The Top Regular Savers Discussion Thread

charlie12525

Hattie627 said:

Re: Principality (please scroll past if you're not interested in the PBS RS saga)

I've been away for a week and just catching up on this thread and on RS administration.

I have two Principality RS's both maturing on 22nd December. One is a Christmas 2025 RS and the other is a Two Year Healthy Habits RS.

I entered online maturity instructions for both on 8th December, just before heading off. For one of them I asked for a rollover to a (second) Christmas 2026 RS and for the other one a rollover to (another) 6 month RS Issue 4.

I've returned home to a secure message (just one) from Principality rejecting my instructions on the basis that I am already a holder of the rollover account requested. The secure message doesn't quote the relevant account number or identify the account by type (just talks about "regular saver bond"). It does refer to the maturity date of 22nd December but that doesn't help to identify the account to which the message relates as they both mature on 22nd December. 

Not sure where I stand and would prefer not to phone for clarification (for obvious reasons).

Just wondered if anyone else is in this situation and has been able to work out which account the single message relates to.

Why does it matter?
You can't change it.
Just wait until maturity and you will have your answer.

RosieRooBear

kermchem said:

surreysaver said:

The 5% fixed Regular Savers are beginning to look enticing!

In the lead up to yesterday's base rate cut there was press coverage that this might be the first of several cuts in interest rates, so I decided that Halifax Regular Saver at 5.5% FIXED looked like an enticement that might grow over the next 12 months. It was the highest fixed rate that I didn't hold. By summer 2026 5.5% might look good.

I notice that there is some history in this thread about this account and the challenges of opening one, apparently easier if you are a Halifax current account customer, so here is my fresh experience in case anyone else feels 5.5% fixed is worth it.

Spoiler -  if you get to a screen that says something has gone wrong go to branch, then click "back" in your browser and complete the screen that has been jumped over.

Halifax's website says this can be opened online, on app, in branch or by phone. The branch bit is a lie.

I have been a Lloyds customer for decades, and held accounts with other parts of LBG, but never Halifax. Online it suggests that you can use a Lloyds or BoS login to open this account. Also not true. Nor can you use the Lloyds app (not sure anywhere claims you can).

OK, so apply online as a new customer. Complete their "Stage 1" form with personal details. Submit. Web then gives "Stage 2" form, asking how you will fund the account. Submit and then you get a page telling you there has been a problem and please try in branch. I repeated this several times over a couple of days, including in my local branch in front of staff, who are not able to open accounts in branch, but suggested phone or a branch 10 miles away that does offer appointments. Same experience in firefox, safari and edge under win 10, win 11 and ipadOs.

In the end I sat down to try the first form with multiple combinations of mobile and landline phone numbers and e-mail addresses in case I was failing an identity check (remember Lloyds knows me). Getting frustrated at completing form 1 from scratch, I decided to see if the back button in my browser would work at the "unsuccessful go to branch" page, and whoa here comes the never been seen before "Stage 3" form, asking you to agree to the Ts&Cs for this sort code and account number. Click agree and it works.  Within 5 minutes have e-mails confirming RS and associated Everyday saver (where funds empty in December 2026). Both accounts appear in Lloyds app. I funded RS by transfer from Lloyds CA in app.

Text OH who is having coffee and gossip with friend, confirm OH wants one too, and repeat. Only difference is that OH does not have the Lloyds app.

But with the BoE MPC voting only 5:4, will we see more rate cuts?

@kermchem, a massive thank you for “spoiler” about pushing the back button to complete the application. I gave up months ago on trying to open it as it kept giving me the “somethings gone wrong and to try in branch”. My husband managed to open one online but I never could. Never even thought to try the back button but I just did and hey presto it worked and my account is now open 👏👏 so many thanks once again 😁

CricketLady

First Direct 7% regular saver - just a heads up that mine matured on Saturday 13th, the money was available for me to withdraw on Sunday 14th and I was able to request a new one to start on that same day (Sunday).

It still isn't open yet (Friday 19th) which means that First Direct's lead time could be about a week currently for this account. They've sent a lovely apologetic text and when I log in I have a message explaining how inundated they have been for this account, that "one has been reserved for (me)" but that it might take longer to open than usual.

This is all fine by me, but I just thought it might be useful for anyone with one about to mature to know (or if you start an application from scratch.)

Lots of love
xxx

E_zroda

CricketLady said:

First Direct 7% regular saver - just a heads up that mine matured on Saturday 13th, the money was available for me to withdraw on Sunday 14th and I was able to request a new one to start on that same day (Sunday).

It still isn't open yet (Friday 19th) which means that First Direct's lead time could be about a week currently for this account. They've sent a lovely apologetic text and when I log in I have a message explaining how inundated they have been for this account, that "one has been reserved for (me)" but that it might take longer to open than usual.

This is all fine by me, but I just thought it might be useful for anyone with one about to mature to know (or if you start an application from scratch.)

Lots of love
xxx

I personally long ago stopped considering FD 'TOP Service' account provider (as billed by MSE.com) , as in my book this should be measured across systems, as well as the human interactions. Former clearly lags behind,  with the latter also having room for improvement - even though if polls are to be trusted, I am in minority on that

janusd

apologies if @Bridlington1 has already mentioned this (checked but couldn't see anything)..

Natwest / Royal Bank of Scotland dropping the rates of their Digital Regular Saver from 5.50% to 5.25% AER on 19th January for £5k and under; for over £5k, the rate drops from 1.06% to 1.00% AER

s71hj

janusd said:

apologies if @Bridlington1 has already mentioned this (checked but couldn't see anything)..

Natwest / Royal Bank of Scotland dropping the rates of their Digital Regular Saver from 5.50% to 5.25% AER on 19th January for £5k and under; for over £5k, the rate drops from 1.06% to 1.00% AER

Oh flip! Glad I stopped putting in the work on debit card top ups in the Summer. I thought this one would be a bit more sticky compared with accounts that relentlessly drop with rate cuts

RG2015

janusd said:

apologies if @Bridlington1 has already mentioned this (checked but couldn't see anything)..

Natwest / Royal Bank of Scotland dropping the rates of their Digital Regular Saver from 5.50% to 5.25% AER on 19th January for £5k and under; for over £5k, the rate drops from 1.06% to 1.00% AER

Still above £21 per month in interest, excluding February, although the precise amount depends on the number of working days in the month.

Assuming of course a holding of £5,000.

happybagger

@Bridlington1
Apologies if I have missed this if it has already been posted, as I tend to skip through a lot of posts in this thread these days.

Dudley BS have two versions of a Festive Regular Saver
£0 to £250 p/m (though min £50 to open)
Unlimited withdrawals
One online, one branch/post. Looks like both can be opened.
1 year term, 13th deposit permitted, 5.50% variable 

both accounts link from here

topyam

happybagger said:

@Bridlington1
Apologies if I have missed this if it has already been posted, as I tend to skip through a lot of posts in this thread these days.

Dudley BS have two versions of a Festive Regular Saver
£0 to £250 p/m (though min £50 to open)
Unlimited withdrawals
One online, one branch/post. Looks like both can be opened.
1 year term, 13th deposit permitted, 5.50% variable 

both accounts link from here

What's the difference in the two?

masonic

topyam said:

happybagger said:

@Bridlington1
Apologies if I have missed this if it has already been posted, as I tend to skip through a lot of posts in this thread these days.

Dudley BS have two versions of a Festive Regular Saver
£0 to £250 p/m (though min £50 to open)
Unlimited withdrawals
One online, one branch/post. Looks like both can be opened.
1 year term, 13th deposit permitted, 5.50% variable 

both accounts link from here

What's the difference in the two?

Presumably one can be opened online, the other in branch or by post.