Alliance & Leicester launches 3.15% online savings account
03 July 2009 / by Rebecca Sargent
Alliance & Leicester has launched its Online Saver 5 today, offering a market leading rate of 3.15 per cent and sparking hope for savers nationwide.
Market experts are viewing the new Alliance & Leicester savings account as the start of competition heating up in the instant access saving account market.
Commenting on the account and the launch of a Coventry Building Society account paying 3.25 per cent to over 50s, Kevin Mountford, head of banking at moneysupermarket.com said:
“This level of activity is unusual given the Bank of England base rate hasn’t changed since March. But it’s great news for savers, particularly those who don’t have money they can afford to lock away in a fixed rate account.
“Providers are still desperate for our cash so the competition is likely to remain strong for some time to come.
“Until the last few weeks, banks and building societies had focussed on fixed rates and Cash ISAs, with these products the most searched for on moneysupermarket.com but the tide is now turning,” he added.
Other industry experts agree that the A&L account may have sparked market competition, Pierre Williams, head of research at MoneyExpert.com said: “Savers are scrambling for returns and chasing rates as they come on to the market. Anybody earning 2.5 per cent or more on their instant access cash is doing well but A&L’s decision to offer a 3.15 per cent account stands out as one of the best deals on the market.”
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Provider | Account | Set Up Fee | Fee per month | Features | Apply |
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CardOneBanking Managed Account | N/A | £12.50 | No credit checks.** Prepaid MasterCard. No account opening fee. | More Info > | |
ClearCash Account | £4.95 | £9.95 | No credit checks**. Prepaid MasterCard. Credit Building facility. | More Info > | |
CashPlus Prepaid MasterCard Deluxe | £4.95 | £9.95 | No credit checks.** Up to 20 free payments and standing orders a month. Prepaid MasterCard. | More Info > |
**See Terms and Conditions
Provider | Account | Set Up Fee | Fee per month | Features | Apply |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
CardOneBanking Managed Account | N/A | £12.50 | No credit checks.** Prepaid MasterCard. No account opening fee. | Apply Now > | |
CashPlus Prepaid Mastercard (Deluxe) | £4.95 | £9.95 | No credit checks.** Up to 20 free payments and standing orders a month. Prepaid MasterCard. | Apply Now > |
Account | Interest (AER) | Overdraft Rate | Funding Required* | Fee pm | Features | Apply | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nationwide » |
FlexDirect Current Account | 5.0%* | 0% for 12 months | £1,000 per month | N/A | 5.0% IN-CREDIT INTEREST on balances up to £2,500 for the first year. | More Info > |
Nationwide » |
Nationwide FlexPlus Current Account | 3.0%* | 0% for first £250 | No minimum | £13 | 3.0% INTEREST on balances up to £2,500 | More Info > |
Santander Bank » |
Santander 123 Current Account | 1.50%* | Up to £3 per day | £500 per month | £5 pm | *1.50% AER (variable) on your entire balance up to £20,000. Up to 3% cashback on household bills. | More Info > |
Nationwide » |
Nationwide FlexAccount Current Account | N/A | 0% for first 3 months | No minimum | N/A | 3 months interest-free overdraft and no monthly account fee | More Info > |
First Direct » |
1st Account Current Account | N/A | 0% for first £250 | No minimum | Free if funding £1,000 or £10 below £1,000 | Switch your current account and you’ll get a free gift worth up to £150. £250 interest free overdraft. Free banking if paying over £1,000 per month. Satisfaction guarantee – £100 if you leave within 6 months | More Info > |
Account | Interest (AER) | Overdraft Rate | Funding Required* | Fee pm | Features | Apply | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nationwide » |
FlexDirect Current Account | 5.0%* | 0% for 12 months | £1,000 per month | N/A | 5.0% IN-CREDIT INTEREST on balances up to £2,500 for the first year. | Apply Now > |
Santander Bank » |
Santander 123 Current Account | 1.50% AER* | Up to £3 per day | £500 per month | £5 pm | *1.50% AER (variable) on your entire balance up to £20,000. Up to 3% cashback on household bills. | Apply Now > |
Account | Interest (AER) | Overdraft Rate | Funding Required* | Fee pm | Features | Apply | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nationwide FlexDirect Current Account | 5.0%* | 0% for 12 months | £1,000 per month | N/A | 5.0% IN-CREDIT INTEREST on balances up to £2,500 for the first year. | More Info > | |
Nationwide FlexPlus Current Account | 3.0%* | 0% for first £250 | No minimum | £13 | 3.0% INTEREST on balances up to £2,500 | More Info > | |
Santander 123 Current Account | 1.50%* | Up to £3 per day | £500 pm | £5 pm | *1.50% AER (variable) on your entire balance up to £20,000. Up to 3% cashback on household bills. | More Info > |
Account | Interest (AER) | Overdraft Rate | Funding Required* | Fee pm | Features | Apply | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Student Bank Account | N/a | £500 Interest Free increasing to £2000 | No minimum | N/a | Choose 1 of 3 great offers: Amazon Prime Student subscription, National Express Coachcard, or Tastecard | More Info > | |
FlexStudent Bank Account | 1% | Overdraft limit of £1,000 increasing to £3,000 in year three | £500 every academic term | N/a | The UK’s only fee-free student current account. Interest-free and fee-free overdraft | More Info > | |
123 Student Current Account | Up to 3% | £1500 Interest Free increasing to £2000 | £500 every academic term | N/a | A free 4-year Santander 16-25 Railcard which could save you 1/3 off rail travel in Great Britain | More Info > |
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