Posts tagged: Savings Accounts

Why Buying Bonds Can Increase Savings Rates

Putting your money to work for you means getting the best return on investments as possible. Unfortunately the best rates also bring the highest risk. If you aren’t in a position to handle a loss of your capital or if you just prefer to play things safe, savings bonds can offer a decent return with next to zero risk.

Bonds almost always outperform other savings rates such as savings accounts and money market accounts. With an average interest rate of 5%, bonds pay nearly double the interest rate of the average savings account. Purchasing these bonds is easy and offer many advantages to investors.

Where to Buy Series EE Bonds?

All government bonds, including Series EE, can be purchased at most banks and other institutions such as brokerage houses. These days, many employers, especially various levels of government, offer easy payroll deductions to purchase bonds. This is a good technique in that you never see the money and thus don’t miss it. Soon, you’ll have a sizable investment.

The U.S. Government offers bonds for direct sale through Treasury Direct, their online bond merchant. Treasury Direct allows buyers to manage their bond holdings online and even sell them electronically from one’s account.

Value of Series EE Bonds

Series EE bonds come in a variety of redemption or “face” values. The most popular are $50, $75, $100, $200, $500, $1,000, $5,000, or $10,000. An individual may purchase up to $30,000 worth of EE bonds each calendar year.

Benefits

EE bonds pay one of the highest interest rates of any government bond, almost always staying ahead of inflation. A weak economy rarely affects these bonds due to the perceived strength of the US Government. The best time to purchase any bond is when they are paying the highest interest rates. One of the advantages of bonds is that the interest rates are fixed and guaranteed.

This article was written by Gordon Kincait of Ratelines.com. Gordon is a junior financial planner and enjoys following and predicting trends. Ratelines has been a reliable source of information since 2004, check out the site for infomation regarding certificates of deposits and current insurance quotes.

Make the Most of Your Savings Interest Rates – Stop

Make the Most of Your Savings Interest Rates – Stop the Bank Putting Your Money in Their Back Pocket

There is a common trend in the banks at the moment which has to do with savings accounts and savings interest rates. If you keep your savings with the same bank in the same account for a number of years, you would expect your bank to look after you. But they do not and actually take advantage of this.

The banks release a savings account. They advertise it, use it to attract new customers or convince existing customers to transfer their savings to them. The customers, being quite happy with the rates and the terms, forget about their savings interest rates knowing that they have the return that they expected.

Then after 6 months to a year the bank get bored of that savings account and decide on the next big marketing push and release another type of savings account. The terms maybe a little different. The savings interest rates is usually different. And the same thing happens again, attracting new customers etc.

But what happens to the old savings account?

Well at first the savings interest rates stay much the same. But gradually over the next year or so they reduce the rates so that in the end the rates offered are much the same as being offered on a current account. Near to 0% in most cases.

And unless you make steps to review your savings interest rates with the bank, they will let your interest decrease and will not tell you about it.

It has been my experience that working in the bank that if I see a customer has an old savings account, where the rate has dwindled away, that I make a point of telling them. At worst I will make sure that they are upgraded to the most recent form of savings account that I can to provide them with the most interest.

I can tell you though, that not all of my colleagues do the same, nor are they encouraged to do so by their superiors. Upon the release of a recent new Cash ISA savings account, we were actually instructed not to upgrade customers from the old Cash ISA accounts, to the new one unless the customer actually asked us.

The reason for this is clear. The bank takes advantage of their position of holding your money. They take your money which they make a profit on anyway. Then they pay you less and less interest over time so that they actually make more and more profit on.

How is that for your continued loyalty!

My advice is to review your savings interest rates with your bank every 12 months. Before you go into a conversation with them, make sure you know exactly what rates they would offer if you are a new customer. Then also find out what the nearest competitor is offering so that if they do not offer best possible option, you have another choice of where to make the most of your money.

For the last 5 years I have worked in a high street bank. During this time I have specialised in helping customers get the best savings interest rates.

That’s why I have created this special page to advise on the things to look out for when you want to get the best interest rates on savings.

Make a Good Comparison of Regular and Fixed Rate Bank

Make a Good Comparison of Regular and Fixed Rate Bank Accounts Will Give You the Better Savings Interest Rates

It is important that you keep a close eye on what saving srates are being offered by savings insititutions this way you will ensure you always have the best savings rate available for us.

Two of the more preferred savings accounts are fixed rate savings accounts and regular savings account, a regular savings account offers you a high interest rate providing you put away x amount each month. But with this there are strict conditions by the banks such as the depositing of money you have to do each month and the amount withdraws you can make. There can be a time limit on the duration of the high interest rate, if this does come to an end then be sure to look for better savings interest rate.

Fixed savings account are very popular because the offer some of the best savings rates available the only downside of this is you have to invest your money for a set period of time and if you take it out before then you will forfeit some – if not all – of your savings interest.

The best savings rate maybe closer than you think so don’t forget to check your local branches who may offer incentives for investing your savings locally.

Don’t just jump right into a savings account take your time and compare the different accounts you have available. If you are thinking of investing your money in a fixed rate savings account to find the best savings rate then remember that you will not be able to withdraw for quite a long time so ensure you only put away money that you will not need in the near future.

In Your Search for Better Annual Savings rates Don’t Forget

In Your Search for Better Annual Savings rates Don’t Forget to Compare Fixed Rate and Regular Bank Accounts

It is important that you keep a close eye on what saving srates are being offered by savings insititutions this way you will ensure you always have the best savings rate available for us.

When looking for a savings account the two most popular accounts are fixed rate and regular savings account, regular savings accounts are designed to give a high savings interest rate as long as there is a regular monthly deposit going into the account With a regular savings account you could encounter strict restrictions from the bank such as the amount of money you have to deposit each month to gain the interest rate and how much money you can withdraw to maintain the interest rate. You have to be aware of the duration of this high interest rate because the norm is that it will only last for a year then it is up to you to move your funds to a better savings account.

Fixed savings account are very popular because the offer some of the best savings rates available the only downside of this is you have to invest your money for a set period of time and if you take it out before then you will forfeit some – if not all – of your savings interest.

You could find the best savings rates a lot closer than you would imagine check your local branches as they may offer incentives for savings locally. Gather info on the local savings interest rates then compare them against national rates that are offered.

Before investing in a savings account you need to consider many different options with the account. Always remember that with a fixed rate savings account you need to lock your money away for a minimum period of time so if you try to take your funds out before the time has run its course then youw ill receive a penalty on the interest of the account.

In Your Quest for High Annual Savings rates Make Sure

In Your Quest for High Annual Savings rates Make Sure You are Sure to Compare Fixed Rate and Regular Bank Accounts

In recent times people tend to keep a close eye on what savings rates banks are offering this is a great idea if you want the money you work hard for to work for you!

The two main savings accounts best used are Regular Savers and Fixed Rate Accounts. Regular savers accounts are designed for users to put away so much money each month and with this get a high saving rate. With this type of account the bank tends to put restrictions on the amount of withdrawals and if you go over this barrier you make yourself subject to interest rate reductions There can be a time limit on the duration of the high interest rate, if this does come to an end then be sure to look for better savings interest rate.

You could probably find the best savings rates available in a fixed rate savings account the problem is that you will not be able to touch your money for a fixed amount of time for example 1years from when you started the savings account.

The best savings rate maybe closer than you think so don’t forget to check your local branches who may offer incentives for investing your savings locally.

Don’t just jump right into a savings account take your time and compare the different accounts you have available. Always remember that with a fixed rate savings account you need to lock your money away for a minimum period of time so if you try to take your funds out before the time has run its course then youw ill receive a penalty on the interest of the account.

In Your Quest for Greater Savings Rates Alway Remember to

In Your Quest for Greater Savings Rates Alway Remember to Compare Regular and Fixed Rate Bank Accounts

More and more people are keeping close watch as to what savings rates the banks and savings insititutions are offering as everybody wants to get the best rate possible and start earning from the highest savings interest rates possible.

The 2 savings accounts that tend to offer the best savings interest rates are fixed rate savings accounts and regular savings account, A regular savings account will offer you a great savings rate providing you deposit a set amount of funds a month. With this type of account the bank tends to put restrictions on the amount of withdrawals and if you go over this barrier you make yourself subject to interest rate reductions You have to be aware of the duration of this high interest rate because the norm is that it will only last for a year then it is up to you to move your funds to a better savings account.

You could probably find the best savings rates available in a fixed rate savings account the problem is that you will not be able to touch your money for a fixed amount of time for example 1years from when you started the savings account.

The best savings rate maybe closer than you think so don’t forget to check your local branches who may offer incentives for investing your savings locally.

Comparing savings accounts is the only way you can invest your money properly try to get a savings account that has the best savings rate with minimal restrictions. Also before investing be sure to assess your finances and save what you can afford because if you need to access your funds in a fixed rate savings account before the period you agreed is up you will face a penalty on the interest you receive.

In Your Quest for Greater Annual Savings rates Alway Remember

In Your Quest for Greater Annual Savings rates Alway Remember to Compare Regular and Fixed Rate Bank Accounts

It is important that you keep a close eye on what saving srates are being offered by savings insititutions this way you will ensure you always have the best savings rate available for us.

The 2 savings accounts that tend to offer the best savings interest rates are fixed rate savings accounts and regular savings account, A regular savings account will offer you a great savings rate providing you deposit a set amount of funds a month. But with this there are strict conditions by the banks such as the depositing of money you have to do each month and the amount withdraws you can make. There can be a time limit on the duration of the high interest rate, if this does come to an end then be sure to look for better savings interest rate.

The other account is a fixed savings rate account these accounts offer you a great savings interest rate but lock your funds away for a set period of time, usually 1 year+.

The best savings rate on the market might be as far away as you think. When looking at the savings rates check your local banks and building societies as well as the national rates advertised, the local rate could better than your national and offer benefits for saving with your local branch.

Look around for the best savings rates and dont be swayed by the first savings account that comes along with an “introductory rate”. Assess you finances properly before investing in a savings account because remember you have to invest for a set period of time and if you do not see out this duration then you will lose the savings interest rate you wqhere offered.

From Piggy Bank to Savings Account – The Benefits of

From Piggy Bank to Savings Account – The Benefits of Saving

As children, many of us began saving by plugging our pocket money into a piggy bank. It’s a good early lesson in money management, but as adults, it’s necessary to do more than just stash your cash under the bed.

But before starting to put your hard earned money into a savings account, you should first pay off any significant debts you may have. This is because the rate of interest on loans is generally higher than the maximum interest on savings accounts. Therefore it makes financial sense to pay off these debts before starting to save.

The one exception to this rule is the student loan. According to Student Finance Direct: “All student loans accrue interest which is linked to the rate of inflation in line with the Retail Prices Index. This means that in real terms, the amount you pay back will have broadly the same value as the amount you have borrowed and no profit is made on the loan itself. Interest accrues on your loan until it has been repaid in full. The current interest rate is 2.4%”.

If your only debt is a student loan, then you would be better off financially, by putting your money into a high interest savings account and paying off the loan in small amounts when you have a bit of spare money.

Due to inflation, if your money is not invested or placed in an account that is earning more than the current rate of inflation, you are actually losing money. Therefore it is essential that you save your money in an account that offers an interest rate that is above the current rate of inflation.

There are a number of factors to bear in mind when choosing a savings account. Do you want to have instant access to your money, or are you happy to give weeks or months notice? Do you want an account that is accessible online, or would you prefer to have a face to face service with a real person?

The general advice for new savers is to first open what’s called an ISA (Individual Savings Account). This is a savings account in which you can put a maximum of 3000 per year and you are not charged tax on the interest earned. Like other savings accounts, the rates can vary from bank to bank, and unless the ISA is a fixed rate account, the interest can change over time. Therefore it’s a good idea to always check on interest rates every few months.

If you have in excess of 3000 to save, then there are plenty of high interest accounts, including internet saving accounts savings bonds and instant access savings accounts accessible through your local branch, telephone, and ATMs.

As there are so many choices of bank and building society, it pays to shop around and check all the various offers and interest rates. Sometimes banks offer high interest rates to attract customers, which are then reduced after six months or a year, so it can pay to keep an eye on the highest interest savings account and move your money around.

Paul McIndoe is an online, freelance financial journalist. He lives in Edinburgh with his two dogs.

For High Savings Interest Rates Compare Regular and Fixed Rate

For High Savings Interest Rates Compare Regular and Fixed Rate Bank Accounts

More and more people are keeping close watch as to what savings rates the banks and savings insititutions are offering as everybody wants to get the best rate possible and start earning from the highest savings interest rates possible.

The 2 savings accounts that tend to offer the best savings interest rates are fixed rate savings accounts and regular savings account, A regular savings account will offer you a great savings rate providing you deposit a set amount of funds a month. But with this there are strict conditions by the banks such as the depositing of money you have to do each month and the amount withdraws you can make. This high savings rate may only last a year so make sure you know when this account changes into a normal savings account so you can arrange a new account with great interest rates!

Fixed Rate Accounts usually offers a good saving rate and get a great return but the downside is that you cannot touch your money for a fixed period of time, usually the earliest is after a full 12 months from the start of the savings.

You could find the best savings rates a lot closer than you would imagine check your local branches as they may offer incentives for savings locally. Gather info on the local savings interest rates then compare them against national rates that are offered.

Before investing in a savings account you need to consider many different options with the account. If you are thinking of investing your money in a fixed rate savings account to find the best savings rate then remember that you will not be able to withdraw for quite a long time so ensure you only put away money that you will not need in the near future.

For High Annual Savings rates Compare Regular and Fixed Rate

For High Annual Savings rates Compare Regular and Fixed Rate Bank Accounts

It is important that you keep a close eye on what saving srates are being offered by savings insititutions this way you will ensure you always have the best savings rate available for us.

The two main savings accounts best used are Regular Savers and Fixed Rate Accounts. Regular savers accounts are designed for users to put away so much money each month and with this get a high saving rate. With a regular savings account you could encounter strict restrictions from the bank such as the amount of money you have to deposit each month to gain the interest rate and how much money you can withdraw to maintain the interest rate. You have to be aware of the duration of this high interest rate because the norm is that it will only last for a year then it is up to you to move your funds to a better savings account.

The other account is a fixed savings rate account these accounts offer you a great savings interest rate but lock your funds away for a set period of time, usually 1 year+.

The best savings rate maybe closer than you think so don’t forget to check your local branches who may offer incentives for investing your savings locally.

Don’t just jump right into a savings account take your time and compare the different accounts you have available. If you are thinking of investing your money in a fixed rate savings account to find the best savings rate then remember that you will not be able to withdraw for quite a long time so ensure you only put away money that you will not need in the near future.