The Top Regular Savers Discussion Thread

francoghezzi

jaypers said:

francoghezzi said:

clairec666 said:

Progressive - never had an account with them before, so appreciate others sharing their experiences. 7% is worth snapping up, I don't mind accounts which are a bit slow or quirky for that rate.

Opened an easy saver account with them today to make my life easier on Monday and be already a member. It took 5 minutes, 1 pound sent with my Visa Debit and immediately on the account on line. Identification done on line (have your passport or ID ready), nominated account registered also in no time. Easy, simple, immediate. 

I’m confused as every account I look at indicates it’s for residents of Northern Ireland only. Is that the case?

I live in Scotland and a kind lady on the phone confirmed I could apply on line. Did it and sorted in few minutes. I thought it was only for NI residents myself, but apparently no

Bridlington1

jaypers said:

francoghezzi said:

clairec666 said:

Progressive - never had an account with them before, so appreciate others sharing their experiences. 7% is worth snapping up, I don't mind accounts which are a bit slow or quirky for that rate.

Opened an easy saver account with them today to make my life easier on Monday and be already a member. It took 5 minutes, 1 pound sent with my Visa Debit and immediately on the account on line. Identification done on line (have your passport or ID ready), nominated account registered also in no time. Easy, simple, immediate. 

I’m confused as every account I look at indicates it’s for residents of Northern Ireland only. Is that the case?

Not all. I opened this account when they launched Issue 1 of the Online Regular Rainy Day Saver (then available to existing customers and new customers living in NI).

https://theprogressive.com/savings/instant-access/branch-instant-access-saver-account

ForumUser7

Progressive

Can't see any loopholes to force account closure - i.e. not paying in one month, making too many withdrawals, paying in too much etc.

s71hj

Scottish BS have emailed me and appear to have accepted my application in spite of the non-wet signature.  I will try out my freepost address for sending the cheque! 

clairec666

francoghezzi said:

jaypers said:

francoghezzi said:

clairec666 said:

Progressive - never had an account with them before, so appreciate others sharing their experiences. 7% is worth snapping up, I don't mind accounts which are a bit slow or quirky for that rate.

Opened an easy saver account with them today to make my life easier on Monday and be already a member. It took 5 minutes, 1 pound sent with my Visa Debit and immediately on the account on line. Identification done on line (have your passport or ID ready), nominated account registered also in no time. Easy, simple, immediate. 

I’m confused as every account I look at indicates it’s for residents of Northern Ireland only. Is that the case?

I live in Scotland and a kind lady on the phone confirmed I could apply on line. Did it and sorted in few minutes. I thought it was only for NI residents myself, but apparently no

Progressive
I know nobody has a crystal ball and can't predict specific details of an account that hasn't been released yet, but are there likely to be any restrictions like existing customers only, NI only, etc.? Any benefit in opening an easy access account with them first? For context, I've never had an account with them before, UK not NI resident.

Edit: quick glance at their website and all accounts seem to be post/branch only, so no chance of opening a quick easy access account before Monday.

TheElectricCow

OrangeBlueGreen said:

Kim_13 said:

Bridlington1 said:

Progressive BS to launch issue 4 of their online regular rainy day saver on Monday 6/10/25 at 7%

Never bothered with Progressive as yet as I’d gleaned from here that they’re a bit of a headache to deal with. How bad are they?

I appreciate that experiences will differ but I think I'd say everything feels clunky with them when you compare them to others. I ended up closing my account with them as I'd had enough of it and wouldn't go back whatever rate they offer, just not worth it. They were anything but progressive though of course that is just a name. I did also question myself as to how inclusive they truly are with some of what I would consider clumsy wording on their website.

I too have found myself shifting away from Progressive recently (in favour of Monmouthshire who I’ve found comparatively far smoother). Have cleared out my regular saver with them for now, might keep an account open for future but I don’t expect to deposit any more for the foreseeable.

It was the unexpected change to the WhatsApp 2FA that solidified my decision to go, on principle more than anything else, but quite frankly I just don’t have enough faith in Progressive’s tech in its current state to want to continue dealing with them. Funnily enough they still send me 2FA codes for withdrawal requests via SMS while I log in with an authenticator app.

While everything I’ve done with them so far has eventually worked out, my experience with them has been fraught with more technical issues than any other bank/BS I’ve dealt with to date. Between login issues and unclear error messages relating to withdrawal requests, I didn’t fancy the possibility of ending up with any amount of money potentially stuck with them should their systems decide to have an uncooperative day.

A positive note in their favour is that they accept debit card deposits, although as the Halifax £5 reward extras offer is now done I’ll have no further use for this.

Overall they’re probably a fine enough BS for most here, but not one I’d personally want to  concern myself with unless there was a particularly exceptional offering. 

35har1old

OrangeBlueGreen said:

PowerSavingMode said:

Aidanmc said:

Re Scottish BS
Has everyone who applied via email received a response from them?

Scottish BS RS

Yes; had to send my driving licence via email, only to be told afterwards that all was well and my account would be further processed WHEN they receive my opening deposit ... by mail. Groan. (Now off to find the chequebook in the dusty drawers of old...)

Though of course it does help people who don't have printers, but it does mainly negate the point of having an email application option. What this achieves in the era of COP, I don't know.

Did they give a reference number to quote to be able to match your application to the cheque being sent given that the application could have been sent to a branch for processing? 
Or do you resubmit the printed form?
Does the cheque have to come from nominated account?subjecttocontract said:

We already have the SBS account number & sort code from the t&cs and you provide the reference with your individual account number.

If you are one of the people who sent the application by email they are now asking for a cheque to be sent  to further the application process you are not in the possession of a account number

ForumUser7

s71hj said:

Scottish BS have emailed me and appear to have accepted my application in spite of the non-wet signature.  I will try out my freepost address for sending the cheque! 

Any chance you could share the approx date and time you emailed in your application in please? Still haven't heard from mine!

s71hj

ForumUser7 said:

s71hj said:

Scottish BS have emailed me and appear to have accepted my application in spite of the non-wet signature.  I will try out my freepost address for sending the cheque! 

Any chance you could share the approx date and time you emailed in your application in please? Still haven't heard from mine!

Yesterday 11.27 am

francoghezzi

clairec666 said:

francoghezzi said:

jaypers said:

francoghezzi said:

clairec666 said:

Progressive - never had an account with them before, so appreciate others sharing their experiences. 7% is worth snapping up, I don't mind accounts which are a bit slow or quirky for that rate.

Opened an easy saver account with them today to make my life easier on Monday and be already a member. It took 5 minutes, 1 pound sent with my Visa Debit and immediately on the account on line. Identification done on line (have your passport or ID ready), nominated account registered also in no time. Easy, simple, immediate. 

I’m confused as every account I look at indicates it’s for residents of Northern Ireland only. Is that the case?

I live in Scotland and a kind lady on the phone confirmed I could apply on line. Did it and sorted in few minutes. I thought it was only for NI residents myself, but apparently no

Progressive
I know nobody has a crystal ball and can't predict specific details of an account that hasn't been released yet, but are there likely to be any restrictions like existing customers only, NI only, etc.? Any benefit in opening an easy access account with them first? For context, I've never had an account with them before, UK not NI resident.

Edit: quick glance at their website and all accounts seem to be post/branch only, so no chance of opening a quick easy access account before Monday.

If you follow the on line accounts link you will find the way like I did. I opened the account with £1. Worse case scenario should I, for any reason, not be allowed to the new regular saver, I will have a new membership. There was (at least at 3pm when I was on line) on offer even a bond 1 year 4.12% int that could be open with just £1. I could have done even with that since I was interested in just becoming a member