Savings

Pensioner Bonds are simply fixed-rate savings accounts, launched in January 2015, paying a massive 4% interest for the three-year version (and 2.8% on the one-year version which matured in 2016) – though, as the name suggests, they were only available to those 65+. In total, just under 900,000 people took one out between January and May that...

Welcome to the new world of app-based banking. There’s been an explosion in recent months of new companies offering a challenge to traditional financial services. From prepaid cards to current accounts and mortgages, there’s little that this modern generation of providers isn’t tackling. And now there’s a ‘chatbot’ app that’ll automatically work out what you can afford...

When it comes to MoneySaving, here at MSE Towers we know what we’re talking about. I’ve been here over five years, and the lengths some people go to bag a bargain still astound me. That’s not to say I don’t like to save money. It’s just a common preconception that because of where I work, I should...

“The future of banking, available today.” That’s the bold message adorning the homepage of newly-formed Atom Bank. ‘Challenger’ banks such as Atom have sprung to life in recent years, thanks in part to the Financial Conduct Authority lowering the amount of capital required to form a new bank, in 2013. We regularly feature a number of challenger banks in our...

Last week, an email popped up in my inbox: “Virgin Money launches the ‘Manchester United Champions Bond’ for savers”. It offers fixed 1.25% interest for a year, but comes with a twist – the rate is doubled to 2.5% if Man Utd win the Premier League in 2016/17. So I immediately forwarded it to Martin and new...