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.

What is GO Markets？

GO Markets is an Australia-based Forex and CFDs broker founded in 2006. The broker provides 1000+ tradable CFD instruments including forex, shares, commodities, indices, metals, and treasuries. GO Markets is regulated by the ASIC in Australia, the CySEC in Cyprus, the FSC in Mauritius, and the FSA (Seychelles).

GO Markets is one of the first Australian MetaTrader 4 brokers, later on, it added MetaTrader 5, WebTrader, cTrader and mobile apps to its suite of services. The broker is well known for its strict compliance and competitive spreads.

Pros and cons of GO Markets

GO Markets has multiple regulations from recognized organizations in the industry, which gives greater credibility and security to its clients.

It offers a wide variety of financial instruments, including more than 1000 instruments, including Forex CFDs, Share CFDs, Index CFDs, Metals CFDs, Cryptocurrency CFDs, Commodity CFDs and Treasury CFDs. It has a market-leading trading platform, MetaTrader 4 and MetaTrader 5, which has numerous technical analysis tools and customizable charts.

It offers excellent customer service, available in multiple languages and through multiple communication channels.

Deposits and withdrawals are processed quickly, with a one business day lead time for withdrawals.

It has an educational section on its website that offers materials for beginners and advanced traders.

As for the cons, we found that the main point is that the conditions are different in each entity. Another point is that the brokers support is not available 24/7.

General Information and Regulation of GO Markets

GO MARKETS is an online forex brokerage company that offers clients access to a wide variety of financial instruments, including Forex CFDs, Share CFDs, Index CFDs, Metals CFDs, Cryptocurrency CFDs, Commodity CFDs and Treasury CFDs. The company is regulated by multiple regulatory bodies including ASIC, CYSEC, FSC and FSA.

• GO Markets Pty Ltd - authorized by ASIC (Australia) registration AFSL: 254963 ABN: 85 081 864 039

• GO Markets Ltd - authorized by CySEC (Cyprus) registration no. 322/17

• GO Markets International Ltd - authorized by the FSA (Seychelles) license no. SD043

  

Market Instruments

With Go Markets, clients can easily trade with over 1,000 products, covering Fore, Shares CFDs, Indices, Metals, Commodities, and Treasury.

GO Markets Leverage

GO Markets Leverage depends on the entity you have an account with since leverage falls under certain regulations. International Traders can access high-leverage ratios. For forex trading, GO Markets Pty Ltd, Mauritius (FSC regulated) offers generous leverage up to 1:500.

GO Markets Account Types

The broker offers two account types Standard and GO Plus Accounts with the flexibility to manage the trading way and choose the best fit. So there is an option between a Standard trading proposal based on spread charges and access to a true ECN environment via GO Plus+ specifically designed through light-fast technology. The Standard account caters to traders seeking accessibility, requiring a minimum deposit of $200 and offering leverage up to 500:1 across forex, metals, commodities, and indices markets. Conversely, the Pro account is geared towards more experienced traders, demanding a higher minimum deposit of $300 while providing the same leverage and instrument range as the Standard account. Notably, the account can be only opened USD.

Notably, The GO Plus+ account supports 9 different base currencies including AUD, GBP, EUR, NZD, USD, SGD, CHF, CAD, HKD.

GO Markets Fees and Spreads

Apart from offering one of the best spreads for the products suite, GO Markets is also the most competitive in terms of holding costs or overnight swaps. GO Markets offers Swap-Free Accounts to traders available on the Standard and GO Plus+ accounts on Meta trader platforms. GO Markets Swap-Free account is available to legitimate holders who are Muslim and cannot use “swaps” due to their religious belief.

Further, the GO Plus Account is already a choice for advanced traders or those whose strategy requires it as spreads from 0.0 pips and trading costs inbuilt in the commission as low as 2.50$ per side.

GO Markets spreads are aggregated from 22+ Tier 1 and 2 liquidity providers making them go as low as 0.0 pips. The GO Markets average spreads for Standard and GO Plus+ accounts are listed on their page. However, the data is provided for general information only and is taken over a one-month period. Prices shown may vary. For instance, see below a comparison of the Standard spread offering, as well as your comparing fees to another popular broker.

Besides, always consider overnight fee as a cost, also known as Rollover rate or interest for holding positions open overnight.

GO Markets Trading Platforms

In terms of trading platform suppored, GO Markets offers a robust suite, which makes it stands tall among most brokers. MetaTrader 4 and 5 platforms provide advanced charting tools, expert advisors, and VPS options. The user-friendly cTrader platform enables advanced customization and order capabilities. Copy trading solutions like MetaTrader Copy Trader and cTrader Copy Trading allow following successful traders' strategies. Mobile trading apps for Android and iOS ensure access on-the-go. The GO WebTrader offers a web-based MT4 and MT5 experience without downloads.

Trading Tools

Additionally, GO Markets offers the following trading tools to enhance trading experience:

1. VPS (Virtual Private Server): A VPS provides continuous access and optimal speed for MT4 and MT5 platforms, ensuring vital speed and uninterrupted trading.

2. Autochartist: Autochartist specializes in real-time price action alerts, volatility analysis, and event impact assessments, allowing traders to easily apply charts and stay informed about market movements.

3. Trading Central: Trading Central offers a collection of programs that provide actionable investment support with 24-hour multi-asset coverage and analysis, empowering traders with comprehensive market insights.

4. MetaTrader Genesis: MetaTrader Genesis is a comprehensive suite of Expert Advisors (EAs) designed to enhance the capabilities of the standard MetaTrader platform, enabling advanced trading automation and strategy implementation.

GO Markets Deposits and Withdrawals

GO Markets offers fee-free deposits through various payment methods, including Mastercard, Visa, Skrill, Neteller, and bank/wire transfers. These options support multiple currencies like AUD, USD, GBP, EUR, and others, serving traders across different regions.

Generally, GO Markets enables fee-free internal withdrawals. However, withdrawals to non-Mauritian banking institutions may incur fees from intermediary banks and the recipient's bank. Withdrawal requests received before 7 AM MUT are processed the same day, while later requests are handled the next business day. All withdrawals are processed back to the original funding source for security. While GO Markets ensures a seamless withdrawal process, external fees from third-party banks may apply in certain cases.

GO Markets Customer Support

GO Markets Customer Service was rated #1, in addition to its great Awards received in other aspects. Successful brokers recognized the need for quality service, but of course, not everyone can have one.

with 14+ language coverage, GO Markets stands ahead in that point too, so you can count on relevant and fast answers from the Customer Support GO Markets. The brokers team is available around the clock and supports international languages accessible via Live Chat, email, and phone lines in Australia, the UK and internationally as well. And although the broker does not provide 24/7 client support, it has highly acclaimed 24/5 client support.

GO Markets Education

And of course, since novice traders always pass through great challenges while exploring trading opportunities, GO Markets provide the educational materials and research resources necessary to perform seamless trading. Eventually, GO Markets educational programs and its GO Markets Academy are numerously award-winning materials that are defined by all levels of traders and available for Free use.

So in GO Markets Academy and Education Centre, you will find Forex trading learning courses, Video Tutorials, also Tutorials and regularly held Seminars and Webinars in various languages. Also, Demo Account is offered for free use with no limits where beginners can place their strategy at the test or see GO Markets environment.

As for the Research tools, besides very comprehensive research inbuilt into Metatrader 4 platform, GO Markets also cooperates with Autochartist and Trading Central providers so you can use its free trading signals and ideas for your benefit. Besides, thousands of MetaTrader 4 & 5 Add-ons remain at your suite which is defined by the instrument and specified criteria, where also you may use the great tool MT4 Genesis.

FAQs

GO Markets knows that knowing where to find the information that you need and having the confidence that you can find the answers to your trading questions could be very helpful with your day-to-day trading.

Use these comprehensive Forex Trading FAQs to learn all the basics as well as the more advanced topics in forex trading. GO Markets has covered the lot from how to open a forex trading account to how to use the MetaTrader trading platform, Forex trading system, and more. Whether you're new to trading FX or you have several years of experience trading currencies, you will find a lot of useful information in these FAQs.

Q: What is the minimum deposit required to open an account with Go Markets？

A: The minimum deposit required varies depending on the account type you choose. The Standard account requires a minimum deposit of $200, while the Pro account requires a minimum deposit of $300.

Q: Does Go Markets offer Islamic (Swap-Free) accounts？

A: Yes, Go Markets offers Islamic accounts, also known as Swap-Free accounts, which comply with Islamic financial principles by avoiding interest charges or swap fees.

Q: What is Go Markets' leverage policy？

A: Go Markets offers leverage up to 500:1 for both Standard and Pro accounts.

Risk Warning

Trading online carries inherent risks, including the potential loss of invested capital. It may not be suitable for all traders or investors. It's essential to understand and acknowledge these risks before engaging in online trading. Additionally, please note that the information provided in this review is subject to change as the company updates its services and policies. The date of this review's generation is also crucial, as information may have evolved since then. Therefore, readers are encouraged to verify updated information directly with the company before making any decisions or taking action. The reader assumes full responsibility for the use of the information provided in this review.