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HSBC has launched a new best buy easy-access savings rate, with savers now able to secure a 3 per cent return.
Interest on its account has increased from 1.6 per cent to 3 per cent on balances up to £10,000.
The 3 per cent rate is essentially a bonus on top of HSBC’s standard easy-access rate of 0.5 per cent, offered to those who don’t make withdrawals.Savers can get started with just £1, with interest being paid out monthly.
HSBC’s Online Bonus Saver will increase from 1.6% to 3% for customers who don’t make a withdrawal from the account in the month
The next best easy-access deal on the market pays 2.75 per cent.
Someone depositing £10,000 in HSBC’s account could expect to earn £300 in interest after one year, though the interest rate could be changed again in the future.
There are also a number of caveats to be aware of before signing up.
To be eligible, savers will need to be an existing HSBC banking customer.For those who are not, that will mean applying for an HSBC bank account in order to benefit.
It also doesn’t work like a typical easy-access deal because it penalises savers for making withdrawals.
This means savers who sign up would be wise to treat this account as their emergency fund, rather than everyday savings they can dip in and out of.
It also won’t be worth holding any more than £10,000 in the account as any balance above £10,000 will only receive 0.75 per cent interest.
How does it compare to other savings accounts?
Although this account could make a great rainy day savings account, it has a number of drawbacks that should make savers stop and think before applying.
For those looking to stash away more than £10,000, betgaranti this account may not be the most lucrative option.
Sainsbury’s Bank has today launched anon balances between £1,000 and £500,000 (although only £85,000 is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme).
Despite the first £1,000 only earning 1.05 per cent, savers with a large balance will likely do much better opting for the Sainsbury’s deal.
For example, someone depositing £20,000 in the Sainbury’s account will earn £550 interest after one year.The same amount held in HSBC’s Online Bonus Saver would earn £375 in interest.
Interesting: HSBC’s Online Bonus Saver has the best headline rate, but for those looking to stash away more than £10,000, it may not be the most lucrative option
However, it’s worth pointing out that Sainsbury’s Defined Access Saver is not an easy-access deal in the purest sense.
It only allows up to 3 withdrawals each year from the account opening and the interest rate will reduce to 0.8 per cent if more withdrawals are made within that period.
For those who want an easy-access savings account without any restrictions, Ford Money is paying 2.5 per cent, Al Rayan Bank is paying 2.35 per cent and Gatehouse Bank is paying 2.25 per cent.
For savers prepared to put their money in a fixed rate savings bond and surrender access for a year or more in exchange for higher returns, there has been one notable rate rise today.
DF Capital has launched a , betgaranti overtaking Gatehouse Bank at the top of our .
However, it’s worth mentioning that Gatehouse Bank’s deal is available via the savings platform, – a type of savings marketplace where savers can manage multiple savings accounts in one place.
Raisin UK is currently offering a * who sign up and betgaranti deposit at least £10,000 into one of its accounts using the * links above.
This means someone depositing £10,000 in the one-year Gatehouse deal via Raisin could essentially secure themselves a £480 return after one-year.Effectively making for a 4.8 per cent rate.
<div class="art-ins mol-factbox money" data-version="2" id="mol-2a81b850-507a-11ed-9c27-b1e56cff3449" website 3% on easy access savings with HSBC's new deal
