ALMOST 30% of households in the UK have less than £250 in accessible savings, according to a First Direct survey this week.
If your New Year resolution is to build up your savings, the best way to achieve this is by setting aside a regular amount each month. It is possible to get higher rates for regular savings than for ordinary deposits, with rates of up to 8% currently available on regular savings accounts.
A new regular savings account paying 5% gross per annum was recently launched by the Dunfermline to encourage people to build up a nest egg. Called the Platinum Monthly Saver, it is a one-year, branch-based account.
Customers can pay in between £100 and £500 a month. Provided they make no more than one withdrawal and miss no more than one monthly deposit over the one-year term, they will earn 5%, otherwise they will receive just 1%.
If you want to save a more modest amount, there is the Scottish Building Society's Regular Saver which is offering 3% for savings starting at £10 per month. This account runs for a fixed term until March 31 2013. You do not have to save the same amount every month but you must make at least one payment a month or the rate drops to 2%. If you make a withdrawal or close the account before the end of the term the rate will also drop.
To get 8% on your regular savings, you will have to open a current account with First Direct, one of the perks it offers to attract customers. Its savings account requires transfers of between £25 and £300 a month – to be eligible you have to pay £1500 a month into a current account with the bank each month.
Santander is also offering a one year Loyalty Fixed Rate Monthly Savings'account paying 5% to its current account holders, as long as they are paying at least £1000 a month into their account. Savings of between £20 and £250 a month can be made but no withdrawals are allowed.
Andrew Hagger, spokesman for Moneynet.co.uk, says the reason banks and building societies can afford to be generous with the rates of interest they pay on these accounts is that the amounts of money involved are relatively small.
Often the high rates are only paid for a limited period and then the account reverts to a lower rate. But as Mr Hagger points out: "Once you've built a savings pot, it gives you more options – you could put your lump sum into a fixed rate bond or an Isa."
Most first-time savers would be better off in theory with an Isa right away, as interest would be tax-free. But there are few regular savings Isas and even fewer paying attractive rates. The Skipton pays a fixed rate of 3.25% for a year, equivalent to 4.06% gross interest. There is no fixed minimum monthly payment and you do not have to open any other account with the society. However, money cannot be withdrawn until the end of 12 months.
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