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.
Having looked at the savings habits of the nation the Halifax can now highlight which parts of the country save the most, and the least.
Top of the Halifax savings league is London, with an average savings balance of over GBP14,200. In second place was South Buckinghamshire, followed by Shrewsbury to make up the top 3 saving locations. The top performing savers outside the south of England can be found in Derbyshire, having an average savings pot of just over GBP11,600.
A spokesman from the Halifax was pleased to see how good the average figures were but did hope that those without such levels of savings would aim to increase the amount they save.
A new Abbey National fixed rate investment bond has just been launched onto the market for a limited time only so investors should act promptly.
For sums of less than GBP30,000 the Abbey National one year bond will pay a rate of 6.3 percent, while those with GBP30k to GBP2 million will receive a fixed rate of 6.5 percent. Interested investors have until 10 June to get their money into this excellent new opportunity, with the minimum amount needed being just GBP1,000.
A spokesman from Abbey National explained that fixed rate bonds are more popular than ever and that this particular one delivers one of the very best interest rates available on the high street.
