Regular Savings Accounts: The Best Currently Available List!

refluxer

Bridlington1 said:

Leek BS Regular Saver Issue 3 will rise from 5% to 5.25% from 1/10/23. See:
https://www.leekbs.co.uk/content/images/page/files/Savings Interest Rates (Available Accounts).pdf

Thanks for that - I'd been looking at their site for news fairly regularly, but had pretty-much given up recently. While the Leek BS aren't the snappiest of decision makers when it comes to rate changes following a BoE base rate announcement, taking 6 weeks to announce changes this time (after the BoE's 3rd August meeting) is pretty disappointing, especially considering that the changes will end up taking place a week after the next BoE meeting, where a further increase is possible or even likely.

I do feel like these smaller, local building societies need to be a bit more dynamic in order to compete and therefore stay alive. The days of building societies with mainly passbook-based accounts are clearly numbered but the recent addition of an online banking portal (and some online accounts) is at least a step in the right direction for the Leek BS, I guess.

It looks like the (NLA but once-competitive) Leek BS Flexible Saver will only be increasing from 3.90% to 4.05% - mine has sat with a zero balance for a long time now for obvious reasons but as it's now looking likely that this won't return to being competitive, I'll probably admit defeat on that one and actually close it, which is a shame as it had a couple of advantages - it auto-renews every year (so you don't have to reapply) and a large (£1000) monthly contribution limit.

Catplan

pecunianonolet said:

having been on holiday for 2.5 weeks I have only been scanning through many, many pages so apologies if an answer to my question is already somewhere. 

Applied the day before the Manmouthshire Regular Saver went live for the Easy Access account for myself and the OH. The next day I applied for the Regular Saver and Member Regular Saver in the moment they were live. Once done I did the same for the OH, which was already a different form as they changed it inbetween.

Now back home I had 3 letters and the OH had 2 letters.

I got the Easy Saver letter with account number, signature form and pre paid envelope. Also got the exact same for the Regular Saver.

The third letter contained the letter with account number and passbook for the Exclusive Regular Saver but no signature form or return letter (I guess they assumed it is already on file or will be satisfied with the other letters. No passbook for the regular saver in sight either. Easy Saver letter dated 22nd August and Regular and Exclusive Regular Saver letters dated 24th August.

The OH only received the Easy Saver letter with account number, signature form and pre paid envelope and the exact same for the Regular Saver. No sign of the Exclusive Saver or any passbook. Both of the letters are dated 25th August.

Should we call and ask for the other Exclusive Reg Saver or will this trigger perhaps the closure of my Exclusive Reg Saver?

We haven't paid any money into any of the accounts yet. Should I move £1 in each of them and then register for online access while snail mail delivers the signature letters? Not too keen to move  2 x £300 into each reg saver without having any access or being able to withdraw again. Don't mind £1 for the Easy Saver. 

Do the Reg Savers 12m term start from the first funding or from account opening and dates of the letter or once they received the forms with wet signature?

Why haven’t you funded any accounts yet? Asking as I done similar, I applied for the ERS after I had funded both the ES and R/S accounts thought, I got my ES and R/S same day applied like you for ES prior to release of R/S and ERS, same deal with signature forms though none with ERS. I’m waiting coming on three weeks for online details.

A few reports on here of passbooks going missing, so maybe worth a call, had you funded say the ES I doubt any issues would crop up. As you’d had fulfilled the terms, as it stands I don’t know if you’d trigger anything.

pecunianonolet

Catplan said:

pecunianonolet said:

having been on holiday for 2.5 weeks I have only been scanning through many, many pages so apologies if an answer to my question is already somewhere. 

Applied the day before the Manmouthshire Regular Saver went live for the Easy Access account for myself and the OH. The next day I applied for the Regular Saver and Member Regular Saver in the moment they were live. Once done I did the same for the OH, which was already a different form as they changed it inbetween.

Now back home I had 3 letters and the OH had 2 letters.

I got the Easy Saver letter with account number, signature form and pre paid envelope. Also got the exact same for the Regular Saver.

The third letter contained the letter with account number and passbook for the Exclusive Regular Saver but no signature form or return letter (I guess they assumed it is already on file or will be satisfied with the other letters. No passbook for the regular saver in sight either. Easy Saver letter dated 22nd August and Regular and Exclusive Regular Saver letters dated 24th August.

The OH only received the Easy Saver letter with account number, signature form and pre paid envelope and the exact same for the Regular Saver. No sign of the Exclusive Saver or any passbook. Both of the letters are dated 25th August.

Should we call and ask for the other Exclusive Reg Saver or will this trigger perhaps the closure of my Exclusive Reg Saver?

We haven't paid any money into any of the accounts yet. Should I move £1 in each of them and then register for online access while snail mail delivers the signature letters? Not too keen to move  2 x £300 into each reg saver without having any access or being able to withdraw again. Don't mind £1 for the Easy Saver. 

Do the Reg Savers 12m term start from the first funding or from account opening and dates of the letter or once they received the forms with wet signature?

Why haven’t you funded any accounts yet? Asking as I done similar, I applied for the ERS after I had funded both the ES and R/S accounts thought, I got my ES and R/S same day applied like you for ES prior to release of R/S and ERS, same deal with signature forms though none with ERS. I’m waiting coming on three weeks for online details.

A few reports on here of passbooks going missing, so maybe worth a call, had you funded say the ES I doubt any issues would crop up. As you’d had fulfilled the terms, as it stands I don’t know if you’d trigger anything.

I applied for the accounts online and didn't get any sort of digital communication and 2 days later went on holiday and was out of the country so unable to fund anything without having any sort of data.

granta

refluxer said:

Bridlington1 said:

Leek BS Regular Saver Issue 3 will rise from 5% to 5.25% from 1/10/23. See:
https://www.leekbs.co.uk/content/images/page/files/Savings Interest Rates (Available Accounts).pdf

Thanks for that - I'd been looking at their site for news fairly regularly, but had pretty-much given up recently. While the Leek BS aren't the snappiest of decision makers when it comes to rate changes following a BoE base rate announcement, taking 6 weeks to announce changes this time (after the BoE's 3rd August meeting) is pretty disappointing, especially considering that the changes will end up taking place a week after the next BoE meeting, where a further increase is possible or even likely.

I do feel like these smaller, local building societies need to be a bit more dynamic in order to compete and therefore stay alive. The days of building societies with mainly passbook-based accounts are clearly numbered but the recent addition of an online banking portal (and some online accounts) is at least a step in the right direction for the Leek BS, I guess.

It looks like the (NLA but once-competitive) Leek BS Flexible Saver will only be increasing from 3.90% to 4.05% - mine has sat with a zero balance for a long time now for obvious reasons but as it's now looking likely that this won't return to being competitive, I'll probably admit defeat on that one and actually close it, which is a shame as it had a couple of advantages - it auto-renews every year (so you don't have to reapply) and a large (£1000) monthly contribution limit.

I'm thinking along the same lines for Leek BS (and a few other BS). 
Out of interest, why not just keep it open with a minimum balance in case it does rise, or just to keep membership continuity?

refluxer

granta said:

I'm thinking along the same lines for Leek BS (and a few other BS). 
Out of interest, why not just keep it open with a minimum balance in case it does rise, or just to keep membership continuity?

I'll continue with the Regular Saver provided the rate is similar or better than the best easy access accounts - it's only recently it's lagged behind due to the Santander easy access account being released (at 5.2%) while the Leek BS were stalling for time with their rate increase decision. The reasonably high (£500) monthly contribution and virtually unlimited maximum balance (£50k would take over 8 years to reach at £500/month) still make it attractive enough to me to warrant keeping for now, but I'll obviously keep an eye on easy access rates and assess this as time goes on.

It's the Flexible Saver I'll probably close - this paid a competitive rate a few years ago but it eventually went NLA and has fallen behind and all-but abandoned (rate increase-wise) since the current Regular Saver issue was introduced. I've kept this going with a zero balance for around a year now on the off-chance that the rate might catch up (as monthly contributions aren't compulsory) but it's looking increasingly likely that this won't happen.

granta

refluxer said:

granta said:

I'm thinking along the same lines for Leek BS (and a few other BS). 
Out of interest, why not just keep it open with a minimum balance in case it does rise, or just to keep membership continuity?

I'll continue with the Regular Saver provided the rate is similar or better than the best easy access accounts - it's only recently it's lagged behind due to the Santander easy access account being released (at 5.2%) while the Leek BS were stalling for time with their rate increase decision. The reasonably high (£500) monthly contribution and virtually unlimited maximum balance (£50k would take over 8 years to reach at £500/month) still make it attractive enough to me to warrant keeping for now, but I'll obviously keep an eye on easy access rates and assess this as time goes on.

It's the Flexible Saver I'll probably close - this paid a competitive rate a few years ago but it eventually went NLA and has fallen behind and all-but abandoned (rate increase-wise) since the current Regular Saver issue was introduced. I've kept this going with a zero balance for around a year now on the off-chance that the rate might catch up (as monthly contributions aren't compulsory) but it's looking increasingly likely that this won't happen.

Thanks. I'd forgotten I had two of the Leek Reg Savers and like you intend to keep one. I've been doing slow cull and hadn't got to 'L' yet!

Growingold

pecunianonolet said:

We haven't paid any money into any of the accounts yet. Should I move £1 in each of them and then register for online access while snail mail delivers the signature letters? Not too keen to move  2 x £300 into each reg saver without having any access or being able to withdraw again. Don't mind £1 for the Easy Saver. 

Do the Reg Savers 12m term start from the first funding or from account opening and dates of the letter or once they received the forms with wet signature?

Have had a nightmare with Monmouthshire myself.  As an existing account holder whose online access was blocked .  Requested but aited in vain for the activation code.  Finally got through to them on the phone and I regained online access.  As an afterthought asked them when the 12 mth term ran from date of opening or first deposit.  They said first deposit.  Confirmed in online portal with date of maturity 12mths after first deposit was made.

RobinhoodSavings

Coventry increasing Regular Saver (5) to 5.50% on 18th September. 

Middle_of_the_Road

RobinhoodSavings said:

Coventry increasing Regular Saver (5) to 5.50% on 18th September. 

Was going to stop funding this account, or maybe close it. Will continue now though as that's a big increase from 5.05%. 

Kazza242

Nottingham Building Society has launched a new regular saver, called 'UK Savings Week Regular Saver', paying 6.00%.

• The minimum opening deposit is £10.
• Save up to £250 per month.
• The maximum account balance is £3,250.
• The interest rate on this account is fixed.
• The account is available to open in branch only.
• No withdrawals permitted until the account matures.
• The account matures on the 30/09/2024.

Further details here.