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28 Mar 2024
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Base rate lottery

In the space of just over a year we have seen three base rate increases followed by two base rate cuts. With everyone’s attention focused on mortgage and savings rates, some institutions have used the changes in base rate to increase their margins on current accounts.

Samantha Owens, head of personal finance at Moneyfacts.co.uk, comments:

“It appears that some lenders have used the base rate movements as an opportunity to reduce credit interest rates and/or increase overdraft rates.

“Institutions such as Nationwide BS, Smile and Intelligent Finance have been quick to cut their credit interest rates in the last two base rate cuts, but failed to pass on the benefit of the previous three base rate increases to their customers.

Credit Interest

Institution

Account

11/01/2007 (0.25% increase)

10/05/2007 (0.25% increase)

05/07/2007 (0.25% increase)

06/12/2007 (0.25% decrease)

07/02/2008 (0.25% decrease)

Current Credit Interest Rate

Difference

Base Rate

5.25%

5.50%

5.75%

5.50%

       5.25%

Leeds BS

Premier Current Account

+0.15%

+0.20%

+0.25%

-0.30%

-0.30%

1.20%

0%

Smile

Current Account

Nil

Nil

Nil

-0.25%

-0.23%

2.52%

-0.48%

Nationwide BS

FlexAccount

Nil

Nil

Nil

-0.25%

-0.25%

3.75% (0.10% paid on balances over £1K)

-0.50%

Intelligent Finance

Current Account

Nil

Nil

Nil

-0.24%

-0.25%

2.47%

-0.49%

Source: Moneyfacts.co.uk 10.3.08

“Anyone with an overdraft on a Yorkshire Bank or Clydesdale Bank current account plus will see themselves paying a hefty 4.12% more than at the beginning of 2007. Lloyds TSB was also quick to pass on up to 0.60% in the last two base rate increases, but as yet has not passed on any cuts to its authorised overdrafts.

Authorised Overdraft (EAR)

Institution

Account

11/01/2007 (0.25% increase)

10/05/2007 (0.25% increase)

05/07/2007 (0.25% increase)

06/12/2007 (0.25% decrease)

07/02/2008 (0.25% decrease)

Current Authorised Overdraft Rate

Difference

Base Rate

5.25%

5.50%

5.75%

5.50%

      5.25%

Lloyds TSB

Classic Plus

Nil

+0.30%

+0.30%

Nil

Nil

18.9%

+0.60%

Yorkshire Bank

Current Account Plus

+0.27%

+0.27%

+0.27%

+3.31%

Nil

12.95%

+4.12%

Clydesdale Bank

Current Account Plus

+0.27%

+0.27%

+0.27%

+3.31%

Nil

12.95%

+4.12%

Source: Moneyfacts.co.uk 10.3.08

“In the last year the battle on current accounts has really hot up. There are some great rates on credit interest to be found as well as much lower rates on authorised overdrafts for those who live in the red.

 

 

Best Buy Credit Interest

Institution

Account

Deposit

Gross Rate

Funding

Alliance & Leicester

Premier Direct Current

£1

8.19% on balances up to £2.5K, 0.1% thereafter

£500 pm

Abbey

The Abbey Current Account – Credit Option

£1

7.72% on balances up to £1K, 2.47% thereafter

£1K pm

Halifax

High Interest Current

£1

6.00% on balances up to £2.5K, 0.1% thereafter

£1K pm

Best Buy Authorised Overdraft

Institution

Account

Authorised Overdraft

Unauthorised Overdraft

Funding

Alliance & Leicester

Premier Direct Current

0.0%
(No authorised overdraft charges for the first 12 months, then 50p per day, max £5pm)

0.00%
(£5 per day penalty fee)

£500 pm

Norwich & Peterborough BS

Gold Current Account

7.74%
(0% for 6 months on transferred accounts)

24.9%

£1.5K pm

Nationwide BS

FlexAccount

9.9%

24.9%

None

Source: Moneyfacts.co.uk 10.3.08

“Nationwide BS has cut its credit interest rates whilst offering best buy rates for overdrafts. It would appear it is trying to appeal to those who use their overdraft, rather than those who maintain a credit balance in their account.

“It may well be that the reasoning behind some of these changes is the ongoing credit crunch, but with further base rate cuts predicted during 2008 we will just have to wait and see if the institutions use the next base rate as an opportunity to increase their margins further.”

 

Moneyfacts Group
Moneyfacts is the UK’s leading independent provider of personal financial information and our data is used and trusted throughout the financial industry. 

 

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE

Think carefully before securing other debts against your home, your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

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Go Financial Services is a trading style of Go Direct UK Ltd which is an appointed representative of Personal Touch Financial Services Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Registered in England & Wales Company 5703224. FCA Number 456600

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