Regular Savings Accounts: The Best Currently Available List!

dcs34

ForumUser7 said:

t1redmonkey said:

Increased rate of 3.5% on this one, but can only be operated by branch/post: https://www.hrbs.co.uk/saving-product/regular-saver-30-day-notice-account/

I was looking at this account, but unfortunately whilst you can give notice online, you must post in the passbooks at your own expense to get the withdrawal cheque, as prepaid envelopes are not provided for this purpose. Perhaps I’ll consider this account again if the rate is still competitive when they allow fully online faster payment notice withdrawals

The application form comes with a pre-paid envelope to return the application in.

So what's to stop "someone you live with" enquiring and holding onto that envelope until maturity?

ForumUser7

dcs34 said:

ForumUser7 said:

t1redmonkey said:

Increased rate of 3.5% on this one, but can only be operated by branch/post: https://www.hrbs.co.uk/saving-product/regular-saver-30-day-notice-account/

I was looking at this account, but unfortunately whilst you can give notice online, you must post in the passbooks at your own expense to get the withdrawal cheque, as prepaid envelopes are not provided for this purpose. Perhaps I’ll consider this account again if the rate is still competitive when they allow fully online faster payment notice withdrawals

The application form comes with a pre-paid envelope to return the application in.

So what's to stop "someone you live with" enquiring and holding onto that envelope until maturity?

That's a pretty good idea tbh, it's just the amount of times I could use that excuse would be limited - and I may need to make some withdrawals mid-term. I think I'm ok with accounts you apply for by post then manage online, or even ones fully managed through post if the rate is good enough, but only if they provide prepaid envelopes. If a bank/society does not have a proper online facility in this day and age, I don't feel we should be expected by them (especially without it being clear in the ts and cs) to cover our own postage for every withdrawal we want to make. I'm just happy I realised before I deposited funds, because if I set it all up and then midway through asked for a prepaid envelope to make a withdrawal and this was refused, I would be quite irritated. By having to pay for the postage (if we cannot build up a stockpile of 'people we live with' prepaid envelopes), it kind of acts as a penalty for withdrawal imo. 30 day notice, and a penalty (albeit small) doesn't appeal to me on this rate at this stage. I think for those who live near a branch, and already have the top paying regular savers, this is certainly one to add to the collection. But probably one to pass on for those that don't.

Wheres_My_Cashback

Kazza242 said:

Principality Building Society have increased the interest rates paid on some of their First Home Steps online and branch-based regular savers (w.e.f. 13th October 2022.):

First Home Steps Online (issue 2) - Current issue

• Now pays 3.50% on balances £7,501 - £25,000, 3.00% £2,501 - £7500.00 and 2.80% £1 - £2,500.00.
• Maximum account balance is £25,000
• The account is available to open and manage online.
• This is a regular savings account for first-time buyers (though they don't verify this)
• The minimum account balance is £1.  The accounts allows you to pay in up to £1,500 per month. 
• Up to 3 penalty-free withdrawals permitted every calendar year.

https://www.principality.co.uk/savings-accounts/everyday-savings-accounts/First-Home-Steps-Online

First Home Steps Account (issue 3) - Current issue

• Now pays 3.50% on balances £7,501 - £25,000, 3.00% £2,501 - £7500.00 and 2.80% £1 - £2,500.00.
• Maximum account balance is £25,000
• The account must be opened in the branch or agency.  
• You can manage the account in branch, at an agency, by post, or by using the online service.
• This is a regular savings account for first-time buyers (though they don't verify this)
• The minimum account balance is £1.  The accounts allows you to pay in up to £1,500 per month. 
• Up to 3 penalty-free withdrawals permitted every calendar year.

https://www.principality.co.uk/savings-accounts/everyday-savings-accounts/First-Home-Steps-account

The rate on their closed issue 1, remains unchanged at the moment:  

First Home Steps Online (issue 1) - Closed issue

• Currently pay 2.55% on balances £7,501 - £25,000, 2.05% £2,501 - £7500.00 and 1.85% £1 - £2,500.00.  
• No change to the account interest rate at the moment.

Though information on the Principality Building Society website states that that are still currently working through what the latest BOE base rate increase means for their members.  Therefore, there is a possibility that closed issue rates may change soon too.   

I have it on good authority that the FHS online 1 rate will be updated on 01/11.

badger09

Lloyds & Club Lloyds reg savers

Anyone else having trouble with Lloyds online banking today?

I've just tried to open a Lloyds Monthly Saver, having previously tried @Daliah suggestion re Club Lloyds MS. I keep getting error message 'something's gone wrong' & 'currently having technical problems'.  

veryintrigued

badger09 said:

Lloyds & Club Lloyds reg savers

Anyone else having trouble with Lloyds online banking today?

I've just tried to open a Lloyds Monthly Saver, having previously tried @Daliah suggestion re Club Lloyds MS. I keep getting error message 'something's gone wrong' & 'currently having technical problems'.  

I was only able to do this (for both BOS and Lloyds) via their websites. I.e. the apps would not allow renewal (due to the error message you're getting) even though the renew option was there.

badger09

badger09 said:

Lloyds & Club Lloyds reg savers

Anyone else having trouble with Lloyds online banking today?

I've just tried to open a Lloyds Monthly Saver, having previously tried @Daliah suggestion re Club Lloyds MS. I keep getting error message 'something's gone wrong' & 'currently having technical problems'.  

Hmmm

Just after posting, I decided to open the Monthly Saver via app. All ok.

I then managed to do what I wanted with Club Lloyds MS. Just hope I haven't raised too many red flags with my flurry of activity simultaneously online & in app.

Daliah

I wouldn't worry. The LBG systems sometimes have "technical problems", and when you try the same thing again, it invariably works fine. I have noticed this quite frequently with Halifax, which is essentially the same system as Lloyds, just with a different user interface

Special_Saver2

Hi Folks,

Many thanks to the people who have posted about the accounts mentioned below.

I have changed the following items on page 1 of this thread for this weekend's update.

- Lloyds Club Lloyds Monthly Saver interest rate updated to 5.25% fixed for new applicants

- Lloyds Monthly Saver and Bank of Scotland Monthly Saver interest rate updated to 4.5% fixed for new applicants

- Nationwide BS Start to Save (Issue 2) interest rate updated to 3.5% gross p.a. variable from 1st November 2022

- Earl Shilton BS Regular Monthly Saver interest rate updated to 2.55% gross p.a. variable from 1st November 2022

- Hinckley and Rugby BS Regular Saver 30 Day Notice Account added paying 3.5% gross p.a. variable from 21st October 2022 on up to £500 per month for 2 years, you have to provide 30 days' notice in writing, by telephone or in branch for withdrawals which are by cash (up to £500 per day) or by cheque, has to be opened in branch or by post.

I have made a note of new accounts from Market Harborough and Swansea BS but I have not added them yet as I do not think they are going to still be in my list on page 1 when I update it with the new interest rate threshold later this month.

I will do the next update next weekend.

SS2

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For those new to this thread, the first few posts are constantly updated and are on the first page
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6106986/regular-savings-accounts-the-best-currently-available-list/p1

phillw

I managed to open a BOS current account and a regular saver in two days. I had to wait for the activation code to get online. I didn't know you could use a Halifax login, but having another current account might be useful in the future

Trynsave2

phillw said:

I managed to open a BOS current account and a regular saver in two days. I had to wait for the activation code to get online. I didn't know you could use a Halifax login, but having another current account might be useful in the future

So I have Halifax but not BoS and would like both RS a/cs. How do you log onto BoS with Halifax? I just get error messages. Did you use website or app?