Latest Savings Commentary

Income is king

Oliver Roylance-Smith / 15 May 2012

Investing for income is always a popular investment theme, never more so than in recent months with income solutions ruling the roost over the ISA season for both the cash ISAs and investment ISAs. ... Read more

7% potential annual income, capital protected

Oliver Roylance-Smith / 10 May 2012

"The latest Fair Investment Income Deposit Plan offers capital protection plus the potential to earn 7% for each year the FTSE 100 remains between 4,500 and 7,000 points (yesterday’s clos... Read more

The savings dilemma and the rise of alternatives

Oliver Roylance-Smith / 01 May 2012

The economic landscape continues to create a real dilemma for savings and put a spotlight on the fixed rate bond. With yields on these lowering amid continued pressures on getting the most out of yo... Read more

Basic Current Accounts

No thrill current account deals

Looking for a basic current account? Many banks are now offering current accounts with additional services however the catch is that it will cost you anything from £5 to £15 per month. If you are happy with a basic current account service then most banks will offer you this.

As part of a basic current account service you should expect to recieve:

Free online and telephone banking for ease of access
Overdraft facilities (some providers offer interest free overdrafts up to a certain amount)
A cash card and cheque book
Direct debit facilities for setting up bill payments etc

The tables below show a selection of fee free current accounts:

Latest Current Account Deals

	Account	Interest (AER)	Overdraft Rate	Funding Required*	Fee pm	Features	Apply
Halifax	Rewards Current Account	0.00%	Daily fees on agreed overdrafts	£0.00	Nil	£5 cashback every month you deposit £1,000.	More Info >
Barclays	Barclays Bank Account	0.0%	19.30%	£0.00	Nil	Telephone and Online Banking - Simply, free and easy to use	More Info >
HSBC	HSBC Current Account	0.0%	19.90 %	£500	Nil	Overdraft, award-winning online banking, access to 4% savings account	More Info >
NatWest	Select Account	0%	19.89%	£0.00	Nil	A flexible current account for day-to-day banking. Overdraft (subject to eligibility) - extra breathing space for your finances. Over 18s only.	More Info >
RBS	Select Current Account	0%	19.89%	£0.00	Nil	A flexible current account for day-to-day banking. Overdraft (subject to eligibility) - extra breathing space for your finances. Over 18s only.	More Info >

*Some current accounts require customers to pay in a minimum amount each month.

**See Terms and Conditions

If you want more than a basic current account service many banks now charge a monthly or annual fee.

If you are considering switching from your existing bank to a new free current account, it is recommended to weigh up your options and compare current account offers from several different providers in order to find the best deal available.