The Top Regular Savers Discussion Thread

clairec666

ForumUser7 said:

soulsaver said:

ForumUser7 said:

soulsaver said:

ForumUser7 said:

trickydicky14 said:

ForumUser7 said:

trickydicky14 said:

Kim_13 said:

Born2Save_3 said:

gt94sss2 said:

gt94sss2 said:

Bridlington1 said:

HRBS Christmas RS to be launched 1/11/25

The details I've been given:
5% (var)
£100/Mth max
Can skip months 
30 notice on withdrawals which are unlimited 
Branch/post opening but can be viewed online once opened.

They have said they'll send an application pack to me when it's launched 

https://www.hrbs.co.uk/savings-products/christmas-saver-30-day-notice/

Has anyone who requested HRBS post them an application form received anything? 

I requested one via the web form (not via phone) and have not heard anything from them.

HRBS Application

Same here; requested on phone, received within 2 days; no envelope, despite asking for one. They indicate an email address, so I'm going to try returning the completed application by email first, and may just happen to mention being assured of an envelope but one not received.

My profit guesstimator on this one (Total invested times a bit more than half the stated rate) (1300*0.026)=£33.80 profit.  So a bit more profit than a Principality BS 6 month and more effort because it involves passbooks and no free envelopes.  Still if you're not a member yet there may be something good in the future.

Some discussion on HRBS, including envelopes here :

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80006228/#Comment_80006228

I got a prepaid envelope with the maturity pack (30 Day Notice Issue 1) which I still have, as it was possible to get funds out online once the account had morphed into an Easy Access. Provided no withdrawals are needed, it should only cost one stamp which is effectively reimbursed at the end.

Still a no from me as I have plenty of capacity in Melton Issue 5 at 5%, which is open ended and doesn't require notice. Speaking of Melton, their postal application products are back online, so it follows that the lack of a currently available RS indicates that the next one would accept online applications.

Can someone remind me why I have a note saying don't put more than 6k in to Melton issue 5. I can't remember, don't they pay interest over this amount? I currently have around 4.5k in this account.

The interest rate is tiered. At the time I opened it, £6,000+ only earned 2.5% on the portion over £6k.

Thank you for that info, I don't suppose you know if interest is included in that 6k figure do you?

This is from the terms:

£0-£5,999 5.00% gross / 5.00% AER

£6,000+ 2.50% gross / 2.50% AER

The interest rate on this account is tiered.

Interest, is payable annually on 31 May and can be added to the account,

transferred to your bank account or transferred to an existing Melton

Building Society savings account.

As shown in the table above, for balances up to £5,999.99 you will earn

interest at a rate of 5.00%, on any further savings beyond £6,000 you will

earn an interest rate of 2.50%.

For example, an account with a balance of £7,000, the first £5,999.99 of

the balance will earn interest at a rate of 5.00% and the remaining

£1000.01 will earn interest at a rate of 2.50%.

I would assume the full balance, including interest earned, is considered for interest tier purposes. That’s the assumption I’m operating on at least, but not sure.

Melton RS5

Don't think so:

"Based on the current rate of interest, if you deposited £500 on the 1st of each calendar month, after 24 months you would have £12,548.19. "

 

Explanation? Are you saying that they don't include interest in that 6k figure?

I'm saying by my maths, they've not paid 5% on the balance above £6k, whether that be interest earned or deposits.

I agree. I confirmed to OP that 2.5% is paid on balances above £6k, and thought the full balance (interest and deposits) was considered in defining these tiers (it isn't like 6k of deposits and then the sum of interest is all calculated at 5%, and the reminder at 2.5%, just 6k of funds in the account are calculated at 5%).

I would assume the full balance, including interest earned, is considered for interest tier purposes. - They don't consider accumulated interest separately.

I would assume that it works in a similar way to Natwest's digital regular saver - i.e. any interest that takes you over the limit earns a lower rate of interest.

Don't necessarily trust the "predicted balance" calculation, they might have over-simplified the calculation somewhat and failed to take into account the lower interest rate on higher balances.

soulsaver

I was referring to something in the trail...


Yes I should have cogitated your post longer...

The upside being how many posts have been generated agreeing &
testing (rough) maths. Isn't that a pleasant change on here...

shirley999

clairec666 said:

ForumUser7 said:

soulsaver said:

ForumUser7 said:

soulsaver said:

ForumUser7 said:

trickydicky14 said:

ForumUser7 said:

trickydicky14 said:

Kim_13 said:

Born2Save_3 said:

gt94sss2 said:

gt94sss2 said:

Bridlington1 said:

HRBS Christmas RS to be launched 1/11/25

The details I've been given:
5% (var)
£100/Mth max
Can skip months 
30 notice on withdrawals which are unlimited 
Branch/post opening but can be viewed online once opened.

They have said they'll send an application pack to me when it's launched 

https://www.hrbs.co.uk/savings-products/christmas-saver-30-day-notice/

Has anyone who requested HRBS post them an application form received anything? 

I requested one via the web form (not via phone) and have not heard anything from them.

HRBS Application

Same here; requested on phone, received within 2 days; no envelope, despite asking for one. They indicate an email address, so I'm going to try returning the completed application by email first, and may just happen to mention being assured of an envelope but one not received.

My profit guesstimator on this one (Total invested times a bit more than half the stated rate) (1300*0.026)=£33.80 profit.  So a bit more profit than a Principality BS 6 month and more effort because it involves passbooks and no free envelopes.  Still if you're not a member yet there may be something good in the future.

Some discussion on HRBS, including envelopes here :

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80006228/#Comment_80006228

I got a prepaid envelope with the maturity pack (30 Day Notice Issue 1) which I still have, as it was possible to get funds out online once the account had morphed into an Easy Access. Provided no withdrawals are needed, it should only cost one stamp which is effectively reimbursed at the end.

Still a no from me as I have plenty of capacity in Melton Issue 5 at 5%, which is open ended and doesn't require notice. Speaking of Melton, their postal application products are back online, so it follows that the lack of a currently available RS indicates that the next one would accept online applications.

Can someone remind me why I have a note saying don't put more than 6k in to Melton issue 5. I can't remember, don't they pay interest over this amount? I currently have around 4.5k in this account.

The interest rate is tiered. At the time I opened it, £6,000+ only earned 2.5% on the portion over £6k.

Thank you for that info, I don't suppose you know if interest is included in that 6k figure do you?

This is from the terms:

£0-£5,999 5.00% gross / 5.00% AER

£6,000+ 2.50% gross / 2.50% AER

The interest rate on this account is tiered.

Interest, is payable annually on 31 May and can be added to the account,

transferred to your bank account or transferred to an existing Melton

Building Society savings account.

As shown in the table above, for balances up to £5,999.99 you will earn

interest at a rate of 5.00%, on any further savings beyond £6,000 you will

earn an interest rate of 2.50%.

For example, an account with a balance of £7,000, the first £5,999.99 of

the balance will earn interest at a rate of 5.00% and the remaining

£1000.01 will earn interest at a rate of 2.50%.

I would assume the full balance, including interest earned, is considered for interest tier purposes. That’s the assumption I’m operating on at least, but not sure.

Melton RS5

Don't think so:

"Based on the current rate of interest, if you deposited £500 on the 1st of each calendar month, after 24 months you would have £12,548.19. "

 

Explanation? Are you saying that they don't include interest in that 6k figure?

I'm saying by my maths, they've not paid 5% on the balance above £6k, whether that be interest earned or deposits.

I agree. I confirmed to OP that 2.5% is paid on balances above £6k, and thought the full balance (interest and deposits) was considered in defining these tiers (it isn't like 6k of deposits and then the sum of interest is all calculated at 5%, and the reminder at 2.5%, just 6k of funds in the account are calculated at 5%).

I would assume the full balance, including interest earned, is considered for interest tier purposes. - They don't consider accumulated interest separately.

I would assume that it works in a similar way to Natwest's digital regular saver - i.e. any interest that takes you over the limit earns a lower rate of interest.

Don't necessarily trust the "predicted balance" calculation, they might have over-simplified the calculation somewhat and failed to take into account the lower interest rate on higher balances.

I've been thinking for a while that I should reduce the balance kept in Natwest RS below the £5,000, by the amount of monthly interest.  Similarly with the Melton but not reached the £6,000 there yet.

clairec666

shirley999 said:

clairec666 said:

ForumUser7 said:

soulsaver said:

ForumUser7 said:

soulsaver said:

ForumUser7 said:

trickydicky14 said:

ForumUser7 said:

trickydicky14 said:

Kim_13 said:

Born2Save_3 said:

gt94sss2 said:

gt94sss2 said:

Bridlington1 said:

HRBS Christmas RS to be launched 1/11/25

The details I've been given:
5% (var)
£100/Mth max
Can skip months 
30 notice on withdrawals which are unlimited 
Branch/post opening but can be viewed online once opened.

They have said they'll send an application pack to me when it's launched 

https://www.hrbs.co.uk/savings-products/christmas-saver-30-day-notice/

Has anyone who requested HRBS post them an application form received anything? 

I requested one via the web form (not via phone) and have not heard anything from them.

HRBS Application

Same here; requested on phone, received within 2 days; no envelope, despite asking for one. They indicate an email address, so I'm going to try returning the completed application by email first, and may just happen to mention being assured of an envelope but one not received.

My profit guesstimator on this one (Total invested times a bit more than half the stated rate) (1300*0.026)=£33.80 profit.  So a bit more profit than a Principality BS 6 month and more effort because it involves passbooks and no free envelopes.  Still if you're not a member yet there may be something good in the future.

Some discussion on HRBS, including envelopes here :

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80006228/#Comment_80006228

I got a prepaid envelope with the maturity pack (30 Day Notice Issue 1) which I still have, as it was possible to get funds out online once the account had morphed into an Easy Access. Provided no withdrawals are needed, it should only cost one stamp which is effectively reimbursed at the end.

Still a no from me as I have plenty of capacity in Melton Issue 5 at 5%, which is open ended and doesn't require notice. Speaking of Melton, their postal application products are back online, so it follows that the lack of a currently available RS indicates that the next one would accept online applications.

Can someone remind me why I have a note saying don't put more than 6k in to Melton issue 5. I can't remember, don't they pay interest over this amount? I currently have around 4.5k in this account.

The interest rate is tiered. At the time I opened it, £6,000+ only earned 2.5% on the portion over £6k.

Thank you for that info, I don't suppose you know if interest is included in that 6k figure do you?

This is from the terms:

£0-£5,999 5.00% gross / 5.00% AER

£6,000+ 2.50% gross / 2.50% AER

The interest rate on this account is tiered.

Interest, is payable annually on 31 May and can be added to the account,

transferred to your bank account or transferred to an existing Melton

Building Society savings account.

As shown in the table above, for balances up to £5,999.99 you will earn

interest at a rate of 5.00%, on any further savings beyond £6,000 you will

earn an interest rate of 2.50%.

For example, an account with a balance of £7,000, the first £5,999.99 of

the balance will earn interest at a rate of 5.00% and the remaining

£1000.01 will earn interest at a rate of 2.50%.

I would assume the full balance, including interest earned, is considered for interest tier purposes. That’s the assumption I’m operating on at least, but not sure.

Melton RS5

Don't think so:

"Based on the current rate of interest, if you deposited £500 on the 1st of each calendar month, after 24 months you would have £12,548.19. "

 

Explanation? Are you saying that they don't include interest in that 6k figure?

I'm saying by my maths, they've not paid 5% on the balance above £6k, whether that be interest earned or deposits.

I agree. I confirmed to OP that 2.5% is paid on balances above £6k, and thought the full balance (interest and deposits) was considered in defining these tiers (it isn't like 6k of deposits and then the sum of interest is all calculated at 5%, and the reminder at 2.5%, just 6k of funds in the account are calculated at 5%).

I would assume the full balance, including interest earned, is considered for interest tier purposes. - They don't consider accumulated interest separately.

I would assume that it works in a similar way to Natwest's digital regular saver - i.e. any interest that takes you over the limit earns a lower rate of interest.

Don't necessarily trust the "predicted balance" calculation, they might have over-simplified the calculation somewhat and failed to take into account the lower interest rate on higher balances.

I've been thinking for a while that I should reduce the balance kept in Natwest RS below the £5,000, by the amount of monthly interest.  Similarly with the Melton but not reached the £6,000 there yet.

Well, if you want to absolutely optimise interest, you can cream off the interest every month to keep everything at the higher rate.

ChewyyBacca

NewCastle & Manchester BS

Anyone else recently received Secure messages & Post to confirm correct mobile number asap?

Manchester RS opened in Sep 2025 & I can see all updated in my online Banking-> Profile-> Contact number
I have a letter through post & a secure message on internet banking.

Newcastle BS first acct opened in Dec 2025, I dont remember if the application for Monument Saver needed all the details to be confirmed. But I checked on internet banking, the correct number is updated in the online profile. They have sent two secure messages so far.

s71hj

clairec666 said:

shirley999 said:

clairec666 said:

ForumUser7 said:

soulsaver said:

ForumUser7 said:

soulsaver said:

ForumUser7 said:

trickydicky14 said:

ForumUser7 said:

trickydicky14 said:

Kim_13 said:

Born2Save_3 said:

gt94sss2 said:

gt94sss2 said:

Bridlington1 said:

HRBS Christmas RS to be launched 1/11/25

The details I've been given:
5% (var)
£100/Mth max
Can skip months 
30 notice on withdrawals which are unlimited 
Branch/post opening but can be viewed online once opened.

They have said they'll send an application pack to me when it's launched 

https://www.hrbs.co.uk/savings-products/christmas-saver-30-day-notice/

Has anyone who requested HRBS post them an application form received anything? 

I requested one via the web form (not via phone) and have not heard anything from them.

HRBS Application

Same here; requested on phone, received within 2 days; no envelope, despite asking for one. They indicate an email address, so I'm going to try returning the completed application by email first, and may just happen to mention being assured of an envelope but one not received.

My profit guesstimator on this one (Total invested times a bit more than half the stated rate) (1300*0.026)=£33.80 profit.  So a bit more profit than a Principality BS 6 month and more effort because it involves passbooks and no free envelopes.  Still if you're not a member yet there may be something good in the future.

Some discussion on HRBS, including envelopes here :

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80006228/#Comment_80006228

I got a prepaid envelope with the maturity pack (30 Day Notice Issue 1) which I still have, as it was possible to get funds out online once the account had morphed into an Easy Access. Provided no withdrawals are needed, it should only cost one stamp which is effectively reimbursed at the end.

Still a no from me as I have plenty of capacity in Melton Issue 5 at 5%, which is open ended and doesn't require notice. Speaking of Melton, their postal application products are back online, so it follows that the lack of a currently available RS indicates that the next one would accept online applications.

Can someone remind me why I have a note saying don't put more than 6k in to Melton issue 5. I can't remember, don't they pay interest over this amount? I currently have around 4.5k in this account.

The interest rate is tiered. At the time I opened it, £6,000+ only earned 2.5% on the portion over £6k.

Thank you for that info, I don't suppose you know if interest is included in that 6k figure do you?

This is from the terms:

£0-£5,999 5.00% gross / 5.00% AER

£6,000+ 2.50% gross / 2.50% AER

The interest rate on this account is tiered.

Interest, is payable annually on 31 May and can be added to the account,

transferred to your bank account or transferred to an existing Melton

Building Society savings account.

As shown in the table above, for balances up to £5,999.99 you will earn

interest at a rate of 5.00%, on any further savings beyond £6,000 you will

earn an interest rate of 2.50%.

For example, an account with a balance of £7,000, the first £5,999.99 of

the balance will earn interest at a rate of 5.00% and the remaining

£1000.01 will earn interest at a rate of 2.50%.

I would assume the full balance, including interest earned, is considered for interest tier purposes. That’s the assumption I’m operating on at least, but not sure.

Melton RS5

Don't think so:

"Based on the current rate of interest, if you deposited £500 on the 1st of each calendar month, after 24 months you would have £12,548.19. "

 

Explanation? Are you saying that they don't include interest in that 6k figure?

I'm saying by my maths, they've not paid 5% on the balance above £6k, whether that be interest earned or deposits.

I agree. I confirmed to OP that 2.5% is paid on balances above £6k, and thought the full balance (interest and deposits) was considered in defining these tiers (it isn't like 6k of deposits and then the sum of interest is all calculated at 5%, and the reminder at 2.5%, just 6k of funds in the account are calculated at 5%).

I would assume the full balance, including interest earned, is considered for interest tier purposes. - They don't consider accumulated interest separately.

I would assume that it works in a similar way to Natwest's digital regular saver - i.e. any interest that takes you over the limit earns a lower rate of interest.

Don't necessarily trust the "predicted balance" calculation, they might have over-simplified the calculation somewhat and failed to take into account the lower interest rate on higher balances.

I've been thinking for a while that I should reduce the balance kept in Natwest RS below the £5,000, by the amount of monthly interest.  Similarly with the Melton but not reached the £6,000 there yet.

Well, if you want to absolutely optimise interest, you can cream off the interest every month to keep everything at the higher rate.

Can you opt to pay it away from the account? If so I will do this soon as approaching £5000

happybagger

ChewyyBacca said:

NewCastle & Manchester BS

I did for Manchester a few days after I opened up a new account.

I used to have a Manchester BS account but closed it many years back when they were clearly going down the pan.
When I opened a new account at the taken-over MBS they must have re-used my old contact details as they sent that "please confirm your contact details" email. When I checked my online profile they had my old details, so clearly took no notice of my application form!

clairec666

s71hj said:

clairec666 said:

shirley999 said:

clairec666 said:

ForumUser7 said:

soulsaver said:

ForumUser7 said:

soulsaver said:

ForumUser7 said:

trickydicky14 said:

ForumUser7 said:

trickydicky14 said:

Kim_13 said:

Born2Save_3 said:

gt94sss2 said:

gt94sss2 said:

Bridlington1 said:

HRBS Christmas RS to be launched 1/11/25

The details I've been given:
5% (var)
£100/Mth max
Can skip months 
30 notice on withdrawals which are unlimited 
Branch/post opening but can be viewed online once opened.

They have said they'll send an application pack to me when it's launched 

https://www.hrbs.co.uk/savings-products/christmas-saver-30-day-notice/

Has anyone who requested HRBS post them an application form received anything? 

I requested one via the web form (not via phone) and have not heard anything from them.

HRBS Application

Same here; requested on phone, received within 2 days; no envelope, despite asking for one. They indicate an email address, so I'm going to try returning the completed application by email first, and may just happen to mention being assured of an envelope but one not received.

My profit guesstimator on this one (Total invested times a bit more than half the stated rate) (1300*0.026)=£33.80 profit.  So a bit more profit than a Principality BS 6 month and more effort because it involves passbooks and no free envelopes.  Still if you're not a member yet there may be something good in the future.

Some discussion on HRBS, including envelopes here :

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80006228/#Comment_80006228

I got a prepaid envelope with the maturity pack (30 Day Notice Issue 1) which I still have, as it was possible to get funds out online once the account had morphed into an Easy Access. Provided no withdrawals are needed, it should only cost one stamp which is effectively reimbursed at the end.

Still a no from me as I have plenty of capacity in Melton Issue 5 at 5%, which is open ended and doesn't require notice. Speaking of Melton, their postal application products are back online, so it follows that the lack of a currently available RS indicates that the next one would accept online applications.

Can someone remind me why I have a note saying don't put more than 6k in to Melton issue 5. I can't remember, don't they pay interest over this amount? I currently have around 4.5k in this account.

The interest rate is tiered. At the time I opened it, £6,000+ only earned 2.5% on the portion over £6k.

Thank you for that info, I don't suppose you know if interest is included in that 6k figure do you?

This is from the terms:

£0-£5,999 5.00% gross / 5.00% AER

£6,000+ 2.50% gross / 2.50% AER

The interest rate on this account is tiered.

Interest, is payable annually on 31 May and can be added to the account,

transferred to your bank account or transferred to an existing Melton

Building Society savings account.

As shown in the table above, for balances up to £5,999.99 you will earn

interest at a rate of 5.00%, on any further savings beyond £6,000 you will

earn an interest rate of 2.50%.

For example, an account with a balance of £7,000, the first £5,999.99 of

the balance will earn interest at a rate of 5.00% and the remaining

£1000.01 will earn interest at a rate of 2.50%.

I would assume the full balance, including interest earned, is considered for interest tier purposes. That’s the assumption I’m operating on at least, but not sure.

Melton RS5

Don't think so:

"Based on the current rate of interest, if you deposited £500 on the 1st of each calendar month, after 24 months you would have £12,548.19. "

 

Explanation? Are you saying that they don't include interest in that 6k figure?

I'm saying by my maths, they've not paid 5% on the balance above £6k, whether that be interest earned or deposits.

I agree. I confirmed to OP that 2.5% is paid on balances above £6k, and thought the full balance (interest and deposits) was considered in defining these tiers (it isn't like 6k of deposits and then the sum of interest is all calculated at 5%, and the reminder at 2.5%, just 6k of funds in the account are calculated at 5%).

I would assume the full balance, including interest earned, is considered for interest tier purposes. - They don't consider accumulated interest separately.

I would assume that it works in a similar way to Natwest's digital regular saver - i.e. any interest that takes you over the limit earns a lower rate of interest.

Don't necessarily trust the "predicted balance" calculation, they might have over-simplified the calculation somewhat and failed to take into account the lower interest rate on higher balances.

I've been thinking for a while that I should reduce the balance kept in Natwest RS below the £5,000, by the amount of monthly interest.  Similarly with the Melton but not reached the £6,000 there yet.

Well, if you want to absolutely optimise interest, you can cream off the interest every month to keep everything at the higher rate.

Can you opt to pay it away from the account? If so I will do this soon as approaching £5000

To my knowledge, Natwest DRS has no way of changing where the interest is paid to. If so, it would be very handy, and I'm sure some other forum members would have discovered how to do it by now.

Born2Save_3

Melton BS RS5

I've just registered for the new online access and, I think it has been mentioned before, but there appears to be an ability now to do faster payments from accounts with them.  I could choose the RS5 and my nominated.  I didn't go through with this. I think my plan is that once the balance exceeds £6K, I estimate after 1st Feb 26 payment, transfer the balance above £5999.99 to nominated and then request for interest to be paid to nominated, from then on.

I believe interest is annual and paid on 31st May.

Dizzycap

ChewyyBacca said:

Im still waiting for Scottish BS RS to go online.
Paper application been on the desk for over a month now.

If my memory serves me correctly, didn't someone on the RS forum call Scottish BS regarding the possibility of an online RS for which Scottish BS stated they had no plans in motion, at present, to offer one?
Although the paper application was a complete pain for me, SBS did eventually open a RS for me after 3 weeks  and now I have access to be able to view the account online, which is a bonus.