Building societies for consistent good saving rates.

al_yrpal

Got the annual interest on my Nationwide Building Society e-saver today. Swopped all the savings from ING Direct when they kept dropping rates. Found it very quick and convenient to get money out through Nationwide's Flexaccount - no waiting. Their VISA debit card has come in very handy abroad with commision free foreign currency saving me a packet. I note some disappointment in the paper from Halifax ISA holders as Halifax have dropped the rate. The rate on my ISA's with Kent Reliance Building Society holds good (so far) at 4.96%.

Whilst there seem to be some slightly better rates around, many of them seem just short term offers, have hidden catches, and many do not seem to last - like Halifax which is really a bank now, whereas Nationwide and KRBS are both mutuals.

Can anyone point to any savings or ISA's that have beat Nationwide and KRBS consistently?

simonhgreen

The Sunday Times databank shows not just the current best rate, but the most consistent over the last 3 years.

Nationwide has been top for as long as I can remember over the 3 yr periods.

Also, N/wide Classic credit card is great for purchases abroad as again there are no commission fees, and you get the wholesale exchange rate, not the tourist rate i.e. got back from Portugal last week where purchases were at 1.44 euros to the pound, whereas the tourist rate was 1.39.

HTH

thor

NW's ISA is only 4.5%. Surely there are quite a few others paying more than that(even excluding bonuses) and not just for a few months.
I transferred from them a couple of years ago to the Safeway ISA which was run by Abbey and is now known as the Abbey Postal ISA. There are 2 issues of this ISA out at the moment and both have been paying out more than Nationwide's ISA. Whatever the benefits of mutuality are, I doubt that they are greater than if the NW demutualised and gave us all some free shares. They don't top my list in any of the financial products I am after apart from their credit card as you don't get charged fees for foreign payments.

al_yrpal

thor wrote:

NW's ISA is only 4.5%. Surely there are quite a few others paying more than that(even excluding bonuses) and not just for a few months.

The instant access e-savings pay 4.65%, and my ISA's are with https://www.KRBS.co.uk at 4.96%. Neither of these are short term deals and there are no visible catches.

simonhgreen

thor wrote:

NW's ISA is only 4.5%. Surely there are quite a few others paying more than that(even excluding bonuses) and not just for a few months.
I transferred from them a couple of years ago to the Safeway ISA which was run by Abbey and is now known as the Abbey Postal ISA. There are 2 issues of this ISA out at the moment and both have been paying out more than Nationwide's ISA. Whatever the benefits of mutuality are, I doubt that they are greater than if the NW demutualised and gave us all some free shares. They don't top my list in any of the financial products I am after apart from their credit card as you don't get charged fees for foreign payments.

I f you're with NW for (I think) 2 yrs you are entitled to access to NW cash Isa Bond, which is at a higher rate.

ReportInvestor

The rate is 4.8% up to £9,999 and 4.85% from £10K.

You have to have been a member for three years.