The Alliance and Leicester has just made available two new savings options for those aged 50 and over.
The first one is the Premier 50 fixed Rate Bond and gives a return of 7.5 percent per annum. Suitable for investments between GBP1,000 and GBP10,000 this particular Alliance and Leicester bond matures at the end of September next year so interested parties are advised to act promptly.
The second option is a longer term one, being a 5 year Growth and Income Account which offers an interest rate of 7 percent on half the amount invested with the other half receiving 50 percent of the growth achieved on the FTSE 100 over the term. This Alliance and Leicester account needs a minimum investment of GBP3,600 and as such can also be used as a cash ISA.
Egg, best known for their Egg card, has just announced a new interest rate on their savings account of 6.05 percent gross.
Requiring a minimum deposit of just GBP1 and open to both existing and new customers the Egg card savings account is expected to be very popular. It also allows free access to the money held, with no penalties or notice periods needed. After the first 12 months at the introductory rate the account reverts back to the standard variable rate, currently 4.75 percent gross.
An Egg card spokesman, discussing the savings account, said that the introductory interest rate is one of the best available for easy access accounts and, with the rate guaranteed for 12 months offers an excellent vehicle for savers.
The Bank of Scotland has a fantastic opportunity for first time buyers saving a deposit for their first home – doubled up savings.
The way this works is that savers who regularly deposit money into a Bank of Scotland savings account, up to a maximum amount saved of GBP5,000, will have the balance matched by the home builder Persimmon. The one proviso is that this only happens if the savings are used as a deposit on a new house.
A spokesman from the housebuilder saw it as making a real difference for first time buyers, though they would still need a considerable amount saved elsewhere in order to make the 25 percent minimum deposit most mortgage providers require. The Bank of Scotland are also in favour of the scheme as they want to help home buyers as much as they can.
