situation where a customer was accusing them of closing early and threatening to phone head office, even though the store did close at 5 pm and they close at exactly 5 pm. They also had no problems offering me directions to the train station before I left, which I found to be rather helpful. The opening hours again are okay during the week between 9 am and 5 pm, opening half an hour later on Wednesday's which is common practice across any bank for staff training, I do feel they shut too early on Saturday's however at 3:30 pm, which is earlier than Natwest across the way who shut at 4 pm, however, they do have the advantage over nearby Natwest of opening earlier on Wednesday's and being open half an hour later throughout the working week. Pretty decent branch, with a very good team of staff which is much better than the usual Halifax standard. 3*