opening new isa without contributing

scattersong

Hi all,

I've opened and paid into a help to buy isa this year already.

I was wondering, can I open another isa - a normal cash isa with nationwide, but without paying into it?

Basically you can't open savings accounts with nationwide online (only in branch) unless you're an existing customer.

So my plan was to open as isa, not pay into it, open another savings account, and let the isa close when I don't deposit anything into it.

Would that work?

Thanks

colsten

scattersong wrote: »

So my plan was to open as isa, not pay into it, open another savings account, and let the isa close when I don't deposit anything into it.

What are you trying to achieve?

How much do you want to save when?

What are you saving for?

scattersong

Well I'm going to eventually apply for a flexdirect account, in around 3 months or so.

I thought the application would be considered more favourable if I was an existing customer.

colsten

What makes you think that?

scattersong

Divine intuition.

I thought it might give me a better chance of being accepted for a 'reward' account with high interest, considering I have a low income and am a student.

colsten

It's not how current account applications work. You don't get brownie points for holding an ISA, and most certainly not for one that has nothing in it.

Your best bet would be to ensure your credit history is in good shape. Check free on noddle.co.uk.

scattersong

Fair enough, just thought it might help the computer say 'yes' so to speak if it saw I was an existing customer.

Credit history is fine, just need to wait as I've made a few applications recently.