Last updated: 12/09/2016
As the Olympic Games continue to keep us gripped with excitement, it’s not just the GB Team that’s sizzling this summer. The news that the Bank of England base rate has fallen to a new record low has meant the need for both savers and investors to review their options has really heated up. So to help you stay on top of all the action, we bring you a selection of the hottest savings and investment deals on offer this summer.
Interest rates
Since the recent reduction to a new record low for the Bank of England’s base rate, savings rates have started to fall at a significant pace. Needless to say the outlook for savers is not good, but it’s not just savings rates that are falling. Bond yields also face record lows whilst the share prices of many of the higher yielding FTSE 100 companies have gone up as more investors search for income. So the outlook is bleak for both savers and investors, and the need to make the most out of your capital has suddenly become priority number one this summer.
So what’s hot?
For many savers, longer term savings rates are not offering enough of an increased rate to justify tying your money up for longer, and so we see most activity is in the short term space, from instant access up to 2 years. Whilst as you might expect, with interest rates coming down, many savers inevitably start to consider taking on more risk with their capital in the hunt for higher returns, so we also cover some of our income and growth investment best sellers.
Combining every day banking with up to 5.0% interest
The fact remains that loyal bank customers are rarely rewarded and so usually face far lower rates on their savings compared to those who shop around. Well this is now also true of current accounts. Although historically these accounts have been renowned for offering very low rates of interest, this has started to change significantly in the last few years with some offering very competitive returns indeed.
Low monthly balance top pick – Nationwide’s FlexDirect account pays 5.0% AER fixed for the first 12 months on all in credit balances up to £2,500. Thereafter the rate reverts to 1.0% AER variable.
Higher monthly balance top pick – Santander’s 1|2|3 account pays 3.0% AER variable on your entire balance up to £20,000 provided your balance is at least £3,000. This rate is set to change to 1.50% AER on all balances up to £20,000 from 1st November 2016. It also offers some competitive cashback rates on a wide selection of household bills. A £5 per month account fee applies.
Instant access – market leading 1.20% AER variable
When longer terms savings rates are low, instant access accounts see far greater inflows as savers use this as a safety net whilst reviewing other options. The Freedom Access Account from RCI Bank is a market leading instant access account paying 1.20% AER variable and you can save from £100 up to £1m, with free and unlimited payments and withdrawals. RCI Bank is part of the Renault global banking group and so the first €100,000 equivalent is protected by the French deposit guarantee scheme (FGDR) rather than the UK FSCS.
For those where the UK FSCS is more of a priority, Aldermore’s Easy Access Account offers 1.00% AER variable on balances from £1,000 to £1m, whilst the B account is an innovative new banking service from Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks which combines a current account with an instant access account, the latter offering 1% AER variable on all balances. The interest rates alone are worth a closer look but this account might particularly appeal to the more technically savvy saver due to the intuitive B banking app which forms part of the overall proposition.
Fixed rate bonds – short terms hit the top spots
Whilst instant access offers 1.20%, a top deal on a 5 year fixed rate is only offering 1.0% per year more at 2.20% AER. These are without doubt some of the lowest long term fixed rates in history and this 1% margin has resulted in more money staying in shorter term fixed rates. Here are our current top picks for those who can tie their money up for between 6 months and 3 years, all of which are eligible for the UK’s FSCS:
6 months top pick: Habib Bank 6 month Fixed Rate Deposit, offering 0.80% AER
1 year top pick: Bank of Cyprus 1 Year Fixed Rate Bond, paying 1.30% AER
2 year top pick: Bank of Cyprus 2 Year Fixed Rate Bond, paying 1.40%
3 year top pick: Bank of Cyprus 3 Year Fixed Rate Bond, paying 1.50%
The minimum deposit with Bank of Cyprus accounts is £10,000 whilst for Habib Bank it is £1,000. For those looking for a 1, 2 or 3 year fixed rate account with a lower minimum, Aldermore Bank pays 1.40% AER over 3years, 1.30% AER over 2 years and 1.20% AER fixed for one year, all with a minimum of £1,000.
Long term savings alternative – potential 24% growth return
For those looking for the potential for higher growth and are prepared to tie their money up for the longer term, the Investec 6 Year Defensive Deposit Plan offers an alternative that some savers might find attractive. By linking your return to the FTSE 100 Index, this deposit plan offers the potential for a 24% fixed return, which is paid provided the value of the Index at the end of the plan, is higher than 95% of its value at the start of the plan (subject to averaging). So the FTSE can fall up to 5% and you still receive the fixed return. However, if the Index is lower, you will only receive a return of your original capital.
The best long term fixed rate savings bonds are paying around 2.20% AER whilst by linking your deposit to the FTSE, if this Deposit Plan pays out the 24% return is equivalent to 3.65% AER. With record low longer term fixed rates forcing some savers to consider a wider range of options, the combination of capital protection plus the potential for a high growth return could be a compelling opportunity. Taxpayers can also benefit from tax free growth as the plan is also available as an ISA.
Fixed income investment
Another consequence of this sustained period of low longer term fixed rates is that savers start to consider taking on more risk with their capital in the hunt for higher returns. One such plan that has been popular in this area is the Enhanced Income Plan from Investec Bank. Unusually for an investment, it has a fixed term and offers a fixed income each year, paid to you regardless of the performance of the stock market. It also pays income each month which is the most popular payment frequency. The latest issue pays 4.92% per year, paid as 0.41% each month.
Also unusual for an investment is the inclusion of some capital protection, or ‘conditional capital protection’. This means that your initial capital is returned at the end of the investment unless the FTSE falls by more than 50% during the fixed term of the plan. If it does, and the Index also finishes below its starting level then your original capital will be reduced by 1% for each 1% fall, so you could lose some or all of your original investment.
Up to 6.0% investment income, quarterly payments
The Focus FTSE Quarterly Contingent Income Plan offers up to 6% per year which is higher than the income on the Investec plan however it is not fixed, but rather dependent on the performance of the FTSE 100 Index. A quarterly payment of 1.50% is made provided the value of the Index at the end of each quarter is at or above 75% of its value at the start of the investment. If the Index is below 75% of its opening level, no income payment will be made for that quarter.
Your initial investment is returned in full unless the FTSE has fallen by more than 40%, measured at the end of the fixed term only. If it has fallen below this level, capital will be reduced by 1% for each 1% fall and so you could lose some or all of your initial investment.
Both of these plans are available as an ISA and accept ISA transfers, in which case your income would be tax free.
Defensive growth plans
Finally, in the investment growth space, defensive plans have been popular on the back of the UK’s decision to leave the UK and the uncertainty around what impact this might have on our growth and economic prospects. These defensive plans offer the potential for investment level returns even if the stock market goes down, in some case by up to 50%. They are therefore proving popular with investors concerned about the historically high level of the FTSE and would therefore like to include a defensive element to their investment. This plan may appeal to those who think the FTSE might fall slightly, stay the same, or rise in the coming years but not significantly.
Defensive Kick Out top pick: Investec’s FTSE 100 Step Down Kick-Out Plan offers the opportunity for 8.0% for each year invested (not compounded) even if the FTSE falls up to 20% over the term of the plan. Capital is at risk is the FTSE falls by more than 50%.
Fixed term defensive growth top pick: Investec’s FTSE 100 Defensive Growth Plan offers a 33% fixed return at the end of the plan, provided the Index it at least half its value at the start of the plan (i.e. it can fall up to 50% and you still receive the 33%, along with a full return of capital). Your capital is at risk if the FTSE has fallen by more than 50%, in which case you could lose some or all of your initial investment.
Compare our Top 3 current accounts »
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Compare growth and defensive growth investments »
AER stands for the Annual Equivalent Rate and illustrates what the interest rate would be if interest was paid and compounded once each year. Gross is the interest you will receive before tax is deducted.
No news, feature article or comment should be seen as a personal recommendation to invest. Prior to making any decision to invest, you should ensure that you are familiar with the risks associated with a particular plan. If you are at all unsure of the suitability of a particular product, both in respect of its objectives and its risk profile, you should seek professional advice.
Tax treatment of ISAs depends on your individual circumstances and is based on current law which may be subject to change in the future. Always remember to check whether any charges apply before transferring an ISA.
The investments in this article are structured investment plans that are not capital protected and are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) for default alone. There is a risk of losing some or all of your initial investment due to the performance of the FTSE 100 Index or shares listed within the Index. As share prices can move by a wide margin, plans based on the performance of shares represent higher risk investments than plans based on the FTSE 100 Index as a whole.
There is also a risk that the company backing the plan or any company associated with the plan may be unable to repay your initial investment and any returns stated. In addition, you may not get back the full amount of your initial investment if the plan is not held for the full term. The past performance of the FTSE 100 Index or shares listed within the Index is not a guide to their future performance.