The Top Easy Access Savings Discussion Area

ColdIron

happybagger said:

Investec require a smartphone so that was out for me.

Only to register. I operate the account entirely with a browser

poppystar

ircE said:

Maybe @soulsaver intentionally excluded these from the ToTP thread, but in case it helps some people, these accounts are also offering top rates:

Hanley Economic BS' Branch Saver @ 4.50% (note the faff)

West Bromwich BS' Double Access Account @ 3.85%

My Community Finance's Easy Access Account @ 3.83% (min £20k)

West Brom is opened and operated by branch or post not online - shame.

jaypers

I’ve used Investec for last year or so and had no issues with opening or managing the accounts. Don’t really understand the issues some people have reported. Standard due diligence ID checks were seamless for me. Payments in and out work like a dream. Nothing but a good experience with them. 

SJMALBA

jaypers said:

I’ve used Investec for last year or so and had no issues with opening or managing the accounts. Don’t really understand the issues some people have reported. Standard due diligence ID checks were seamless for me. Payments in and out work like a dream. Nothing but a good experience with them. 

They state that a smartphone and passport or photocard driving licence are required - this is not standard, IME, for opening a savings account.

jaypers

SJMALBA said:

jaypers said:

I’ve used Investec for last year or so and had no issues with opening or managing the accounts. Don’t really understand the issues some people have reported. Standard due diligence ID checks were seamless for me. Payments in and out work like a dream. Nothing but a good experience with them. 

They state that a smartphone and passport or photocard driving licence are required - this is not standard, IME, for opening a savings account.

I know it varies, but seems like sensible due diligence to me. Financial institutions need to perform proper KYC and AML checks. Seem to remember Chase doing something similar with a driving licence or passport needed when opening. 

SJMALBA

jaypers said:

SJMALBA said:

jaypers said:

I’ve used Investec for last year or so and had no issues with opening or managing the accounts. Don’t really understand the issues some people have reported. Standard due diligence ID checks were seamless for me. Payments in and out work like a dream. Nothing but a good experience with them. 

They state that a smartphone and passport or photocard driving licence are required - this is not standard, IME, for opening a savings account.

I know it varies, but seems like sensible due diligence to me. Financial institutions need to perform proper KYC and AML checks. Seem to remember Chase doing something similar with a driving licence or passport needed when opening. 

The point being that, again IME, most other banks etc. manage to meet their ID checks without insisting, upfront, on these (for some onerous) requirements - that may well change in the future, but, for now, it is not typical... thankfully.

YMMV.

soulsaver

ircE said:

Maybe @soulsaver intentionally excluded these from the ToTP thread, but in case it helps some people, these accounts are also offering top rates:

Hanley Economic BS' Branch Saver @ 4.50% (note the faff)

West Bromwich BS' Double Access Account @ 3.85%

My Community Finance's Easy Access Account @ 3.83% (min £20k)

Top Easy Access acs Ranked: Top of The Pots - **No Chat** - Page 27 — MoneySavingExpert Forum
Hanley is mentioned, and not ranked.

West Brom is now included: Yesterday when I looked at it there was no detail on their webby.
There is now - but won't get on the ToTP list as not opened/managed online.
Still, useful info. for locals and/or people happy to manage by post, so thanks for the reminder, it'll get a post but not a rank.

And My Community Finance - I don't rank 'introducers' or 'aggregators'.  

flobbalobbalob

SJMALBA said:

jaypers said:

I’ve used Investec for last year or so and had no issues with opening or managing the accounts. Don’t really understand the issues some people have reported. Standard due diligence ID checks were seamless for me. Payments in and out work like a dream. Nothing but a good experience with them. 

They state that a smartphone and passport or photocard driving licence are required - this is not standard, IME, for opening a savings account.

I am, what I think is called, invisible for credit checks. Banks use soft a credit check instead of asking for copies of documents. For me the norm is thay let me go through the whole application process and allow me to deposit, then say they need more info. Very often they ask for hard certified copies before they will allow me to acces my funds. I have old savings accounts that were easy to open at the time but subsequently frozen pending proof of ID as well. It's only recently that the newer banks have allowed me to prove my details electronically and at last I can take full advantage of this forum. So be aware that instantly and easily opening a new account does not mean you will be excempt in the future.

happybagger

ColdIron said:

happybagger said:

Investec require a smartphone so that was out for me.

Only to register. I operate the account entirely with a browser

That's the problem. My phone camera lens has become so scratched it's unusable. I've never had a phone for photos, only for internet use. I've always used a camera for pictures.

SJMALBA

flobbalobbalob said:

SJMALBA said:

jaypers said:

I’ve used Investec for last year or so and had no issues with opening or managing the accounts. Don’t really understand the issues some people have reported. Standard due diligence ID checks were seamless for me. Payments in and out work like a dream. Nothing but a good experience with them. 

They state that a smartphone and passport or photocard driving licence are required - this is not standard, IME, for opening a savings account.

I am, what I think is called, invisible for credit checks. Banks use soft a credit check instead of asking for copies of documents. For me the norm is thay let me go through the whole application process and allow me to deposit, then say they need more info. Very often they ask for hard certified copies before they will allow me to acces my funds. I have old savings accounts that were easy to open at the time but subsequently frozen pending proof of ID as well. It's only recently that the newer banks have allowed me to prove my details electronically and at last I can take full advantage of this forum. So be aware that instantly and easily opening a new account does not mean you will be except in the future.

I never put money into an account until it is fully open and I can access it online.

It certainly seems to be the 'direction of travel' that there will be ever more onerous ID requirements - a bridge to be crossed as and when, but, still plenty of options available that aren't so restrictive, thankfully... for the time being, at least.