Top Cash ISAs Discussion Area

rb10

bruirn wrote: »

Sorry if this kind of thing has been covered ad infinitum but here's my query. I set up an ISA last year with A&L that has just matured, so it's now got £8,925 in it. Interested in switching it to the Halifax 3 per cent ISA as I've already got an account with them. Can I do this now or do I have to wait until April? I'm conscious that it seems to be a limited offer so don't want to miss the boat. Also, as I'm an existing customer do I qualify for the 3.2 per cent rate if I continue to put £1,000 into the account?

Apologies again for any duplication that may have gone on.

You can do the transfer now, or at any time you wish to.

If you already have an instant-access ISA with Halifax, you can just transfer the Santander one into it, and get 3.2% on the whole balance.

Otherwise, you'll need to open the ISA first (if you do it online, say 'No' to the question about subscribing to an ISA this tax year), and then transfer in.

The form to transfer in is here: http://www.halifax.co.uk/savings/accounts/cash-isas/transfer-your-isa/

You will are eligible for the 3.2% rate if you pay £1k+/month into a Reward account, or hold an Ultimate Reward account. You'll get this automatically if the ISA was opened on or after 22nd September 2010; otherwise you'll have to phone up to register for it.

bruirn

rb10 wrote: »

You can do the transfer now, or at any time you wish to.

If you already have an instant-access ISA with Halifax, you can just transfer the Santander one into it, and get 3.2% on the whole balance.

Otherwise, you'll need to open the ISA first (if you do it online, say 'No' to the question about subscribing to an ISA this tax year), and then transfer in.

The form to transfer in is here: http://www.halifax.co.uk/savings/accounts/cash-isas/transfer-your-isa/

You will are eligible for the 3.2% rate if you pay £1k+/month into a Reward account, or hold an Ultimate Reward account. You'll get this automatically if the ISA was opened on or after 22nd September 2010; otherwise you'll have to phone up to register for it.

That's brilliant! Many thanks. Just have a Halifax Current Account so I'll look to set up the ISA.

thenudeone

Anyone see a good Regular Saving ISA that allows transfers in as well?

Newcastle BS did a very good one last year - 3.4% on the entire balance including transfers in; with instant access. They are not repeating it this year though.

frivolous_fay

thenudeone wrote: »

Anyone see a good Regular Saving ISA that allows transfers in as well?

Newcastle BS did a very good one last year - 3.4% on the entire balance including transfers in; with instant access. They are not repeating it this year though.

I took the same account - much overlooked I suspect.

I would settle for new money only to be honest - we are going to be raiding one of our ISAs this year to pay for our wedding. One way our spare cash is earmarked and unlikely to be available in a lump!

I suspect regular saving ISAs aren't considered very sexy, in fact a quick glance at what is available now has turned up zilch.

iblametheparents

Barclays Golden ISA Issue 3 is on sale from tomorrow with a rate of 3.25%

Deleriad

Interesting thing about the new Barclays Golden ISA is that despite advertising itself as if it were fixed rate it's actually a 1 year tracker that tracks the base rate at the equivalent of +2.75% until March 2012. The fixed element is the +1% bonus.

From the web page:

3. Barclays Rate Promise. The interest rates on Everyday Saver, Golden ISA - Issue 3, Barclays Children's Savings, e-savings and e-Savings Reward accounts will follow the amount of any changes (up or down) in the Bank of England Bank Rate until 1 March 2012. As part of this promise, any upward changes will be reflected in your interest rates within 30 days of the Bank of England announcement...

david78

"As part of this promise, any upward changes will be reflected in your interest rates within 30 days of the Bank of England announcement..."

Plain english:

If interest rates go up we won't pass on the increase to you straight away but will wait 30 days.

If interest rates go down we will decrease the rate on your account the same day.

And this is their promise :rotfl:

Deleriad

david78 wrote: »

"As part of this promise, any upward changes will be reflected in your interest rates within 30 days of the Bank of England announcement..."

Plain english:

If interest rates go up we won't pass on the increase to you straight away but will wait 30 days.

If interest rates go down we will decrease the rate on your account the same day.

And this is their promise :rotfl:

To be fair, I didn't bother copying the rest because it was irrelevant to the issue but it does say that they will act on downward movements a minimum of 60 days later. Loathe though I am to defend Barclays, their promise is pretty reasonable in this case.

Nosmo_King_2

Given that the general assumption seems to be that interest rates are going to rise, doesn't Barclay's 30 days notice before you get the higher rate make Santander's ISA possibly still a better bet given that they apparently apply any rate increase immediately and also Barclay's ISA's rate tracking ends 1st March next year rather than giving you a full 12 months? Not sure how much difference this makes, I suppose the devil is in the detail as they say?

Beatoff

First time using this so bear with me please. Just retired and am being bombarded with info about savings and investments. I have around £80g to invest. Anyone of you learned guys have any advice for me? Would really appreciate all aspects of opinion.