The Top Regular Savers Discussion Thread

francoghezzi

TheElectricCow said:

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 Monmothshire 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. 

I wouldn't touch Monmouth BS even if they offered 15% interest. We all have our 'no go' places 😉

happybagger

Re: Scottish BS RS

"You cannot currently apply for our Regular Saver account online."

and

"you can only hold one Regular Saver or e-Regular Saver in your name (sole or joint) at any one time."

I wonder if there is a suggestion here that they are ging to introduce a simpler-to-open online version of this in the near future?

35har1old

mhoc 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. Nominated account registered also in no time. Easy, simple, immediate. 

I am on the Progressive page but I cant get onto online accounts - maybe they are already on the weekend shutdown

Likely due to new account launch on Monday online application not being available preventing applications to the current issue

35har1old

DealSeeker11 said:

castle96 said:

OneUser1 said:

Bridlington1 said:

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

Bad news for me stuck with Issue 3 at 5.5% and although withdrawals are allowed it says the account cannot be closed. Plus only one issue of Rainy Day accounts allowed at a time.

Same for me. "can w/d alll but £1 (per T&C) but £25 per advisor... but not close therefore no new/better account !

Progressive BS

I presume you spoke to them today with the knowledge of the upcoming launch of issue 4? £25 is a bit random, it is not the minimum operating amount for any of the previous issues that I can see, makes me think the person you spoke to didn’t really know what they were talking about… 

They dropped our rates previously and we accepted that’s part of the deal because it’s variable, but when they decide to put up the rate they’re happy for us to lose out. Odd that a building society would behave this way, not illegal, but hardly ethical. 

HSBC did the same last year you could close the regular saver but the interest received would have been reduced 

35har1old

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.

The online excess application has been suspended likely due to new account launch Monday preventing anyone making the mistake of opening  the current Rainy Day Saver

35har1old

francoghezzi said:

TheElectricCow said:

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 Monmothshire 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. 

I wouldn't touch Monmouth BS even if they offered 15% interest. We all have our 'no go' places 😉

francoghezzi said:

TheElectricCow said:

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 Monmothshire 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. 

I wouldn't touch Monmouth BS even if they offered 15% interest. We all have our 'no go' places 😉

Both options are available to logon WhatsApp not required

allegro120

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?

Progressive
I had issue 1 and currently have issue 3.  Opened both on line. I'm not a resident of NI.

The only problem I had was at the beginning, they had some kind of glitch so I couldn't set up online access, I called them and they resolved it straight away because they already knew what the problem was. After that everything was great.

DealSeeker11

35har1old said:

DealSeeker11 said:

castle96 said:

OneUser1 said:

Bridlington1 said:

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

Bad news for me stuck with Issue 3 at 5.5% and although withdrawals are allowed it says the account cannot be closed. Plus only one issue of Rainy Day accounts allowed at a time.

Same for me. "can w/d alll but £1 (per T&C) but £25 per advisor... but not close therefore no new/better account !

Progressive BS

I presume you spoke to them today with the knowledge of the upcoming launch of issue 4? £25 is a bit random, it is not the minimum operating amount for any of the previous issues that I can see, makes me think the person you spoke to didn’t really know what they were talking about… 

They dropped our rates previously and we accepted that’s part of the deal because it’s variable, but when they decide to put up the rate they’re happy for us to lose out. Odd that a building society would behave this way, not illegal, but hardly ethical. 

HSBC did the same last year you could close the regular saver but the interest received would have been reduced 

HSBC RS is also fixed rate, you know where you stand when you sign up, which is why I chose not to have it.

A variable savings account though..?

Speculator

Speculator said:

Speculator said:

At around 4am, sent 3 payments manually to regular savers by FP from 1st Direct. Two to Principality and one to Virgin.

The two to Principality was credited within a few hours as expected. However, still waiting for the Virgin £250 to be credited 7 hrs later. Bank details 100% correct and passed CoP. First time I've tried sending from 1st Direct. Will go back to Santander next month.

Just chatted to 1st Direct in case they blocked the payment for checks. However, they confirmed the payment left their end as normal and to give it until end of day. If no joy, they will do a trace.

Chatted to Virgin but nothing their end. They said to contact sending bank.

Now 11hrs since I made the payment. I've made literally hundreds of Faster payments and have never had this problem  before.

edit: just did a test £1 payment from 1st Direct to my Virgin current a/c and as expected, it was instant.

Contacted First Direct again at 7pm and  online chat said I must wait until the end of day before I can ask them to initiate a trace on the missing £250.

Just logged into First Direct and my balance has increased by £250 and the £250 transfer to my Virgin regular has disappeared, as though the transfer never happened in the first place.

No idea what happened. 

Quickly transferred the £250 to my Nationwide current (an existing payee) then £250 from Nationwide to Virgin. (Safer bet because Virgin now part of Nationwide)

Never trying 1st Direct to Virgin again!

allegro120

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.

I can't think of any benefit in opening EA, they will open one for you at maturity anyway (assuming issue 4 will have the same t&c).