Online Bank Accounts – UK

Saga Personal Finance (saga.co.uk) has expanded its range of savings products by the launch of the Saga Internet Saver, an online easy access savings account with an attractive AER of 2.75%.

The product was made available last May to UK residents aged 50 and over. The interest rate is variable and includes a first year bonus of 1.00% gross.

The account offers flexible saving on balances of £1 to £1million, as well as unlimited internet access to the account. There are no notice periods or fees for withdrawals and customers have a choice of yearly or monthly interest options. There is also no restriction on the number of transactions customers can make, providing peace of mind that their rainy day savings are close at hand, should they need them.

Following the Saga tradition of providing value for it’s loyal savers the account comes with a guarantee that after the first 12 months the interest rate will never be more than 2% below the Bank of England Bank Rate with a minimum rate of 0.25% AER and a maximum cap of 8%.

Saga Personal Finance (saga.co.uk) has announced that it has topped the £4 billion mark in savings deposits, double the total deposits of some well-known building societies.

To meet the needs of its growing customer base, Saga is also this week expanding its range of saving accounts by launching the innovative Saga 5 Year Trigger Market Linked Deposit, linked to the performance of the FTSE 100 Index with an AER of 6.25%, and the Saga ISA Saver Postal with an AER of 2.6% to UK residents aged 50 and over.

Saga 5 Year Trigger Market Linked Deposit (plus ISA version)

The account offers an AER of 6.25%, providing the average of the FTSE 100 Index does not fall between the initial and maturity index readings over the term of the account. The FTSE 100 does not have to go up in order for customers to earn 6.25% return on their money – it just must not go down during the 5 year term.

If the FTSE 100 Index does fall customers will not receive any interest, however the original capital will be returned at maturity. Customers will also receive the Bank of England Bank Rate from the date funds are deposited, until the issue date of the account on 19 July 2010.

A minimum deposit of £500 is required and maximum deposit of £1m per investor (£2m for joint accounts) or £5,100 for the ISA version. Customers may withdraw funds or close the account before the end of the full term. A charge of 1.5% will apply on the amount withdrawn. Any remaining funds have the potential to earn 6.25% AER.

Saga ISA Saver Postal

This postal account offers an AER of 2.60%. The interest rate is variable and includes an 18-month bonus of 1.00% gross on accounts where interest is paid annually, and a 0.98% a month bonus on accounts that pay interest monthly.

The account comes with a guarantee that the interest rate will never be more than 2% below the Bank of England Bank Rate with a minimum rate of 0.25% AER and a maximum cap of 8%.

The minimum amount that can be invested is £500 and the maximum is £5,100 in the current tax year. Customers are able to transfer any existing cash ISAs they have held in previous years.

The account is instant access and there are no penalties for withdrawing funds – providing peace of mind that savings are close at hand, should they be needed. Interest will be paid after 12 months, again after 18 months and annually or monthly thereafter.