Interest on A&L and Abbey current accounts raised

Interest on A&L and Abbey current accounts raised

Santander has increased the rate of interest offered on a number of its current account products.

Santander has announced it is to increase the rates of interest attached to a number of its current accounts.

From today (June 8th), those taking out the Alliance & Leicester Premier Direct Current Account will now receive six per cent interest, a rise of one percentage point from the five per cent which was previously offered.

Santander also reveals that the preferred in-credit rate product from Abbey Current Accounts will additionally provide six per cent interest for new customers, with this rate being fixed for a 12-month period.

Gillian Almond, manager for Abbey and Alliance & Leicester Current Accounts, claims that both banks are bucking the trend in the current account market "by providing even better value at a time when many other providers have reduced the rate they pay to customers with balances to as low as zero per cent".

Such news could be of interest to those looking to make the most of their money as recent research from Abbey Savings revealed the average person is currently saving £120 every month, a fall from the £143 per month tucked away in the first three months of 2009.

Written by Mark HornbyADNFCR-2079-ID-19207479-ADNFCR
Monday, 08 June 2009 00:00
Bookmark and Share

Comments (3)

The comments listed below are opinions held by the individuals posting and are not endorsed by, or representative of opinions held by which4u.co.uk. We cannot be held responsible or liable for the accuracy or content of any comments submitted. We reserve the right to publish, remove or edit comments as we see fit.
  • Miss Angela Turner 2009-06-08 20:18:57
    Why doesn't A & Leicester look after their old customers who have a lot of money with them instead of always giving it to new customers. You will probably find that people who have money with you will find alternative banking where they are looked after. Very disappointed
  • Dave 2009-06-08 20:22:10
    Age concern wrote on 03/04/08 that apparently we're more likely to get divorced than switch bank accounts. I guess people consider it too much hassle to switch account.
  • Mrs L Richards 2009-06-19 11:36:33
    I first had an account (Girobank) 40 years ago and have never switched, I like Miss Angela Turner, feel very let down and dissappointed that I am not rewarded for my loyalty. I know after all this time that you feel assured that I will not change my accounts, but this isn't the attitude. New customers always seem to gain more.

Make a comment on this article

Comment
Please enter the following letters in the box below.
We're very sorry for this but we just need to ensure
that you are not a computer.

Top 5 Current Accounts

Provider
AER
Min Bal
O/D Rate
O/D Buffer
Apply
View Full Table >
0%
£1
No Offer
£100
0.50%
£1
0%
for life
£200
5%
£1
0%
for 12 mths
£5,000
0%
£1
0%
N/A
No Offer
0%
£1
No Offer
N/A
£100

Natwest Select

NatWest
  • Free day-to-day banking without subscription charges
  • Overdraft available subject to eligibility, giving your finances some breathing space
  • Chequebook available subject to eligibility; handy when cash or cards aren't convenient
  • Monthly statements with all your transactions and your balance - by post or online. Or pick up a mini-statement from our cash machines

The Co-operative Current Account Plus

Co-operative
  • ***You must deposit at least £800 per month***
  • Interest on all balances tracks at 0.5% below the Bank of England Base Rate, guaranteed for the life of your Current Account.
  • UK call centres open 24/7, 365 days a year
  • Fee-free £200 overdraft facility
  • Dedicated switching service

Santander Preferred Current Account

  • Get up to £300 FREE if you are an existing Santander mortgage customer, who has or can deposit at least £10,000 in Santander savings and switch their main current account to Santander.
  • Earn 5% AER on balances up to £2,500 for 12 months
  • After 12 months you will earn 1.0% AER on any balance on the account
  • 0% EAR on Overdrafts for the first 12 months (up to £5,000 depending on your circumstances), after this it will revert to 19.9%EAR
  • Manage your day-to-day money for free with no monthly account fee, no transaction charges and no charges for using account facilities - as long as you remain in credit
  • Get a cheque book and a Visa Debit card. You can use your Visa Debit card in shops wherever you see the Visa symbol and at virtually every cash machine in the UK and many worldwide. It also acts as a £100 cheque guarantee card
  • Access to your money 24 hours a day 7 days a week through our e-banking service, 750+ branches, 24-hour telephone banking service, LINK cash machine network or even by post
  • At least £1,000 a month must be credited to get 5% AER on balances up to £2,500
  • If not switching earn 5% AER on balances up to £1,000 for 12 months if £1,000 is credited each month

Barclays Bank Account

Barclays
  • A carbon neutral debit card (subject to status).
  • Online Banking – do your banking from home (subject to registration).
  • Telephone Banking – pay bills and more (subject to registration).
  • A network of over 1,700 branches.
  • Draw on cheques paid in before they clear (subject to status and limit).
  • An overdraft: 19.3% interest per annum (variable).
  • Representative Example: Up to £5,000 19.3% interest p.a. (variable)
  • Subject to status and application. So the amount offered may be different to that shown on the example. Overdrafts are repayable on demand.
  • Barclays £2,500 Personal Reserve Option:
  • - One Reserve Usage Fee of £22 for each five consecutive working day period from the day you start using your Reserve.
  • - No interest payments on your Reserve balance.
  • - Representative Example: 0% interest per annum (variable). Reserve Limit £2,500. One reserve usage fee of £22 for each five consecutive working day period from the day you start using your reserve. Personal reserve is subject to status and application and repayable on demand.
  • - The Reserve is repayable on demand. The maximum Reserve is £2500, subject to status.
  • - One Returned Transaction Fee of £8 for each returned transaction where you exceed your Reserve.
  • - One Guaranteed Transaction Fee of £8 for each guaranteed payment made where you exceed your Reserve.

RBS Select

RBS
  • Free everyday banking - no monthly subscription charges.
  • No arrangement or renewal fees - on overdrafts up to £15,000. And pay no interest on agreed overdrafts of up to £100.
  • Save on your mortgage - use your Interest Paying Current Account balance to save money with our Offset Service.
  • Easy access to your money - your debit card gives you access to almost every cash machine in the UK. You can also pay for goods and services wherever you see the logo shown on your card.
  • Online banking - manage your money 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with our telephone and internet banking services. (Except for short periods of essential maintenance.)
  • Overseas money - get money in local currency at cash machines and buy goods wherever you see the logo shown on your card.
  • Statements - monthly statements list all transactions and your current balance. You can also get mini-statements from any cash machine.

Natwest Advantage Gold

NatWest
  • Pay £12.50 per month and get the following benefits:
  • Green Flag car breakdown cover - even on your driveway
  • Mobile phone insurance – including all smartphones
  • Annual worldwide travel insurance - Members and their partners aged 70 years and over must pay an additional annual premium of £50
  • Travel benefits – discounts on holidays, flights and hotels

Nationwide Current Account

Nationwide
  • VISA debit card with every account
  • Free travel insurance: multi-trip European cover worth up to £70* (conditions apply)
  • Manage your account online with an excellent internet banking service.
  • Three-month interest-free overdraft when you switch to FlexAccount
  • Free day to day banking
  • Voted Best Overall Online Provider 2009 by Your Money

Card One Banking Guaranteed Bank Account

  • CardOneBanking offers the following:
  • Guaranteed Acceptance
  • Sortcode & Account Number
  • Have your salary deposited into this account
  • Pay money in at any Post Office or high street branch
  • Prepaid MasterCard card
  • Create Standing Orders but you can not set up Direct Debits with this account.
  • 24 hour account management by Phone, Text and Online Banking
  • Dedicated Account Manager
  • NO OPENING FEE
  • NO OVERDRAFT FACILITY – No risk of going overdrawn
  • NO EXTRA CHARGES – No charges for bounced standing orders
  • NO CREDIT CHECKS! – Guaranteed to be accepted, regardless of your past credit
  • YOU must be 18+ and UK resident
  • £12.50 monthly management fee

Think Money Guaranteed Bank Account

  • Think Banking offers the following:
  • Guaranteed Acceptance
  • Sortcode & Account Number
  • Have your salary deposited into this account
  • Pay money in at any Post Office or high street branch
  • Prepaid MasterCard card
  • Create Standing Orders but you can not set up Direct Debits with this account.
  • 24 hour account management by Phone, Text and Online Banking
  • Dedicated Account Manager
  • Opening fee of £25 (£30 for a joint account)
  • NO OVERDRAFT FACILITY – No risk of going overdrawn
  • NO EXTRA CHARGES – No charges for bounced standing orders
  • NO CREDIT CHECKS! – Guaranteed to be accepted, regardless of your past credit
  • YOU must be 18+ and UK resident
  • £14.50 monthly management fee (£19.50 for joint account customers)