Cash ISAs: The Best Currently Available List

phoebe03cat

mary wrote: »

Unfortunately you could not download an application form, it was "closed", so am going for the Cheshire one at the same rate before that disappears.

When I rang Cheshire yesterday they said that if the rate changed during the transfer process they would automatically open it at the new rate (whatever that might be).

Kazza242

The first post of this thread has been updated.

There have been a lot of rate changes this week and some new ISAs have launched. There has also been a couple of fixed rate ISAs launching this week. The most notable are from Julian Hodge Bank and Newcastle Building Society, both paying 4.25% for a 1 year term.

When a ISA rate has changed I have added "(as of dd/mm/yyyy)" so that you can see when the new rate came into effect, as suggested by mary.

Thanks for all of your comments - it's nice to get some feedback. I still think that it is better to keep the 'new money' and 'transfers in' ISAs separate. Some of you think that some MSEs might not look at the 'transfers in' section when looking for an ISA for the current years allowance. I think that, perhaps adding anchor links to the new thread I will be creating next year, will resolve this somewhat - provided this site supports anchors.

Further updates to be made next week...

tipsychick

I was just having a quick look at "Rates" section for the Natwest and RBS cash ISAs. I think they may have stopped paying the bonus for applications made/received after 18/12/08. Looks like you can still apply for the ISA but you'll be getting the underlying rate without the all important bonus.

(Someone might want to check that's right. The small print isn't that clear and the Rioja has been flowing!)

Kazza242

tipsychick wrote: »

I was just having a quick look at "Rates" section for the Natwest and RBS cash ISAs. I think they may have stopped paying the bonus for applications made/received after 18/12/08. Looks like you can still apply for the ISA but you'll be getting the underlying rate without the all important bonus.

(Someone might want to check that's right. The small print isn't that clear and the Rioja has been flowing!)

Yes, I did wonder about this when I was updating the thread earlier. Natwest (at the time of writing this post) have conflicting information on their page.

On their main page it states "Get a 1.76% bonus when you transfer to NatWest. Earn from 4.41% AER to 5.07% AER (variable) with our Cash ISA". If you click through, it then states: "Hurry! We must receive your Cash ISA transfer form by 18 December 2008 to qualify for the bonus."

To be sure, I will check this again this week, as they will probably have updated their page fully by then.

MarkyMarkD

Kazza242 wrote: »

Thanks for all of your comments - it's nice to get some feedback. I still think that it is better to keep the 'new money' and 'transfers in' ISAs separate. Some of you think that some MSEs might not look at the 'transfers in' section when looking for an ISA for the current years allowance. I think that, perhaps adding anchor links to the new thread I will be creating next year, will resolve this somewhat - provided this site supports anchors.

So please - pretty please - put the transfers in list FIRST not SECOND, and retitle it "for new money and also allow transfers in - check the 'new money only' list if you don't need to transfer an existing ISA", and the second list "for new money only - no transfers in allowed". If you are going to assume people might only look at one list, that list should be the "new money and transfers in" one.

Or something like that.

Kent Reliance BS Direct 65+ Variable Cash ISA - 4.26% AER NEW RATE (as of 19/12/2008)
Rate guarantee? No.
Minimum deposit: £30,000. Operated via: Post.
Interest payment: Interest can be paid away or compounded.
Monthly interest option available? Yes (4.89% gross rate applies)

That monthly interest rate looks a bit hooky!

Baldur

MarkyMarkD wrote: »

That monthly interest rate looks a bit hooky!

Certainly does - it should read 4.18% - http://www.krbs.co.uk/saveinterest.aspx#direct65var

Kazza242

MarkyMarkD wrote: »

So please - pretty please - put the transfers in list FIRST not SECOND, and retitle it "for new money and also allow transfers in - check the 'new money only' list if you don't need to transfer an existing ISA", and the second list "for new money only - no transfers in allowed". If you are going to assume people might only look at one list, that list should be the "new money and transfers in" one.

I'm going to leave the structure as it is for now, as I don't want to make any major changes before the creation of the new thread. Anyway, unless someone is viewing the thread on their mobile, it is now possible to see both the 'new money' and 'transfers in' sections on screen.

I'm hoping that HTML anchors will resolve the issues - though I haven't had time to check if this board supports them.

MarkyMarkD wrote: »

That monthly interest rate looks a bit hooky!

Yes, that's because I had one eye on the Arsenal Vs Liverpool game when I was updating the thread and a glass of Smirmoff in hand.:) In hindsight, probably not the best time to be updating the thread;). I've corrected the monthly rate.

Smithills

Hi Kazza
Might be worth updating your OP. Just been casting around for where to put my Icesave money, was going to think about Ruffler but "due to an influx of Icesave transfers", they're not accepting any new money until 21st Jan 2009.

http://www.rufflerbank.com/news.php?news=2

Hmm, so do I jump for Scottish Widows then?... will hang fire until Ruffler give out their 2009 interest rate I think

Festive Greetings one and all.:xmassmile

Decombobulator

Kazza, many thanks for keeping this thread updated.

I just checked the Newcastle BS ISA+ (Issue 2) and noticed the rate is variable rather than fixed. It's guaranteed not to fall below the BoE Base Rate before 1st Jan 2011.

Baldur

Decombobulator wrote: »

I just checked the Newcastle BS ISA+ (Issue 2) and noticed the rate is variable rather than fixed. It's guaranteed not to fall below the BoE Base Rate before 1st Jan 2011.

Yes - the 0.5% bonus, payable until 01/07/2009, is the only part that's fixed.