The Top Regular Savers Discussion Thread

friolento

Kim_13 said:

surreysaver said:

friolento said:

Love Principality. Good RS rates, so easy to give maturity instructions, so reliable in executing these, paying out promptly, even at weekends.

Yes, agreed. You'd think they'd be old-fashioned if you didn't know them, but they're the good bits of old fashioned combined with modernity 

The only thing I don't like about them is that you can't view/amend a maturity instruction online as you can with many others (which would surely be better than them sending out letters by post (which can't be cheap) in which they inexplicably add a zero to the nominated account number (no doubt causing those not familiar with it to worry, contact them and probably still worry until they receive their money.) They send another letter by post once the payment has been sent.

If you need to change or review your maturity instructions, surely you can just call them, or send an internal message? Also, how often do you need to change or review your maturity instructions? 

david72

surreysaver said:

friolento said:

Love Principality. Good RS rates, so easy to give maturity instructions, so reliable in executing these, paying out promptly, even at weekends.

Yes, agreed. You'd think they'd be old-fashioned if you didn't know them, but they're the good bits of old fashioned combined with modernity 

Principality are such a refreshing contrast compared to Scottish Building Society, who have possibly the clunkiest online banking website of any financial institution (with a strong whiff of 'overseen by MD': "No, no, the picture on the login screen still doesn't look big enough on my 4K screen" [1] — when good UI design should really have it that the actual login form is the primary focus of attention, not shunted partly out of the window in smaller browser windows), and who (inexplicably for any modern organisation which would want to grow its customer/deposit base) have most accounts as branch-only, despite having barely as many branches (not open at weekends, or in most cases, even at lunchtimes!) as Stoneybridge Building Society would have…

[1] When many customers are probably using much lower resolution laptops

flaneurs_lobster

Kim_13 said:

surreysaver said:

friolento said:

Love Principality. Good RS rates, so easy to give maturity instructions, so reliable in executing these, paying out promptly, even at weekends.

Yes, agreed. You'd think they'd be old-fashioned if you didn't know them, but they're the good bits of old fashioned combined with modernity 

The only thing I don't like about them is that you can't view/amend a maturity instruction online as you can with many others (which would surely be better than them sending out letters by post (which can't be cheap) in which they inexplicably add a zero to the nominated account number (no doubt causing those not familiar with it to worry, contact them and probably still worry until they receive their money.) They send another letter by post once the payment has been sent.

Yep, would be great if they could find some way to cut down of the mailings. Am I right that some rule makes a paper mailing mandatory on an account closing? Every institution seems to do so, regardless of "paperless" settings?

clairec666

Kim_13 said:

surreysaver said:

friolento said:

Love Principality. Good RS rates, so easy to give maturity instructions, so reliable in executing these, paying out promptly, even at weekends.

Yes, agreed. You'd think they'd be old-fashioned if you didn't know them, but they're the good bits of old fashioned combined with modernity 

The only thing I don't like about them is that you can't view/amend a maturity instruction online as you can with many others (which would surely be better than them sending out letters by post (which can't be cheap) in which they inexplicably add a zero to the nominated account number (no doubt causing those not familiar with it to worry, contact them and probably still worry until they receive their money.) They send another letter by post once the payment has been sent.

Yes, I'd prefer a reduction in the amount of paper wastage - two recent maturities, so two sets of maturity instructions and leaflets, then another two sets of "thank you for submitting your maturity instructions" etc.

And it would be nice to alter, or even just check, your maturity instructions online after submitting.

friolento said:

Kim_13 said:

surreysaver said:

friolento said:

Love Principality. Good RS rates, so easy to give maturity instructions, so reliable in executing these, paying out promptly, even at weekends.

Yes, agreed. You'd think they'd be old-fashioned if you didn't know them, but they're the good bits of old fashioned combined with modernity 

The only thing I don't like about them is that you can't view/amend a maturity instruction online as you can with many others (which would surely be better than them sending out letters by post (which can't be cheap) in which they inexplicably add a zero to the nominated account number (no doubt causing those not familiar with it to worry, contact them and probably still worry until they receive their money.) They send another letter by post once the payment has been sent.

If you need to change or review your maturity instructions, surely you can just call them, or send an internal message? Also, how often do you need to change or review your maturity instructions? 

I reckon most of us would like to avoid direct contact, in case it draws attention to the number of accounts we have...

wmb194

david72 said:

surreysaver said:

friolento said:

Love Principality. Good RS rates, so easy to give maturity instructions, so reliable in executing these, paying out promptly, even at weekends.

Yes, agreed. You'd think they'd be old-fashioned if you didn't know them, but they're the good bits of old fashioned combined with modernity 

Principality are such a refreshing contrast compared to Scottish Building Society, who have possibly the clunkiest online banking website of any financial institution (with a strong whiff of 'overseen by MD': "No, no, the picture on the login screen still doesn't look big enough on my 4K screen" [1] — when good UI design should really have it that the actual login form is the primary focus of attention, not shunted partly out of the window in smaller browser windows), and who (inexplicably for any modern organisation which would want to grow its customer/deposit base) have most accounts as branch-only, despite having barely as many branches (not open at weekends, or in most cases, even at lunchtimes!) as Stoneybridge Building Society would have…

[1] When many customers are probably using much lower resolution laptops

I think that's a quirk of the software they're using. Monmouthshire appears to use the same and has the same UI. https://myaccounts.monbs.com/Authentication/Login?ReturnUrl=/?

Section62

Kim_13 said:

surreysaver said:

friolento said:

Love Principality. Good RS rates, so easy to give maturity instructions, so reliable in executing these, paying out promptly, even at weekends.

Yes, agreed. You'd think they'd be old-fashioned if you didn't know them, but they're the good bits of old fashioned combined with modernity 

The only thing I don't like about them is that you can't view/amend a maturity instruction online as you can with many others....

Principality

I agree with that, but I also have concerns about their 'Your transactions' listing in online banking.  The number of transactions/oldest transaction available to view online seems to be variable, and there seems to be no way of viewing older transactions (even within the last 12 months) if the limit (whatever it is) has been exceeded.  Clicking the link for "Print this page for your records" sometimes adds in some of the older transactions, but still not something the user can control.

I've also got some examples where transactions have gone missing (i.e. there's a gap in the listing) since a previous download.

I'm reluctant to bother customer services with a query about why this happens, and the "Request a statement" option on the 'Account Services' menu looks very much like it might generate a manual task in the back office, so again not an attractive option (especially if it produces another bit of paper).

20122013

Pickledonionlover said:

PowerSavingMode said:

Bridlington1 said:

clairec666 said:

Bridlington1 said:

For the RS nerds among you, I thought I'd mention this:

It appears there's been something of a ``RS drought" of late. The eagle-eyed among you might've noticed that that there hasn't been a single RS launched that is eligible to enter p1 of my thread since 14th November.

If I am not mistaken the previous longest gap between eligible RSs being launched was in May, when there were no eligible RSs launched between 15th and 29th May inclusive.

If another RS isn't launched by the end of the month then that'll be the longest I've gone without adding a new RS to the list since I took over the thread, this could well happen given 1st December is Monday and it's rare RSs are launched over the weekend.

Moreover if you look at the accounts that have been added to p1 of the thread in most recent to oldest:
14/11/25- Newcastle & Manchester Festive RSs are branch opening only so most shan't've been able to open them.
11/11/25- The two Skipton RSs exclude those who hold RSs already unless they close their RSs first so I can imagine most shan't've opened them.
10/11/25- Mkt Harborough is branch opening only so again few shall've opened it.

You have to go back to 3rd November before you find a RS being launched that everyone was immediately eligible for and that could be opened online, but even that was only at 5% and its appeal may be limited given that it doesn't allow early withdrawals/closure.

Yes, I was thinking it had been quiet. Which is quite useful for me actually, because I don't really have the capacity for any extra accounts right now. Hopefully there'll be some good accounts that pop up in January, as my TSB 6% is maturing and their current offer is only 5%.

From a mathematical/statistical viewpoint, there will always be natural peaks and troughs in activity throughout the year, but it might also be influenced by the upcoming base rate review.

I must confess I'm running short of spare funds. I currently have a lot of capacity at 6% (driven largely by having Loughborough's 1YSS at 6% gobbling up £2k/mth) which is drawing a lot of funds out of my lower RSs to the point where I am now nibbling into the NatWest/RBS DRSs.

December's RSs are proving to be a difficult balancing act in my case. I've just about managed to fund my accounts north of 5.5% this month but with next month's maturities I have are only enough to cover those north of 6% and about half of those at 6%. Then there's the complication that the BOE base rate could fall again next month, if it does then I'll be needing to speculate which accounts shall fall and by how much, possibly choosing to fund marginally lower RSs speculatively (as I sometimes did when interest rates were on the rise a few years back).

It's a nice problem to have though.

Yes, indeed. 

Might I ask if anyone is bothering to fund cash ISAs — whether to fund regular savers or not?

At present, I am mostly using a flexible CASH ISA to fund my regular savers. As a F/T (unpaid) carer now, I only have income from regular savers and as much tax-free income from my small private pension as I can afford, plus occasional income withdrawn from a considerably smaller S&S ISA.

As the equivalent (accessible) savings product with a savings rate to beat the CASH ISA I have is 4.975%, I am wondering whether it is worth bothering transfer out to another flexible ISA with a higher rate (one that offer the equivalent of a 5.525% non-ISA saver -- for now!) as my bonus rate ends mid-Feb 2026. But I think I am overthinking and confusing myself...

Perhaps it makes more sense to just fund save RS accounts at 5% and above, as I often dip down to £0 in the CASH ISA funding RS accounts at the beginning of each month and then replacing said funds as others mature.

Exactly what I do.

I pay circa £13k each month from a Virgin flexible ISA at 4.11% (equivalent to 5.13%) to a third party C/A to cover the RS.

So my threshold for new (and current ) RS is this 5.13%.

On Monday I'll have £50 left in the ISA but that'll get bumped up to circa £12k with maturities this next month.

👍 

will there be tax to pay from the interested earned from the RS? even though the funds are from a Flexi Cash ISA?

Pickledonionlover

20122013 said:

Pickledonionlover said:

PowerSavingMode said:

Bridlington1 said:

clairec666 said:

Bridlington1 said:

For the RS nerds among you, I thought I'd mention this:

It appears there's been something of a ``RS drought" of late. The eagle-eyed among you might've noticed that that there hasn't been a single RS launched that is eligible to enter p1 of my thread since 14th November.

If I am not mistaken the previous longest gap between eligible RSs being launched was in May, when there were no eligible RSs launched between 15th and 29th May inclusive.

If another RS isn't launched by the end of the month then that'll be the longest I've gone without adding a new RS to the list since I took over the thread, this could well happen given 1st December is Monday and it's rare RSs are launched over the weekend.

Moreover if you look at the accounts that have been added to p1 of the thread in most recent to oldest:
14/11/25- Newcastle & Manchester Festive RSs are branch opening only so most shan't've been able to open them.
11/11/25- The two Skipton RSs exclude those who hold RSs already unless they close their RSs first so I can imagine most shan't've opened them.
10/11/25- Mkt Harborough is branch opening only so again few shall've opened it.

You have to go back to 3rd November before you find a RS being launched that everyone was immediately eligible for and that could be opened online, but even that was only at 5% and its appeal may be limited given that it doesn't allow early withdrawals/closure.

Yes, I was thinking it had been quiet. Which is quite useful for me actually, because I don't really have the capacity for any extra accounts right now. Hopefully there'll be some good accounts that pop up in January, as my TSB 6% is maturing and their current offer is only 5%.

From a mathematical/statistical viewpoint, there will always be natural peaks and troughs in activity throughout the year, but it might also be influenced by the upcoming base rate review.

I must confess I'm running short of spare funds. I currently have a lot of capacity at 6% (driven largely by having Loughborough's 1YSS at 6% gobbling up £2k/mth) which is drawing a lot of funds out of my lower RSs to the point where I am now nibbling into the NatWest/RBS DRSs.

December's RSs are proving to be a difficult balancing act in my case. I've just about managed to fund my accounts north of 5.5% this month but with next month's maturities I have are only enough to cover those north of 6% and about half of those at 6%. Then there's the complication that the BOE base rate could fall again next month, if it does then I'll be needing to speculate which accounts shall fall and by how much, possibly choosing to fund marginally lower RSs speculatively (as I sometimes did when interest rates were on the rise a few years back).

It's a nice problem to have though.

Yes, indeed. 

Might I ask if anyone is bothering to fund cash ISAs — whether to fund regular savers or not?

At present, I am mostly using a flexible CASH ISA to fund my regular savers. As a F/T (unpaid) carer now, I only have income from regular savers and as much tax-free income from my small private pension as I can afford, plus occasional income withdrawn from a considerably smaller S&S ISA.

As the equivalent (accessible) savings product with a savings rate to beat the CASH ISA I have is 4.975%, I am wondering whether it is worth bothering transfer out to another flexible ISA with a higher rate (one that offer the equivalent of a 5.525% non-ISA saver -- for now!) as my bonus rate ends mid-Feb 2026. But I think I am overthinking and confusing myself...

Perhaps it makes more sense to just fund save RS accounts at 5% and above, as I often dip down to £0 in the CASH ISA funding RS accounts at the beginning of each month and then replacing said funds as others mature.

Exactly what I do.

I pay circa £13k each month from a Virgin flexible ISA at 4.11% (equivalent to 5.13%) to a third party C/A to cover the RS.

So my threshold for new (and current ) RS is this 5.13%.

On Monday I'll have £50 left in the ISA but that'll get bumped up to circa £12k with maturities this next month.

👍 

will there be tax to pay from the interested earned from the RS? even though the funds are from a Flexi Cash ISA?

The funds are taxable (if you exceed your own threshold) only for the period its in the RS i.e. not whilst it's within the ISA

molerat

20122013 said:

will there be tax to pay from the interested earned from the RS? even though the funds are from a Flexi Cash ISA?

Any interest earned outside the ISA is taxable.

surreysaver

20122013 said:

Pickledonionlover said:

PowerSavingMode said:

Bridlington1 said:

clairec666 said:

Bridlington1 said:

For the RS nerds among you, I thought I'd mention this:

It appears there's been something of a ``RS drought" of late. The eagle-eyed among you might've noticed that that there hasn't been a single RS launched that is eligible to enter p1 of my thread since 14th November.

If I am not mistaken the previous longest gap between eligible RSs being launched was in May, when there were no eligible RSs launched between 15th and 29th May inclusive.

If another RS isn't launched by the end of the month then that'll be the longest I've gone without adding a new RS to the list since I took over the thread, this could well happen given 1st December is Monday and it's rare RSs are launched over the weekend.

Moreover if you look at the accounts that have been added to p1 of the thread in most recent to oldest:
14/11/25- Newcastle & Manchester Festive RSs are branch opening only so most shan't've been able to open them.
11/11/25- The two Skipton RSs exclude those who hold RSs already unless they close their RSs first so I can imagine most shan't've opened them.
10/11/25- Mkt Harborough is branch opening only so again few shall've opened it.

You have to go back to 3rd November before you find a RS being launched that everyone was immediately eligible for and that could be opened online, but even that was only at 5% and its appeal may be limited given that it doesn't allow early withdrawals/closure.

Yes, I was thinking it had been quiet. Which is quite useful for me actually, because I don't really have the capacity for any extra accounts right now. Hopefully there'll be some good accounts that pop up in January, as my TSB 6% is maturing and their current offer is only 5%.

From a mathematical/statistical viewpoint, there will always be natural peaks and troughs in activity throughout the year, but it might also be influenced by the upcoming base rate review.

I must confess I'm running short of spare funds. I currently have a lot of capacity at 6% (driven largely by having Loughborough's 1YSS at 6% gobbling up £2k/mth) which is drawing a lot of funds out of my lower RSs to the point where I am now nibbling into the NatWest/RBS DRSs.

December's RSs are proving to be a difficult balancing act in my case. I've just about managed to fund my accounts north of 5.5% this month but with next month's maturities I have are only enough to cover those north of 6% and about half of those at 6%. Then there's the complication that the BOE base rate could fall again next month, if it does then I'll be needing to speculate which accounts shall fall and by how much, possibly choosing to fund marginally lower RSs speculatively (as I sometimes did when interest rates were on the rise a few years back).

It's a nice problem to have though.

Yes, indeed. 

Might I ask if anyone is bothering to fund cash ISAs — whether to fund regular savers or not?

At present, I am mostly using a flexible CASH ISA to fund my regular savers. As a F/T (unpaid) carer now, I only have income from regular savers and as much tax-free income from my small private pension as I can afford, plus occasional income withdrawn from a considerably smaller S&S ISA.

As the equivalent (accessible) savings product with a savings rate to beat the CASH ISA I have is 4.975%, I am wondering whether it is worth bothering transfer out to another flexible ISA with a higher rate (one that offer the equivalent of a 5.525% non-ISA saver -- for now!) as my bonus rate ends mid-Feb 2026. But I think I am overthinking and confusing myself...

Perhaps it makes more sense to just fund save RS accounts at 5% and above, as I often dip down to £0 in the CASH ISA funding RS accounts at the beginning of each month and then replacing said funds as others mature.

Exactly what I do.

I pay circa £13k each month from a Virgin flexible ISA at 4.11% (equivalent to 5.13%) to a third party C/A to cover the RS.

So my threshold for new (and current ) RS is this 5.13%.

On Monday I'll have £50 left in the ISA but that'll get bumped up to circa £12k with maturities this next month.

👍 

will there be tax to pay from the interested earned from the RS? even though the funds are from a Flexi Cash ISA?

You pay tax on interest that is earned outside an ISA. You do not pay tax on interest earned within an ISA. 
Hence why taxable interest is multiplied my 0.8, and non-taxable interest by 1.25 to obtain the non-taxable/taxable equivalent (assuming basic rate tax)