Regular Savings Accounts: The Best Currently Available List!

Middle_of_the_Road

MrsCautious said:

Hi with the Co-op saver, for those of us who don't yet have a Co-op current account can anyone advise how straightforward applying for the current account has been? and how time consuming? If it's a case of setting it up quickly and adding a couple of direct debits then this could help me be more positive about it - I wouldn't choose to switch from other current accounts where I also have the linked savers whose T&Cs say they need to stay open to keep said RS accounts. 

Also and apologies to anyone who reckons this is stating the obvious question, I can see a Santander current account where you have to pay £500 in a month to have access to a 7% RS account - which allows higher deposits each month than the Co-op one - there is a maintenance fee of £3 a month and cashback of 1%. - do people like the look of the Co-op one more because there's no fee?

thank you for reading my overthinking and any words of wisdom (possibly that I need to get out more?) would be much welcomed!

The Co-op switch offer has ended, but you can just open a current account to get this regular saver, you don't need to set up any direct debits.

The Santander Edge saver 7% account is not a regular saver account. You can put in any lump sum, but only get interest on the first £4,000. They do have a rather poor regular saver @ 5% and £200pm.

PRAISETHESUN

MrsCautious said:

Hi with the Co-op saver, for those of us who don't yet have a Co-op current account can anyone advise how straightforward applying for the current account has been? and how time consuming? If it's a case of setting it up quickly and adding a couple of direct debits then this could help me be more positive about it - I wouldn't choose to switch from other current accounts where I also have the linked savers whose T&Cs say they need to stay open to keep said RS accounts. 

Also and apologies to anyone who reckons this is stating the obvious question, I can see a Santander current account where you have to pay £500 in a month to have access to a 7% RS account - which allows higher deposits each month than the Co-op one - there is a maintenance fee of £3 a month and cashback of 1%. - do people like the look of the Co-op one more because there's no fee?

thank you for reading my overthinking and any words of wisdom (possibly that I need to get out more?) would be much welcomed!

For Co-Op, there's a fairly in-depth discussion on the account opening process discussed as a part of the recent switch offer: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6498716/co-op-switch-offer-seen-15th-january-2024/p1

But in a nutshell, everything was straightforward in my experience, just very slow as everything seems to be done manually. I suspect it's partly due to how they were inundated with applications so it might be better a few weeks on now. If you're only applying for the account to get the RS, then their Standard current account doesn't have any monthly pay in or DD requirements.

For Santander, there's ways to get around the monthly fee as discussed here: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6507515/topcashback-25-bonus-for-opening-a-santander-edge-current-account

And FYI, there's no "either" required here, plenty of people have both Santander and Co-Op accounts. But wait until you see how many RS accounts some of the more enthusiastic people here have...

Section62

Hattie627 said:

gele said:

I applied for the co-op regular saver just over1 hour ago and have received email to say application  successful. Well done Co-op.

True. But no account details yet, so can't pay in. Others eg YBS, LBG much quicker.

Agreed. And given you have to have a Coop current account to open the RS, and therefore will be an existing customer already, their account opening process (requiring a whole load of basic personal information to be re-entered) was really disappointing.

Not having the account opened and ready to transact on in the same online banking session was doubly-disappointing.

And only having the 'employment' options of 'Full-time', 'Part-time', 'Self-employed', 'Unemployed', 'Retired' would suggest the self-styled ethical bank have never heard of the rest of us.

Thanks Coop for the new RS account, but today has been a good reminder of how far behind the curve you still are.

Edit:  With apologies to Coop, 'Student' was also an option in the list.

Hattie627

Section62 said:

Hattie627 said:

gele said:

I applied for the co-op regular saver just over1 hour ago and have received email to say application  successful. Well done Co-op.

True. But no account details yet, so can't pay in. Others eg YBS, LBG much quicker.

Agreed. And given you have to have a Coop current account to open the RS, and therefore will be an existing customer already, their account opening process (requiring a whole load of basic personal information to be re-entered) was really disappointing.

Not having the account opened and ready to transact on in the same online banking session was doubly-disappointing.

And only having the 'employment' options of 'Full-time', 'Part-time', 'Self-employed', 'Unemployed', 'Retired' would suggest the self-styled ethical bank have never heard of the rest of us.

Thanks Coop for the new RS account, but today has been a good reminder of how far behind the curve you still are.

Co-op usually get there in the end, just not up to speed with the leaders in the field. Like you, I like to open the RS, send the initial payment, check for receipt of initial payment and set up the monthly standing order etc all in one session. 

Saying that, many of us have had a good experience with the recent Co-op current account switch offer. It was though let down by the laughably brief 5 day offer open period (suggests that they hadn't given enough thought to the likely demand, hadn't done their homework) but they have to be congratulated on the speed of payment (sorry, off topic).

OneUser1

What’s the general feeling regarding existing Nationwide Start to Save Issue 2 accounts now the prize draw is presumably finished. Are people closing theirs? Reducing the balance to the minimum but keeping it alive? Or did everyone other than me get in so early their two years are already up?

Stargunner

Section62 said:

Hattie627 said:

gele said:

I applied for the co-op regular saver just over1 hour ago and have received email to say application  successful. Well done Co-op.

True. But no account details yet, so can't pay in. Others eg YBS, LBG much quicker.

And only having the 'employment' options of 'Full-time', 'Part-time', 'Self-employed', 'Unemployed', 'Retired' would suggest the self-styled ethical bank have never heard of the rest of us.

What other options would you like them to offer, because surely one of those would apply to everyone.

Hattie627

OneUser1 said:

What’s the general feeling regarding existing Nationwide Start to Save Issue 2 accounts now the prize draw is presumably finished. Are people closing theirs? Reducing the balance to the minimum but keeping it alive? Or did everyone other than me get in so early their two years are already up?

Mine doesn't finish its 2 year stint until June. I'd be interested in thoughts on this, too.
Has anyone heard that they won in the Feb draw? Does no notification so far mean hard luck?

AmityNeon

myth123 said:

Stargunner said:

Bridlington1 said:

Co-op Regular Saver has been launched at 7% as advertised:
https://www.co-operativebank.co.uk/products/savings/regular-saver/

• Have the account for a 12 month term – the 12 months will start from the date we accept your first deposit

This could be useful for some that want to delay the end date, as you have up to 30 days from account  opening to make your first deposit.

This is good to know, ideally I want to push the end date into the next tax year.

7th March at the earliest, or 8th March if you want to be safe (which would also align with interest being paid on Monday 7th April 2025, the first day that interest can be received in the new tax year).

Rudyson

OneUser1 said:

What’s the general feeling regarding existing Nationwide Start to Save Issue 2 accounts now the prize draw is presumably finished. Are people closing theirs? Reducing the balance to the minimum but keeping it alive? Or did everyone other than me get in so early their two years are already up?

If they repeat their fairer share payment from last year, with similar conditions, it may be a useful account to keep, unless you qualify with other accounts you have with them

OneUser1

Rudyson said:

OneUser1 said:

What’s the general feeling regarding existing Nationwide Start to Save Issue 2 accounts now the prize draw is presumably finished. Are people closing theirs? Reducing the balance to the minimum but keeping it alive? Or did everyone other than me get in so early their two years are already up?

If they repeat their fairer share payment from last year, with similar conditions, it may be a useful account to keep, unless you qualify with other accounts you have with them

I have the 8% Regular Saver plus a current account so I’m hoping I would be covered.