Cash ISAs: The Best Currently Available List

bristolleedsfan

Now 6% http://www.principality.co.uk/default.aspx?page=607

Cappsy

.....down from 5.80% to 5.55% w.e.f. today.

talksalot81

Can anyone point out how i do lloyds via the internet? The initial post indicated this can be done but the lloyds side indicates otherwise.... We do not have a branch on the province.

thumshie

talksalot81 wrote: »

Can anyone point out how i do lloyds via the internet? The initial post indicated this can be done but the lloyds side indicates otherwise.... We do not have a branch on the province.

It can be 'operated' online - i.e. once open it'll show up via online banking, however to open, you either:
1. Go to a branch
2. Open via phone ONLY if your an existing customer...

bristolleedsfan

May not be highest paying ISA, those with a Leek BS ISA may be interested to know that Leek BS have held the rate at 5.75%. :T

http://www.leekunited.co.uk/

dean_ham

Im going to go with the Nationwide Fixed Rate ISA Bond - 6.15% (fixed for one or two years).
Minimum deposit: £1.

Any reasons why i shouldnt?

Bernie

As an out-and-out rate tart, I have just transferred from the Ruffler Bank (6.14%) to the new Lloyds Fixed Rate ISA (6.5%). I believe that if you ain't earning the top rate, your paying some-one else's fatter profit.

The admin process was simple, took 30 mins because they did slow things by trying to sell stuff to us. They didn't!

We even delayed the transfer date to avoid the 30 day loss of interest from Ruffler.

bristolleedsfan

dean_ham wrote: »

Im going to go with the Nationwide Fixed Rate ISA Bond - 6.15% (fixed for one or two years).
Minimum deposit: £1.

Any reasons why i shouldnt?

For less than 9000.00 appears to be top paying fixed rate ISA ATM.

john.xs

went into wigan tsb and was told you only get 6.5% if you transfer in 9000 + initially and that it wont move up once you reach 9000 limit if you had less in previously so be careful!

cottager

Very recently joined MSE and found you all. Having never been geared up to keeping on top of changes and all this switching around to make the most of savings, I must say reading so much here over the weekend has been very absorbing -- and a revelation! How you all actually manage to do it is amazing, as it must take up a lot of time to be so diligent?? That's always been the problem -- I might stir my stumps with a blitz every 2 or 3 years, but to be aware of how things change virtually week to week, or even month to month, I'm sure will be beyond me as the choices are so bewildering. But maybe with help from MSE...

Anyway, first thing being tackled is ISAs, and sorry for length but opinions appreciated as I really don't know which way to go (now I realise there are so many ways to go!), though Kazza's superb list was an excellent start -- thank you.

I still need to use this tax year's £3K subscription. There's also about £4200 in an Abbey Easy ISA which has been 'sitting' since 2000 and which I should switch somewhere better (see, I'm trying to learn!) as it's on a low 4.05%.

Last year I put £3K into NS&I, but I gather the guarantee will be falling to 0.3% above base... but even if not the highest, still fairly respectable?

I see lots about IceSave's Easy Access, but also a huge long thread with many grumbles and frustrations several months ago about slowness, customer service and problems/niggles with their site. Frankly a big turn-off, particularly the site, but has it all improved now? I'd consider if so, but I'm less concerned for an extra £15-odd than I am about a poor service -- though the guarantee above base till 2011 is attractive.

Abbey Direct ISA (Issue 2): looks good, but though it can be opened online it says operation is by post/tel/ATM -- so no. Being idle, I prefer online

A&L Direct ISA (Issue 4): again a great rate with the bonus, but have I seen some mutterings about them? Had no dealings with A&L before.

Then finally I was looking at Nationwide's 1 Yr ISA Bond at 6.15% -- wouldn't want to tie all ISA funds into a fixed, but some would be OK for a year as presumably I'd be free to transfer it away at the end of the term.

So, subject to what you might say about any usage and/or other problems with IceSave and A&L, or a preference for one or the other, here's what I thought initially:
(a) Put the new £3K money into IceSave. Or possibly A&L if they have a better service... though I do like the sound of that IceSave 2011 guarantee.
(b) Transfer £3K from Abbey to Nationwide.
(c) Leave NS&I where it is, but also transfer into it the £1200 balance from Abbey, thus closing Abbey.
[Can I do this? -- split a transfer between two different providers?]

Does that seem a fairly reasonable spread?
And no penalties down the line for transferring out with any of these (bar Nationwide, till the end of the term)? -- I couldn't see any.

The reason for keeping NS&I was simply because it's 'solid'.
Am I right thinking there's a rule that if you miss adding in a tax year, but want to add more subsequently, you have to re-apply? Would the transfer-in of £1200 count in that way, or does it need to be new money?

Thanks for 'looking it over'.

Note for Kazza, for your list: ING seem to have dropped from the rates you mention for the Direct Cash ISA (and dropped the 'Direct'). 5.37% pa for first 6 months, reverting to 4.89%. Overall 5.25% AER.