While we enjoy the last bank holiday before the season of festivities and good tidings (Christmas!), we have a handful of new best buys worthy of a mention.
The cassette has been flipped this week and the B side has brought with it something we haven’t seen much of recently – changes to our easy access best buy table!
Bank of Cyprus UK launched a new version of its Online Easy Access Account*, with a market-leading rate.
In addition, Sainsbury’s Bank re-entered our easy access table, as the latest version of its Defined Access Saver joins Birmingham Midshires in third position.
Amidst the action in the easy access domain, there was only one change worth noting in our fixed rate categories this week.
PCF Bank launched a new version of its one year bond, propelling the provider into the top five in our fixed rate bond best buy table.
Nobody likes to sing the same song, but in a repeat of last week – there was no change to our notice account best buy table. Thus meaning we see the dominating force of Secure Trust Bank elongate its reign for yet another week.
It is a similar story when looking at the variable rate and fixed rate cash ISA best buy tables – the top five mirroring last week – reflecting a quiet period in the ISA market.
Easy Access
Following weeks of little action in the easy access market, we have encountered a new market-leader this week. We also saw the return of a household name to our table, claiming joint third position.
Bank of Cyprus UK launched a new version of its Online Easy Access Account this week paying the market-leading rate of 1.41% gross/AER*.
It is important to note that the rate includes a (0.56%) bonus for the first 12 months. After this point it is important to review the account as the rate will drop significantly - so a new home for funds might be required.
Consequently, Coventry Building Society dropped to second position, with its aptly named Limited Access Saver (2), paying 1.40% gross/AER.
Meanwhile, Birmingham Midshires is now accompanied in third position by Sainsbury’s Bank, both offering 1.35% gross/AER.
As any returning readers will know, we always include a simple and straightforward easy access account in our best buy table.
The aforementioned leading four accounts each have introductory bonuses or withdrawal restrictions to be aware of – therefore, we include Paragon’s Limited Edition Easy Access, paying 1.31% gross/AER, to fill this role.
- For further information on each of these accounts, please refer to our easy access best buy table.
Fixed Rate Bonds
The solitary change in our fixed rate bond best buy tables this week came from PCF Bank.
The latest version of its one year fixed rate bond pays 2.03% gross/AER, sitting in second position in our table.
Interestingly, for those who prefer not to conduct financial transactions online, PCF Bank offers account opening via a more traditional route - post - as well as online.
Elsewhere, Secure Trust Bank hold firm in the leading positions across the array of other terms in our tables.
- For other top rates across a variety of terms, please refer to our full fixed rate bond best buy tables.
Fixed Rate ISAs
No movement in the fixed rate ISA charts this week means that we see the same faces leading our tables.
Bank of Cyprus UK tops our one year table, paying 1.54% tax free/AER* and Charter Savings Bank leads our two year table – 1.71% tax free/AER.
Our longer three year table has Monmouthshire Building Society sitting ahead of the rest – paying 1.91% tax free/AER.
Finally, Coventry Building Society continues to lead our five year table, following the increase last week on its Fixed Rate ISA (67) to 2.30% tax free/AER.
- For the full range of accounts over various terms, please refer to our full fixed rate cash ISA best buy tables.
Notice Accounts
It comes as no surprise, following a lack of action in this arena, to see Secure Trust Bank unmoved from four places in our best buy table.
The provider extends its reign over our table with its 180 day, 120 day, 90 day and 60 day notice accounts.
Meanwhile, we also see Charter Savings Bank cling onto fifth position with its 30 day notice account.
- Further information on these accounts can be found in our notice account best buy table.
Variable Rate ISAs
There was also no development in this area of the market over the last week. Charter Savings Bank still sits proudly ahead of the field, paying 1.40% tax free/AER on its 95 day notice account.
Meanwhile Al Rayan Bank offers the top rate on an easy access cash ISA (1.35% tax free/AER).
- To see how our top five stack up, take a look at our variable rate cash ISA best buy table.
If you would like any help with your savings, why not give one of our Bath based experts a call on 0800 011 9705, we’d love to hear from you.
Don’t forget to submit your review and rate any of your savings providers to help us provide insight for your fellow savers.
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*We are occasionally paid by some providers if you click through from our Best Buy Tables and open a savings or current account with them. We will never accept a payment that compromises in any way our independent, whole of market approach to providing information on savings products. For clarity we will indicate those companies who remunerate us with an asterisk (*).
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