Cash ISAs: The Best Currently Available List

Spiggle

10_66 wrote: »

If you value your sanity, I wouldn't go near Santander. HERE'S a link that tells you about the best ISA rates currently available.

OK, I haven't had to transfer out so can't comment on that but the service in setting up a new joint current account and two ISA (OH & me) with Alliance & Leicester (Santander) has gone absolutely smoothly with no problems at all.

I look forward to cyclonebri1 letting us know regarding the transfer out situation.

As for waiting or buying now, well I didn't wait when the A&L had the guaranteed 3% above boe and I'm so glad because within days it had gone to the currently available guaranteed 2.7% above boe. And to quote cyclonebri1 again, 'All still heading steeply in one direction:eek:, ' i.e. down. Ultimately to buy or not to buy and when to make the decision is your call.:)

Spigs

Spiggle

Hi all (again!) I have only the paltry sum of £1300 in an IF easy access cash ISA taken out last year (on MSE advice/best buy at the time). The rate is now lower than when opened but according to the website a few moments ago is at 2.50%. Is there any point in me transferring this for the gain of between 0.1 - 0.25% per annum? I can't work it out precisely but the difference appears to be pennies gained in interest for the time taken to transfer. I must have easy access by the way. Any advice (or calculation confirming or denying my suspicions! ) gratefully received.

Thanks in advance,
Spigs

blueberrypie

Probably not worth the bother - maybe worth it for higher balances, but on £1300, an interest increase of 0.25% gives you only another £3.25/year. Hardly worth the time it takes to fill out the form.

And you'd have to take into account the interest lost during the transfer - 1/52 of the annual interest if it takes a week, 1/12 of it if it takes a month. Not really worth it unless you can find a substantially higher interest rate or you've a much higher balance to transfer.

Lady_K

Which is the best isa for transfers in and at least one withdrawral during the year just in case its needed without any loss of interest please?

Was going to have the santander one but it seems you cant transfer with that one

Rose_Crow

Hi everyone,

After some advice. I currently have a Halifax Direct Reward ISA, which I'm going to move my money from soon. I'm going to need to withdraw pretty much all of it sometime this year for a house deposit, so need something that lets me do this. The only one which looks suitable is the Nationwide one, but I'm concerned that they'll drop the rate - do you think this is likely?

Thanks

typeractive

Lady_K wrote: »

Which is the best isa for transfers in and at least one withdrawral during the year just in case its needed without any loss of interest please?

Was going to have the santander one but it seems you cant transfer with that one

Lady_K this might be of interest to you?

I've been looking for an ISA that will allow:

Previous Transfers In
Instant Access with no penalties
Monthly paid interest

(basically I need access to my saving to pay for my house! ), so in comparison to previous years I want the interest to be paid monthly and pretty much minimal commitment if that makes sense.

The best product I have found is the Natwest e-ISA. Rates are:

£30,000+ 2.50%

£10,000 - £29,999 2.25%

£0 - £9,999 2.00%

You need to have a Natwest current account to open one up though. Which I think you need to pay £1 for. Once signed up you can get signed up for the ISA and bang ya money in. If anyone else knows of any better deals for my needs that would be great to hear.

I currently have my ISA's built up with First Direct, but I think their rate drops to a terrible level once the financial year is over and they won't allow you to transfer previous FD ISA's into any of their new products - the cheek of them!

Cheers

rb10

Lady_K wrote: »

Which is the best isa for transfers in and at least one withdrawral during the year just in case its needed without any loss of interest please?

Was going to have the santander one but it seems you cant transfer with that one

Nationwide e-ISA. Allows unlimited withdrawals. (You do have to have an account with a card with Nationwide already to open this account).

grn.w.nv wrote: »

Hi everyone,

After some advice. I currently have a Halifax Direct Reward ISA, which I'm going to move my money from soon. I'm going to need to withdraw pretty much all of it sometime this year for a house deposit, so need something that lets me do this. The only one which looks suitable is the Nationwide one, but I'm concerned that they'll drop the rate - do you think this is likely?

Thanks

It all comes down to whether you trust them to keep it as it is or not - with Nationwide, I would personally trust them to keep it at a reasonable level for a year or so, but this has to be your decision really.

Depending on how much you have in there, it may be better to switch to the new Halifax ISA Direct Reward - this pays just 0.15% less than the Nationwide one, but has the benefit of there being no interest lost during the transfer time.

THRIFTY_GIRL

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

apt wrote: »

Well as I've said before I've used Santander (abbey) for savings probably for 30 years now without issue. I have however today sent off 4 sets of transfer papers, all to one bank, 2 of the transfers fromm Santander. I'll see how they compare and let you know however it goes, ;)

Agreed; I've also had no issues with Santander in the 14 years that I've had an account with them in one form or another. In response to time taken to transfer an ISA, mine took just under 3 weeks in May last year. I would just say to people, don't let the negative banter put you off....it should not be the reason to turn down a good rate. I think I'll stop here and let people make up their own minds before I upset someone:rotfl:

Lady_K

I cant see any mention on this thread about the ing isa is this one ok?

it says 3% aer for existing customers and that it allows withdrawrals and accepts transfers in from the previous year only. That isnt bad for instant access is it?

Mickygg

yes this looks pretty good if you have funds with ing as should be set up pretty quickly. I haven't come across much better rates. Interesting point about transferring in last years as well. I didn't realise this and makes it even more appealing.

I have just had a look at Ing site and can't see any mention of allowing transfers at the 3% rate....