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Bank Accounts Latest News Expert: Focus on repaying debt harming wider economy
Bank Accounts Latest News Expert: Focus on repaying debt harming wider economy Expert: Focus on repaying debt harming wider economy
The thrifty attitude of Britons could be harming the wider economy.
The majority of UK residents are focusing entirely on paying down debts accrued on credit cards and personal loans throughout the recession at present.That is according to Ed Bowsher, head of consumer finance at online resource Love Money, who believes there is currently a huge emphasis from Britons on being thrifty as they seek to get back on their feet financially.
However, while such prudence is evidently positive for their own monetary situation, Mr Bowsher explained it is not so good for the wider economy.
He stated that the country as a whole went on something of a borrowing binge in the decade or so prior to the onset of the downturn, which has caused a "massive debt overhang" that will take years to pay off.
"Less spending on the high street means slower economic growth," the expert added.
Recently, research by First Direct revealed that mortgages are becoming steadily less affordable in the UK.
By Joe Letts
Friday, 23 September 2011 00:00
Top 5 Current Accounts
|
Provider |
Min Bal |
O/D Rate |
O/D Buffer |
Apply |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Full Table > | |||||
 |
|||||
|
3%
|
£500
|
No Offer
N/A
|
No Offer
|
||
 |
|||||
|
0%
|
£1
|
No Offer
|
£100
|
||
 |
|||||
|
0.50%
|
£1
|
0%
for life
|
£200
|
||
 |
|||||
|
£5p.m FREE
|
£1
|
0%
|
£2,500
|
||
 |
|||||
|
0%
|
£1
|
0%
N/A
|
No Offer
|
||
Santander 123 Current Account
- The New 123 Current Account pays cashback on household direct debits
- 1% cashback on water and council tax
- 2% cashback on electricity and gas
- 3% cashback on mobile, home phone, broadband and paid for TV packages
- New 123 Current Account pays also pays in-credit interest
- 1% AER on the entire balance, once the customer’s balance is £1,000 or over
- 2% AER on the entire balance, once the customer’s balance is £2,000 or over
- 3% AER on the entire balance, once the customer’s balance is £3,000 or over (up to £20,000)
- You are required to pay £2 a month (equates to 6p per day)
- Your overdraft fee will be 19.9% EAR plus an unauthorised fee of £1 per day.
- 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
- You must setup a minimum of 2 active direct debits
- You must deposit at least £500 per month
- This account is open to NEW and EXISTING Santander customers aged 18 and above (must be UK resident)
Natwest Select
- 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
- ***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
Halifax Reward Current A/c
- Halifax will give you £5 each month you pay in £1,000, whether you're in credit or overdrawn.
- This account offers a flexible 0% Overdraft facility:
- - £1 per day - if you use an 'Arranged' overdraft up to and including £2,500
- - £2 per day - if you use an 'Arranged' overdraft over £2,500
- - £5 per day - if you use an 'Un-Arranged' overdraft
- A Halifax Visa debit card
- Access to the extensive branch Network
- 24/7 Online Banking Access
- The Halifax Ultimate Reward Current Account (URCA) product has been awarded a Defaqto 5* award for the Mobile Phone Insurance aspect of its reward offering. - Defaqto are completely independent, ensuring an unbiased product view.
Barclays Bank Account
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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)
Top 5 Savings Accounts
|
Provider |
Notice |
Interest Paid |
Min Bal |
Apply |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Full Table > | |||||
 |
|||||
|
3.01%
|
Instant
|
Monthly
|
£1
|
||
 |
|||||
|
3.10%
|
Instant
|
Monthly
|
£1
|
||
 |
|||||
|
2.50%
|
Instant
|
Monthly
|
£1
|
||
 |
|||||
|
2.50%
|
Instant
|
Annually
|
£10,000
|
||
 |
|||||
|
2.50%
|
Instant
|
Monthly
|
£1,000
|
||
Post Office Online Saver
- Access your savings 24/7/365
- Apply online in less than 10 minutes
- Instant account opening
- Open a savings account with just £1
- Rate applies to annual interest option and includes 1.36% gross/AER fixed interest bonus for the first 12 months
- Monthly interest option also available
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £85,000 PER PERSON BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
ING Direct Savings Account
- New customers can enjoy a variable rate of 3.10% AER (3.06% gross p.a.) including a 2.56% gross p.a. bonus fixed for 12 months from the business day following account opening.
- After 12 months the rate will revert to our ING Direct Savings Account variable rate, currently 0.50% AER
- Move your money when you like, with no penalties or restrictions
- Start saving from £1, with no minimum or maximum monthly deposits required
- Open an account in minutes
- Award winning UK call centres
Barnsley Building Society Online Saver
- Great on-going rate of 2.50% gross pa/AER† variable with NO bonus period!
- Apply online with Barnsley Building Society award-winning, paperless application. No forms to sign.
- Open an Online Saver with as little as £1
- Make withdrawals at any time as long as you leave a minimum balance of £1
- Check your balance and view your statements whenever you wish
- Log into our secure website to transfer money to your nominated bank or building society account or a nominated account held with us
- Rate includes a bonus of 0.50% until 31/12/2010.
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £85,000 PER PERSON BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Lloyds TSB eSavings Account
- You must be an existing Lloyds TSB customer AND signed up to Lloyds Online Banking to be able to apply for this product
- Earn 1.60% AER/Gross from £1, and up to 2.50% AER/Gross on balances of £10,000 or more View eSavings Account interest rates.
- These rates include an introductory bonus of 1.50% AER on all tiers for the first 12 months.
- Interest paid annually.
- Start saving with only £1.
- Instant access - the convenience of Internet Banking or PhoneBanking means you can access your savings when it suits you.
- Set up a standing order - saving regularly from your current account is the easy way to grow your savings.
- Name your account to suit you, such as holiday, rainy day or simply savings.
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £85,000 PER PERSON BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Nationwide Regular Savings
- A competitive rate of interest of up to 2.50% AER, (2.50% gross p.a.)
- Flexibility to make unlimited withdrawals if you need to giving you the highest level of flexibility available.
- Open an account with as little as £1!
- Save up to £1000 each month.
- Open and manage your account online using the Nationwide MySave Online Savings site.
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £85,000 PER PERSON BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Lloyds TSB Easy Saver
- A variable rate of interest, currently 1.60% AER/Gross.
- This rate includes a fixed introductory bonus of 1.50% AER for the first 12 months.
- Open from as little as £1.
- Interest paid annually.
- Instant access - the convenience of Internet Banking or PhoneBank® means you can access your savings when it suits you.
- No limits on how much you can save.
- The options to have a standing order payment into your account, so you know your savings are always growing.
- Optional Cashpoint® card for easy access on the move.
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £85,000 PER PERSON BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Scottish Widows Direct Transfer Account
- Rate includes a bonus of 0.89% for 12 months
- Minimum balance £1000
- Deposits can be made by internet banking, telephone or post
- No notice period or penalties for withdrawals
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £85,000 PER PERSON BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Cheshire Building Society Direct Cash ISA
- Deposit £1000+ and get 3.35% AER (variable) tax-free including a fixed 2.35% AER bonus interest rate, paid until 30th November 2013
- Deposit £1-£999 and get 0.25% AER only.
- Easy access to your cash, with unlimited withdrawals and deposits up to your annual cash ISA allowance (transfers from existing ISAs are not permitted)
- However, you will need to open your account online today with at least £1,000.
- You will receive a welcome letter with everything you need to manage your account by post.
Lloyds TSB Cash ISA Saver
- Earn a variable rate of 2.65% AER/tax-free.
- This rate includes a fixed introductory bonus of 1.65% AER for the first 18 months from account opening.
- Interest paid annually on the 31st March.
- Save up to £5,640 per tax year.
- Make withdrawals from as little as £1.
- Set up regular payments into your ISA from your current account.
- Manage your Cash ISA Saver through Internet Banking if you're registered.
- You can transfer your existing ISA into us, with our ISA transfer form.
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £85,000 PER PERSON BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Aldermore Easy Access Saver
- Transparent - our competitive rates are not artificially inflated by bonuses or introductory offers
- Reassurance - our interest rate is guaranteed to be at least 1.70% above Base Rate until 1 March 2013
- Fast and easy setup - open an account, complete identity checks and move your money in minutes
- Accessible - open an account with just £1,000
- Flexible - add to your savings whenever you like
- Unlimited withdrawals - access your money whenever you need it, without restriction or loss of interest
- Easy to manage - do it online, by phone or by post
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £85,000 PER PERSON BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Chelsea BS Fixed Rate ISA
- Guaranteed fixed rate of interest for the duration of the Fixed Rate e-ISA
- Minimum investment of £100
- ISA transfers in*** from other providers and deposits up to your 2011/2012 ISA limit, can be made whilst the product remains on sale. Transfer charges may apply, please check with your existing provider
- Interest paid annually
- Withdrawals are not permitted during the term
- Early closure or transfer out to another ISA provider is permitted subject to 90 days loss of interest on the closing balance. Early closure would mean loss of tax free status other than transfers to another ISA provider.
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £85,000 PER PERSON BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Top 5 Fixed Rate Bonds
|
Provider |
AER |
Duration |
Min Bal |
Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| View Full Table > | ||||
 |
||||
|
4.10%
|
Fixed term for 5 years
|
£10,000
|
||
|
|
||||
|
3.40%
|
Fixed term for 1 year
|
£10,000
|
||
 |
||||
|
3.27%
|
Fixed term for 1 year
|
£500
|
||
|
|
||||
|
2.45%
|
Fixed term for 1 year
|
£1
|
||
|
|
||||
|
2.70%
|
Fixed term for 1 year
|
£50,000
|
||
Scottish Widows 5 Year Fixed Rate Bond
- The Scottish Widows 5 Year Fixed Rate Bond is a fixed interest rate account offering a competitive 4.10%AER over a period of five years. The account is available to new and existing Scottish Widows Bank customers and is not linked to any investment products.
- Minimum deposit £10,000
- Deposit Term - 5 years
- Fixed 4.10% annual gross
- No partial withdrawals permitted during deposit term.
- *Stands for the Annual Equivalent Rate and illustrates what the interest rate would be if interest was paid and compounded once each year.
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £85,000 PER PERSON BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Lloyds TSB International 1 Year Bond
- Save for 1 year
- Fixed interest rates of 3.40% AER/Gross*.
- Save from £10,000 up to £5,000,000
- No withdrawals are allowed.
- Rate is fixed for the term of the deposit.
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £85,000 PER PERSON BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Post Office 1 Year Fixed Term Bond
- Great fixed rate for 1 year fixed term
- Annual Interest Option = 3.27% gross/AER fixed
- Monthly Interest Option = 3.22% gross/3.27% AER
- Deposit from £500 to £2 million
- Quick and easy online application with instant account opening
- Monthly interest option also available
- No extra deposits or withdrawals after opening
- Close your Bond early if necessary (breakage fee applies)
Nationwide 1 Year Fixed Rate Bond
- Get higher savings rate the more you deposit
- £1 - £9,999 = 2.45%
- £10,000 - £24,999 = 2.50%
- £25,000 - £49,999 = 2.60%
- £50,000+ = 2.70%
- You need to have a Nationwide Flexi-Current Account to deposit funds in to this bond. If you do not have one you will be asked to set one up as part of your application process.
- Manage your savings bonds online via our secure Internet Bank
- Enjoy the security of a guaranteed rate of return
- Choose between monthly or annual interest
- Open several e-Bonds (the combined savings bonds balance mustn't exceed £3m)
- Use your own e-Bond account nickname instead of having to remember a lot of numbers
- Your online security protected with Nationwide's Internet Banking Promise
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £85,000 PER PERSON BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Nationwide 1 Year Fixed Rate Bond
- Get higher savings rate the more you deposit
- Deposit £50,000+ = 2.70% AER fixed for 1 year
- You need to have a Nationwide Flexi-Current Account to deposit funds in to this bond. If you do not have one you will be asked to set one up as part of your application process.
- Manage your savings bonds online via our secure Internet Bank
- Enjoy the security of a guaranteed rate of return
- Choose between monthly or annual interest
- Open several e-Bonds (the combined savings bonds balance must not exceed £3m)
- Use your own e-Bond account nickname instead of having to remember a lot of numbers
- Your online security protected with Nationwide's Internet Banking Promise
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £85,000 PER PERSON BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Post Office 3 Year Fixed Term Bond
- Great fixed rate for 3 year fixed term
- Annual Interest Option = 3.72% gross/AER fixed
- Monthly Interest Option = 3.65% gross/3.72% AER
- Deposit from £500 to £2 million
- Quick and easy online application with instant account opening
- Monthly interest option also available
- No extra deposits or withdrawals after opening
- Close your Bond early if necessary (breakage fee applies)
Post Office 2 Year Fixed Term Bond
- Great fixed rate for 2 year fixed term
- Annual Interest Option = 3.63% gross/AER fixed
- Monthly Interest Option = 3.57% gross/3.63% AER
- Deposit from £500 to £2 million
- Quick and easy online application with instant account opening
- Monthly interest option also available
- No extra deposits or withdrawals after opening
- Close your Bond early if necessary (breakage fee applies)
Vanquis Bank 3 Year Fixed Rate Bond
- Available Online Only.
- Deposit between £1,000 to £250,000 for THREE YEARS in ONE PAYMENT and benefit from a guaranteed savings rate.
- Annual or Monthly interest options available.
- Sole or Joint Accounts.
- Restricted to UK residents 18 years or older.
- No additional deposits, withdrawals or closure during term.
- Vanquis Bank is a UK bank with operations and call centres in London, Chatham, Bradford and Newcastle, and is part of the Provident Financial Group, a FTSE 250 company founded over 130 years ago.
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £85,000 BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Vanquis Bank 5 Year Fixed Rate Bond
- Available Online Only.
- Deposit between £1,000 to £250,000 for FIVE YEARS in ONE PAYMENT and benefit from a guaranteed savings rate.
- Annual or Monthly interest options available.
- Sole or Joint Accounts.
- Restricted to UK residents 18 years or older.
- No additional deposits, withdrawals or closure during term.
- Vanquis Bank is a UK bank with operations and call centres in London, Chatham, Bradford and Newcastle, and is part of the Provident Financial Group, a FTSE 250 company founded over 130 years ago.
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £85,000 BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
Scottish Widows 3 Year Fixed Rate Bond
- The Scottish Widows 3 Year Fixed Rate Bond is a fixed interest rate account offering a competitive 3.50% AER over a period of three years.
- The account is available to new and existing Scottish Widows Bank customers and is not linked to any investment products.
- Fixed annual rate 3.50% Gross
- Minimum deposit £10,000
- Deposit Term - 3 years
- No partial withdrawals permitted during deposit term.
- *Stands for the Annual Equivalent Rate and illustrates what the interest rate would be if interest was paid and compounded once each year.
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £85,000 PER PERSON BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
United National Bank 1 Year Fixed Rate Bond
- Guaranteed rate of interest for full term of product
- Minimum deposit of £2,000
- Interest payable monthly or on maturity
- Penalty for early withdrawal
- Available as sole or joint accounts
- Must be UK resident and 18 years of age or older
- Must have an account with an existing UK bank
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £85,000 BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
United National Bank 2 Year Fixed Rate Bond
- Guaranteed rate of interest for full term of product
- Minimum deposit of £2,000
- Interest payable:
- monthly (3.45% Gross)
- yearly (3.50% Gross)
- maturity (3.56% Gross)
- Penalty for early withdrawal
- Available as sole or joint accounts
- Up to £85,000 per depositor is protected by FSCS
- Must be UK resident and 18 years of age or older
- Must have an account with an existing UK bank
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £85,000 BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
The Cambridge 2 Year Fixed Rate Bond
- Exclusively available to open online
- Allows you to invest your savings for a fixed term at an interest rate that won't change
- You need a minimum of £1,000 to open your account
- Online account management
- You can add to the balance of your account whilst The Cambridge 3 Year e-Bond Issue 5 remains open to new savers
- Withdrawals are not permitted during the fixed rate term
- The Cambridge 3 Year e-Bond Issue 5 will mature on 27th May 2015
- Interest is calculated daily and paid annually on 31st December or monthly on the last day of the month
- This is a limited issue - the bond will be withdrawn when fully subscribed
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £85,000 PER PERSON BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
