Your compare uk bank interest rates current accounts Information
Online savings accounts have only recently come on the scene, but astute consumers and savers have discovered the many benefits to saving online. Your bank is never closed, interest rates are typically higher, and fees are low or non-existent.
With an online or e-account, the banks do not have to maintain traditional brick-and-mortar stores. Some offer online savings accounts as an option to their other accounts; others focus on these accounts but still have a few in-person locations, other are strictly online. Your comfort level with online transactions, and online banking in particular, will make a difference as to which of these options is best for you.
Most offer high interest savings accounts, which consumers can use for everything from monthly expenses to savings for a large purchase. People often stash money in these accounts for an “emergency fund” that they can draw on if needed.
Online savings accounts can be perfect for this use. First, they rarely have any fees associated with them. Second, they’re usually “linked” to a savings or checking account you have locally. When you need money, you just log on and have the funds electronically transferred. They generally show up within two business days in your local account, where you can use them as needed. The money is transferred as cash, with no waiting period once it arrives in your local account.
However, that approximately two-day wait period also helps people avoid “raiding” the account for every passing fancy. Let’s say you see that perfect tool/pair of shoes/television/object d’art in a store. You want it, and you want it now. However, the price tag is a little out of reach. You vow you’ll transfer the money and then hustle back to the store when it arrives and buy what you need.
But once you get home, you realize that the tool/pair of shoes/television/ object d’art is more of a want than a need, or the color isn’t right, or sanity just plain settles over you. You don’t transfer the money, and you discover you’re still happy. Hey! How about that?
Just as with the in-person banks, you’ll need to compare products and services, and evaluate which one is best for you. Don’t forget to consider customer service—every online bank has a customer service department, and the day could come when you need to talk to them. You can compare other customers’ experiences by typing the name of the bank and the word “opinion” (without the quote marks”) into any search engine. Then go to the website and see how easy it is to navigate. Can you find what you need quickly? What are their security procedures?
Once you choose a high interest savings account, be sure to protect your money. Change your password on a regular basis, make it one that’s not easy to guess, and never write it down. Your statements will likely be online, but make sure you log on each month and review them. Notify customer service immediately if you have any concerns.
Online savings accounts can offer the high interest savings you’re looking for, along with low or no fees, and great customer service and security. A little research is all it takes to find the best account for you.
http://www.high-interest-saving-account.com.au
Article author: highinterest savingaccount
Money deposited in a savings account is only intended to stay in the bank for a relatively shorter time span. This account usually offers much lower interest rates than most bank accounts. But still, like many other accounts, it accumulates interests. The rate of which is largely dependent on the conditions provided by the bank.
Savings accounts are normally maintained by commercial banks, credit unions, loans and savings associations, and some mutual savings bank that are offering interests that can never be used as money. However, the account may be utilized by writing a check.
These accounts allow customers to use parts of their liquid assets, which may be used for any transactions. But before a savings account is used, the balances in the savings account must first be transferred to checkable deposits or transaction deposits or currency. But due to the simplicity of transferring the saving accounts, they are often termed as "money".
Though the use of checks is often not allowed, withdrawals are still easier when done using the savings accounts. The Money Market Deposit Account or the MMDAs on the other hand may restrict you on a limited number of transference of accounts and withdrawals.
With the advent of the Internet comes the development of a new system of banking- the direct-to-consumer banking system. This particularly addresses online savings accounts. Direct-to-consumer system allows direct access to savings accounts from the traditional bank online where money naturally transfers by means of electronic bank transfer. There are two types of banking institutions that create and allow this form of transaction- online-only banks and the traditional banks.
Online-only banking is the answer of the entrepreneurs to the growing consensus of the general public of who usually make banking transactions through the internet. These banks tried to accomplish what real banks have done. They offered almost the same spectrum of products that traditional banks have but offered them on consumer-friendly deals- high interest rates and low fees.
Online savings accounts often offer significantly higher rates of interest as compared to the contemporary savings account. This deal may be attributed to the fact that lesser expenses during online processing and that online market is naturally rate-sensitive.
Sadly, the majority of the consumers are not yet prepared to this new treatment in banking. This in effect, brought down most of such banks.
But by the end of year 2000, ING launched an optimized form of online-only banking. This was rather successful and brought great increase in the online banking industry. They created a much simpler savings account transaction that pays higher rates than the traditional banking. But this does not permit the use of ATM cards, checks, and other services. It was only intended as an account for which your money may be safely guarded.
For almost three years, ING had no other rivals in this system of banking. But recently, many other banking institutions have followed suit. Some were the pioneers of the online-only banking who eventually died down during the course yet returned to beat the market share ING has. Some of these banks offer the same services with that of the ING programs. Most have the same principle of high interest rates and no unnecessary frills.
One notable new entrant is the VirtualBank. This targeted the high-end techy society yet they offer much lower rates as compared to the ING Bank. Thus they gained some consumers.
Eventually, the industry expanded sometime in 2003 until 2004. And by the year 2005, savings account virtually revolutionized banking by means of online-only banking.
Robert Thatcher is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides savings accounts resources on http://www.your-saving-account.info.
Article Source:
ezinearticles.comMore than one month after the Bank of England cut interest rates, nearly 20% of mortgage lenders still haven't cut their variable mortgage rates. Why? Are lenders struggling or are they merely profiting from the tightening market?
A couple of weeks ago it was revealed that one month after the Bank of England cut the base interest rate to 5.5%, 14 lenders - nearly 20% - still had not cut their mortgage interest rates.
As a result, even the Prime Minister stepped in and commented that lenders ought to do the decent thing and cut rates in line with the Bank of England. But is it that simple, and is 2008 set to be a much tougher year for lenders and borrowers?
Difficult Market Conditions
UK Mortgage lenders reacted furiously to Gordon Brown's suggestion that they should cut rates in line with the Bank of England base rate.
They pointed out - reasonably - that current conditions in the money markets mean that directly linking the base rate and lenders' standard variable rates is quite misleading. The real problem, say lenders, is that the short-term cost to them of borrowing money is staying high - and didn't fall when the Bank cut rates in December.
There's certainly some truth in this; recent months have seen the spread between the base rate and the 3-month interbank lending rate reach record levels - meaning that mortgage lenders are paying more of a premium than usual for the money they borrow.
Are Things Really That Tough for Lenders?
Since the beginning of January, money market lending rates have fallen noticeably - presumably offering a respite for hard-pressed lenders. Despite this, fourteen mortgage lenders still hadn't announced cuts to their variable mortgage rate by the 8th January - although many were quick to cut their savings rates back in December.
It seems likely that many UK mortgage lenders are preparing themselves for a tougher 2008 by increasing their profit margins while they can.
With mortgage approvals over 40% lower in November 2007 than November 2006, lenders may be worried that a housing crash is on the way. UK Residential Repossessions are forecast to rise by 50% this year (RICS) - coupled with falling prices, the resulting bad debt could cost lenders dearly.
What Does It Mean For Borrowers?
Mortgage lenders look like they are reaching the end of one of the most profitable housing booms in history. New mortgages and remortgages will be fewer and harder to get in 2008 - and they will probably also have higher interest rates than many borrowers are used to.
This means that in 2008, shopping around and comparing quotes when remortgaging will be even more important than usual - especially for anyone with an imperfect credit history. Expert mortgage brokers are likely to be in strong demand as the best deals get harder to find - on or off the high street.
Article author: Simon Harvey
