Regular Savings Accounts: The Best Currently Available List!

Band7

Bridlington1 said:

Monmouthshire BS have launched a Christmas Saver bond at 5.5% (max £200/mth).

Apply by Post only? Are they joking?

Nick_C

Bridlington1 said:

Monmouthshire BS have launched a Christmas Saver bond at 5.5% (max £200/mth).

Key points;

Open in branch or by post.

Fixed interest

• No withdrawals are permitted until 1st October 2023.
• If you close your account before 1st October 2023, the account will not qualify for the 5.50% AER/Gross interest rate. Any interest you have earned will be calculated at 0.20% AER/Gross.

t1redmonkey

I wouldn't usually bother with any 'apply by post' accounts, but I think I will make the effort for a 5.5% one

Edit: Just realised I have 2 branches in my city so I can go to a branch instead (never even noticed their presence here before!).

ForumUser7

Nick_C said:

Bridlington1 said:

Monmouthshire BS have launched a Christmas Saver bond at 5.5% (max £200/mth).

Key points;

Open in branch or by post.

Fixed interest

• No withdrawals are permitted until 1st October 2023.
• If you close your account before 1st October 2023, the account will not qualify for the 5.50% AER/Gross interest rate. Any interest you have earned will be calculated at 0.20% AER/Gross.

This is a very good rate, but I think no penalty-free closure option makes it one of the few I will not apply for...

Wheres_My_Cashback

Bridlington1 said:

Monmouthshire BS have launched a Christmas Saver bond at 5.5% (max £200/mth).

Edit: Ts&Cs below:

Bridlington1 said:

Monmouthshire BS have launched a Christmas Saver bond at 5.5% (max £200/mth).

Edit: Ts&Cs below:

I'd almost given up on Monmouthshire having another decent rate account.

I assume they've changed the opening method to cut out the need for them to send you the application form after you'd applied online as previously. This should meana quicker opening date in theory.

Fortunately I retain pre-paid envelopes just in case needed for times like now.

Bridlington1

Bridlington1 said:

Monmouthshire BS have launched a Christmas Saver bond at 5.5% (max £200/mth).

Edit: Ts&Cs below:

Application form and cheque now in the post. 

10_66

Bridlington1 said:

Bridlington1 said:

Monmouthshire BS have launched a Christmas Saver bond at 5.5% (max £200/mth).

Edit: Ts&Cs below:

Application form and cheque now in the post. 

Unfortunately, the post box is where it'll stay until Saturday, postal strikes today and tomorrow.

Kazza242

Monnouthshire Building Society have also launched a Regular Saver Bond (issue 8) today, paying 3.75% (fixed rate).

The account runs for one year.  It allows monthly deposits of up to £250 per calendar month.  

The maximum balance is £3,000.  It does not allow any withdrawals until after maturity. 

If you close the account before maturity, the account will not qualify for the 3.75% rate.  Any interest you have earned will be calculated at 0.20%.  

The account can only be opened in branch or agency.

https://www.monbs.com/products/regular-saver-bond/

ForumUser7

chris_the_bee said:

where_are_we said:

EssexHebridean said:

trickydicky14 said:

where_are_we said:

Furness RS5 application by post is time consuming. But for 4% and access without loss of interest just about worth it for myself and OH - double the benefit for a little duplication. They told me a certified copy for ID was required. Over cautious in my opinion because we have been with them for a number of years, registered for online, and have everyday saver accounts. We do not pay for certifying, ever, as a matter of principle. However a government benefit letter (winter fuel allowance for us) less than 3 months old backed up by a bank statement is also Ok. 

I'm waiting for my winter fuel letter to arrive, so you can confirm it will be Ok as I.D? Like you, no way am I paying for certified copies.

If the documents required are to meet money laundering regs then a council tax bill is valid for 12 months use rather than just 3 months as most other bills would be. Might help someone as it doesn’t seem to be widely known.

Yes, Council tax bill is valid for 12 months. This is good to know. Generally speaking and in Furness Building Society`s case a council tax bill is in the address verification list. It`s the Identity Verification list that is problematical because it requires original valuable documents (risk losing passport or driving license) or a certified copy (costly, unless you know someone in the right profession). The way round this is a government benefit letter less than 3 months old backed up by an address verification letter which could be a council tax bill less than 12 months old or a bank statement, credit card statement or utility bill (all less than 3 months old). This would satisfy F B Society.

I just opened a Furness account successfully using a Pension entitlement letter. Easy to request get a proof of benefit letter online from DWP. Takes about 5 days to arrive. Can also request another if one is not returned to you. Furness returned my original letter and council tax bill with the passbook.

@chris_the_bee How long from your date of account opening was it until you got your passbook and ID back please? They put my postcode in wrong on the system (despite it being correct in my application form) and that combined with the fact I have not had my ID or passbook or anything back yet is making me very concerned - I do have a tendency to overthink things so all may be well in the end, but for now I'm trying to figure out as much as possible about what to expect. For anyone wondering, say my postcode was AB1 2CD they put AB122CD - it may find its way to me eventually, but who knows.

Bridlington1

ForumUser7 said:

chris_the_bee said:

where_are_we said:

EssexHebridean said:

trickydicky14 said:

where_are_we said:

Furness RS5 application by post is time consuming. But for 4% and access without loss of interest just about worth it for myself and OH - double the benefit for a little duplication. They told me a certified copy for ID was required. Over cautious in my opinion because we have been with them for a number of years, registered for online, and have everyday saver accounts. We do not pay for certifying, ever, as a matter of principle. However a government benefit letter (winter fuel allowance for us) less than 3 months old backed up by a bank statement is also Ok. 

I'm waiting for my winter fuel letter to arrive, so you can confirm it will be Ok as I.D? Like you, no way am I paying for certified copies.

If the documents required are to meet money laundering regs then a council tax bill is valid for 12 months use rather than just 3 months as most other bills would be. Might help someone as it doesn’t seem to be widely known.

Yes, Council tax bill is valid for 12 months. This is good to know. Generally speaking and in Furness Building Society`s case a council tax bill is in the address verification list. It`s the Identity Verification list that is problematical because it requires original valuable documents (risk losing passport or driving license) or a certified copy (costly, unless you know someone in the right profession). The way round this is a government benefit letter less than 3 months old backed up by an address verification letter which could be a council tax bill less than 12 months old or a bank statement, credit card statement or utility bill (all less than 3 months old). This would satisfy F B Society.

I just opened a Furness account successfully using a Pension entitlement letter. Easy to request get a proof of benefit letter online from DWP. Takes about 5 days to arrive. Can also request another if one is not returned to you. Furness returned my original letter and council tax bill with the passbook.

@chris_the_bee How long from your date of account opening was it until you got your passbook and ID back please? They put my postcode in wrong on the system (despite it being correct in my application form) and that combined with the fact I have not had my ID or passbook or anything back yet is making me very concerned - I do have a tendency to overthink things so all may be well in the end, but for now I'm trying to figure out as much as possible about what to expect. For anyone wondering, say my postcode was AB1 2CD they put AB122CD - it may find its way to me eventually, but who knows.

I opened a Furness regular saver about a fortnight ago. I sent off an application form on the Friday and received my passbook back the following Tuesday. I still haven't received by other documents back yet though.

One thing to bear in mind is that the postmen are on strike today and tomorrow and again next Wednesday and Thursday which will cause delays.