The Abbey National is aiming to help smokers kick the habit by encouraging them to save the money they would normally spend on cigarettes.
The typical 20 cigarettes a day smoker spends around GBP170 each month that could be used for many different and ultimately far better uses. Over the period of just a year a smoker who gives up and puts the money they would have spent into a monthly savings account such as the Abbey National Fixed Rate Monthly Saver would have a balance just 12 months later of almost GBP2,120.
An Abbey National spokesman urged smokers to think seriously about their options and consider the benefits of using a savings account to put money to one side. It can quickly build up into a tidy sum and the person becomes healthier into the bargain.
The Abbey National Super Saver account offer is being extended beyond the previous deadline of 7 September to give more people a chance to benefit.
The offer gives customers the opportunity to earn a whopping 9.1 percent interest for a 12 month period as long as they invest the same amount into any Abbey National investment product. The minimum deposit is just a pound, with the cap set at GBP2 million. Payments can be taken either monthly or at the end of the 12 month term providing great flexibility for savers.
The Abbey National decision to extend the offer is seen by many commentators as a real helping hand for savers, with the building society understanding the needs of consumers who want to see a strong return on their money as well as enjoying both security and flexibility.
Interest rates on nearly all the Nationwide Building Society International Sterling savings accounts are being reduced by between 0.25 and 0.3 percent.
The international arm of the Nationwide Building Society is not cutting interest rates on their Euro or Dollar savings accounts though, these will retain their existing rates. In addition they are actually increasing the rate of interest paid on their Lifetime Guarantee Account, going up by 0.2 percent. This gives it a first year rate of 6.4 percent.
Currency based accounts can be subject to fluctuations as the exchange rates vary following economic changes, hence the cuts announced here by the Nationwide Building Society.
