Best savings accounts only available online
28 September 2010 / by Paul Dicken
Savings accounts offering the best interest rates and the cheapest travel insurance deals are only available to those with internet access, an investigation by a consumer group has found.
Which? said four million people in the UK are without access to the internet (based on figures from the Department for Work and Pensions) with those four million missing out on the most competitive deals offered by companies.
The investigation showed that an online saver could be 37 per cent better off over a year compared to a branch-only saver.
It found the average rate for instant access savings accounts available in a branch is just 0.56 per cent, half of the average available on the internet: 1.14 per cent.
Which? said fixed-rate savings accounts, current accounts and cash ISAs all offered better online rates.
Which? chief executive, Peter Vicary-Smith said: “Not everyone is comfortable or able to manage their finances online and these people are missing out on the best deals as a result.”
Vicary-Smith urged banks to offer terminals in high street branches for customers to use for accessing online deals.
The difference between the best online travel insurance deal and the best high street deal was 355 per cent, Which? added.
The investigation by Which? found that a 65-year-old could find an annual worldwide insurance policy for £38 with multitrip.com but the best buy available on the high street was under the Co-operative Insurance home options policy at £173.
© Fair Investment Company Ltd
| Sorry, your search has returned no results. |
* Income payments and returns are dependent upon the FTSE 100 Index.
| Provider | Account | Interest Rate (AER) | Term | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 The Access Bank UK » |
3 Year Fixed Rate |
2.20% per annum |
£5,000 | Apply Now > |
| Earn 2.20% fixed interest – 3 year term – Minimum deposit £5,000 – No withdrawals permitted. FSCS Protected | ||||
The Access Bank UK » |
2 Year Fixed Rate |
2.02% per annum |
£5,000 | Apply Now > |
| Earn 2.02% fixed interest – 2 year term – Minimum deposit £5,000 – No withdrawals permitted. FSCS Protected | ||||
 Vanquis Bank » |
4 Year Fixed Rate Bond |
2.40% per annum |
£1,000 | Apply Now > |
| Earn 2.40% gross/AER fixed for 4 years. Save £1,000 – £250,000. No withdrawals during the term. Individual or joint accounts available. Annual or monthly interest. FSCS Protected | ||||
The Access Bank UK » |
1 Year Fixed Rate |
1.72% per annum |
£5,000 | Apply Now > |
| Earn 1.72% fixed interest. 1 year term, save from £5,000 to £500,000, no additional deposits or withdrawals permitted, FSCS Protected | ||||
Vanquis Bank » |
3 Year Fixed Rate Bond |
1.85% per annum |
£1,000 | Apply Now > |
| Earn 1.95% gross/AER fixed for 3 years. Save £1,000 – £250,000. No withdrawals during the term. Individual or joint accounts available. FSCS Protected | ||||
| Sorry, your search has returned no results. |
| Provider | Account | Interest Rate | Term | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Up to 6 years |
|||
| Capital protected deposit plan with the potential to mature after years 3, 4, 5 and 6. If the plan matures early it will return 5% times the number of years the plan has been in force. Also available for Cash ISA and ISA transfer. | ||||
* Income payments and returns are dependent upon the FTSE 100 Index.
| Provider | Account | Interest Rate (AER) | Term | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 RCI Bank » |
Freedom Savings Account | 1.30% | Instant Access | More Info > |
| MARKET LEADING. Earn 1.30% gross/AER. Instant Access. No notice periods. Unlimited payments and withdrawals. Pay in from £100. RCI Bank are protected up to a total of €100,000 by the FGDR, the French deposit protection scheme. Manage account online. | ||||
 Ford Money » |
Flexible Saver |
1.22% |
Instant Access | More Info > |
| Earn 1.22% AER variable interest. Interest can be paid monthly or annually. Open an account singly or jointly. Minimum deposit £1. Unlimited deposits and withdrawals permitted. FSCS Protected | ||||
 AA Savings » |
Easy Saver | 1.15% | Easy Access | More Info > |
| 1.15% gross/AER. Instant Access. Free withdrawals and no notice period. Deposit from £100. Includes a fixed bonus of 0.95% gross fixed for the first 12 months. Quick and easy online application | ||||
 Aldermore Bank » |
Easy Access Account | 1.00% | Easy Access | More Info > |
| 1.00% gross/AER on balances from £1,000 to £1 million. Unlimited withdrawals without restriction or loss of interest. | ||||
Gross is the interest you will receive before tax is deducted.
AER stands for the Annual Equivalent Rate and illustrates what the interest rate would be if interest was paid and compounded once each year.
| Sorry, your search has returned no results. |
$(document).ready(function(){ $("#ctl13_GeneralComparisonTabsTable1_divTablesWraper .comparison_table_tabs_container a").click(function(){ var $this = $(this); var TableStyle = ''; var $tab;
if (TableStyle=='uswitch') $tab = $this.parent('li'); else $tab = $this.parent('div').parent('div').parent('td');
var $activeTab = $('#ctl13_GeneralComparisonTabsTable1_divTablesWraper .comparison_table_active_tab');
if ($tab.attr('class')=='comparison_table_active_tab'){ return false; }
$activeTab.removeClass('comparison_table_active_tab'); $activeTab.addClass('comparison_table_inactive_tab');
$tab.removeClass('comparison_table_inactive_tab'); $tab.addClass('comparison_table_active_tab');
$('#ctl13_GeneralComparisonTabsTable1_divTablesWraper .TableTabDiv').hide(); $('#ctl13_GeneralComparisonTabsTable1_divTablesWraper #' + this.className).show();
return false; }); });
function openFactSheet(url) { var w = window.open(url, '', 'width=1000,height=800,scrollbars=yes,resizable=yes'); w.focus(); }