Premium Bonds are the one everyone knows when it com...
5
Premium Bonds are the one everyone knows when it comes to NS&I, with a limit of £50,000 and no guaranteed return they might not be for everyone but your money is 100% safe from financial collapse of institutions and the winnings are 100% tax free so if you're likely to pay tax on interest then Premium Bonds may be for you. The monthly lottery can be an exciting moment of surprise for those with the right temperament not to be disappointed if they're unlucky.
Reviewed on: 27th January 2024
I happened to snag some Guaranteed Income Bonds at their peak interest rate which was excellent although not typical of NS&I's offerings as they are usually not chart-topping and it's worth remembering that unlike Premium Bonds Guaranteed Income Bonds are taxable for interest. Although NS&I is guaranteed by the treasury so people can rest easy on the security of their money.
Reviewed on: 27th January 2024
Nationwide currently offers the best Regular Saver i...
5
Nationwide currently offers the best Regular Saver interest available at 8% on up to £200 a month. This is a fantastic offer and came strongly out of nowhere as Nationwide don't typically place in the charts for savings rates which is the only real downside, most of their other products are woefully behind the current market rates.
Reviewed on: 27th January 2024
The First Direct Regular Saver is one of the best on...
5
The First Direct Regular Saver is one of the best on the market paying an excellent 7% interest on regular contributions of up to £300 a month. It's only beaten out by Nationwide currently on interest but with Nationwide having a lower regular contribution allowed.
Reviewed on: 27th January 2024
The RBS Select account has a major drawback which in...
4
The RBS Select account has a major drawback which in my opinion seriously detracts from the account's usefulness. The account charges fees for failed transactions due to insufficient balances, this encourages users to maintain an excessive balance in their current account, not only missing out on interest, but also leaving them vulnerable to misuse of their debit card. Personally I prefer to transfer money from inaccessible savings to my current account prior to each purchase as an added layer of security protecting my funds from fraud.
Reviewed on: 27th January 2024
The NatWest Select Account has a major flaw in my op...
4
The NatWest Select Account has a major flaw in my opinion and that is charging for failed payments due to insufficient funds. I actively make a choice to keep my funds low in my debit account so that losing my card has a reduced risk. I transfer money into my spending account prior to purchases, something someone who were to steal my card could not do. I believe that Natwest penalising people for adopting thia security measure to be backward and ridiculous.
Reviewed on: 27th January 2024
The Chase saver account was one of the market leadin...
4
The Chase saver account was one of the market leading accounts for a while or was at least bumping around in top contention although hasn't kept pace as interest rates tipped over 5% which is shame and something I would encourage them to keep up with to conclusively claim the top spot for banking.
Reviewed on: 27th January 2024
The Everyday Account meets most banking needs althou...
4
The Everyday Account meets most banking needs although if I had one complaint it would be that the display in the app shows a "Balance" and a "balance inc. Pending" which causes confusion when pay appears on the balance but not on balance inc. Pending even though the payment is literally pending. It should say "Available balance" instead or "Balance including outgoing pending".
Reviewed on: 27th January 2024
It took a very long time to initially get an account, over six months from making an accepted application to actually having the account opened but since then it's been my primary account. Cashback on the debit card is excellent and the ease of moving between the current account and the savings account is great. It also offers a Roundups feature at 5% interest. Not all that high in the current environment but was welcome at the start.
Reviewed on: 27th January 2024
Santander's savings normally subpar, but not this time.
4
Santander's savings offerings have often been subpar in comparison to the wider market however, there was a period earlier in the year where Santander was market-leading and I managed to secure an account at this leading rate.
Reviewed on: 27th January 2024
Their fully managed portfolio at Risk Level 6 doesn't really compare favourably to other offerings by competitors over the same period, especially when considering their fees are quite substantial in comparison.
Reviewed on: 27th January 2024
