A new cash ISA has been introduced by the Alliance and Leicester, with an interest rate of six percent per annum and a minimum balance of just one pound.
The Easy ISA as it is called allows the usual maximum amount of GBP3,600 in each tax year, with management through either phone or internet. The offer is open to all consumers whether they are existing Alliance and Leicester customers or completely new to the building society.
The Easy ISA name is very apt and will hopefully bring more savers into ISAs where they have previously been put off. As an Alliance and Leicester spokesperson explained, a cash ISA is just like a normal savings account, the difference being that no tax is paid on the amount saved.
Savers looking for a guaranteed return over a fixed term and a low minimum investment should pop down to the Post Office where they have introduced a bond that offers just that.
The Post Office bond pays interest over a 12 month period at a rate of 7.05 percent and with a minimum investment of just GBP500 is accessible to pretty much everyone. As long as customers can leave the money intact for the year then they can earn a great rate of interest guaranteed. Such guaranteed investments are becoming more popular than ever now that the economy is in such a difficult position. Investors are looking for security rather than extravagant claims.
For anyone interested in what is an excellent savings and investment opportunity the bond can be invested in either direct at the Post Office Insurance counter, by phone or online and that GBP500 minimum investment amount is certain to make it very popular.
Lloyds TSB will be striving to reunite around GBP69 million with its owners, spread over 120,000 savings accounts that are laying dormant.
The bank will be working on accounts with more than GBP100 in them and will be using a specialist search company to locate the account holders and reacquaint them with their funds. The average amount per person will be in the region of GBP575 so it is a very worthwhile exercise and one that the recipients of the money are sure to appreciate said a Lloyds TSB spokesman.
These accounts appear to have been forgotten by their owners, hence the use of the search company. Lloyds TSB would not mind account holders getting in touch with them directly though, so if you think you have a dormant Lloyds TSB savings account get in touch with them and see if there is a windfall waiting for you.