http://www.silverhairs.co.uk/ Here I will try to give some tips on savings and investments in the UK. Wed 2nd May 2012 19:00:00 GMT http://www.silverhairs.co.uk/ http://www.silverhairs.co.uk/ First Direct Bank are offering £100 to folk who transfer their bank account to them - and another £100 if you don't like them and leave after 6 months! They also pay 8% on their regular savers account.

With the Bank of England suggesting that their interest rate will continue low, British Midland's 4.6% 5 year fix might even beat inflation

Besides the Post Office, there are other indexed linked bonds: Santander and and Yorkshire BS. They are taxable.

ISAs. As always, rates can change overnight.

The new ISA year has started. ISA Rates - up to: (Please check conditions in each case) Lloyds : 3.7%; Santander 3.5%; Nationwide 4.25% (MANY conditions) Cheshire BS and The AA 3.5%; Saga 3.6%. Cheshire BS is part of Nationwide now. M & S are offering a 3% variable cash ISA. Transfers in are allowed and there are no strings or bonus to worry about. OK, it is not a bank but to some folks this may be an added attraction! It is still covered by the £85,000 rule.

One or two fixed ISA deals have edged up: Nationwide now pays 2.5% on its 6 month ISA and 2.85% on its one year version. Saga has a one year ISA at 3.6% for the over 50s Yorkshire now have a two year cash ISA at 3.35%. Natwest is paying 3.7% on a two year ISA (min £1000) and the cash must be transferred in from other ISAs.

Halifax are offering 6% on a Junior ISA. This is the highest anywhere. So, what is the point of a Junior ISA ? Kids have a normal tax free allowance, don't they ? Well, if parents stuff their ISA they are only allowed £100 interest before they have to pay tax on it - at THEIR RATE. And 6% of £3000 is £180. And parents could add another £3000 each April. Kids can't touch them until they are 18. Then watch it fly!

Santander's Flexible ISA pays 3.3% AER (some existing customers get 3.5%) Barclays' 3.25% AER Golden ISA is similar, but is a branch application only, except for existing Barclays online customers. The AA's ISA pays a higher 3.35% AER (min £500), but doesn't track. Lloyds is offering 3.6 fixed for 2 years (on over £3000 - transfers allowed)

From Feb 2012 Halifax has increased its 2 year fix to 3.7% (but check) Transfers in are allowed.

Birmingham Midshires is offering 3.85% on a postal or internet two year fix.

The C & G (part of Lloyds TSB) is offering 3.95% fixed to 29th April 2014. Transfers in are allowed and the only drawback is the loss of 120 day's interest but only on the amount withdrawn.

Nationwide is offering a 3.75% ISA, fixed for 18 months on £25,000 transferred in. 3.55% for lesser amounts.
Northern Rock(Virgin) has an on-line no strings (no bonus, no restriction) 2.75% gross account. They also have a 3.11% gross easy access account which includes a bonus. They also offer a 3.4% 14 month Fixed rate bond (taxable)

FirstSave 2 year on line fix is 3.8% or 3.5% for one year. The Post office offers 3.76% on 2 year (on line). All are protected by the FSA

KRBS stands for Kent Reliance Building Society. It is offering a 3 year fixed 4% ISA with a monthly interest payment option. Although it is a fixed rate, withdrawals are possible with just 100 days loss of interest on the amount withdrawn. Transfers in of ISAs are allowed. If you have been tucking away your ISA's regularly and had £40,000 in there this would yield £1600 p.a. or £130 a month tax free.

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