I think Honey makes a good point. Is a transfer from an existing Nationwide ISA considered a transfer in? Have you confirmed this with Nationwide?
Interest rates are carp and screw most folks. You have to have quite a load of money to invest for at least 3,better 5 years to have a chance of a decent return.
Anyone know much about the new Pensioners Bonds which started today?
Yes but I’m beginning to think I may have been misinformed so I’ll ask at the branch tomorrow.
I’ve been given the wrong information before online - I use the internet banking with Secure Messaging - but when I double-checked at the branch the info I’d been given was wrong.
On that occasion I was given the wrong interest rate and it was all in connection with the Flexclusive ISA I want to start.
I’ll let you know what the branch tells me!
This highlights one of the major problems deaf people have though - I have to use Banks where I can go into a branch because I can’t use the 'phone.
It’s all very well having telephone banking and advisers to 'phone but I can’t do that and my wife just gets confused because she’s not good on finance matters so I do all of ours.
I don’t understand why banks & business do not try to improve email responses or, in many cases, actually answer emails as there are thousands of people like me and thousands more who would probably find emails a lot easier.
The Nationwide tends to be a bit slow in responding to Secure Messages but if I have any problem with my other bank I’m stuck because the nearest branch is Northampton or Aylesbury now.
After the performances of all the major High Street banks in recent years I do not trust any of them now and I’ve experienced RBS, Lloyds /TSB & NatWest in the past - Lloyds used to be fantastic and so was the old TSB!
That’s why I’m with the Nationwide now. stevmk2
I’ve been with them for many years and like the way they do business, they’ve always been very helpful, I do most of my banking online and have different accounts with them, one being the Flexclusive saver which gives a higher interest rate than others as its’ tiered so because I’ve been a member for more that 15 years I get the best rate in town
I’ve also been with them for many years, but alas now that I no longer live in the UK they won’t let me have these deals.
Any ideas in where, if you do have a decent amount of money to invest? I wouldn’t pay for a so called IFA, as from experience I don’t believe they are independent in the end. Interest rates on anything ‘safe’ seem to be 4% tops as in the new Pensioner Bonds, which from a quick look, you can only invest 10k per person.
Perhaps it’s simply the time to stop thinking about saving, and start spending.
I can’t spend it, it has to supplement a State Pension, unfortunately no private pension.
We’re still at tad too young for the ‘Crumbly’ bonds. Perhaps when I’m 65, I’ll buy some. Till then, I just might spend some more savings on holidays.
Thanks Honey, I’ll have a read.
I’ve been a member for 38 years Honey, but they said I couldn’t have a better rate than the 15 year one. I thought it was asking though.
Good idea! If only I could have a week of sun every 2 months. Must be wonderful to have a holiday home either in Portugal or Spain and go whenever you want. I don’t think the interest on any of my savings will run to that
that’s true, the higher rate is only applicable for members of 15 years standing, I too have been with them much longer than that but couldn’t squeeze any more out of 'em!:-p
Well I’ve had a reply from another Secure Message that I sent the Nationwide yesterday - they managed to answer quicker than they have done in the past.
I was right in my interpretation of Terms & Conditions on the Flexclusive Cash ISA - I can’t tranfer-in my existing Web ISA into it.
I will therefore do as I originally thought and open a Flexclusive Cash ISA as soon as I have the cash to spare as at least I’ll get 1.5% which my Web ISA still gives me until 31st January. stevmk2
My wife’s 65 now so she asked me to look at these too as her ISA’s only getting 1.25% but I also noticed that the interest is gross.
For her it’s not a problem as she only has her State Pension and a small private pension so she’d probably not have to pay any tax but you could end up getting just 3.2% maximum.
Better than most ISAs but is it really worth it tying up your savings for a piddling bit of interest that could end up going to the kids?! 
It was impossible to get on this site when we tried though so we thought bugger that anyway - when I retire in we’ll spend it on ourselves!
Only 600 days as of today!! 
stevmk2
if my premium bonds come up and I win a million I will be looking for crew for my yacht, anyone interested?, bearing in mind I haven’t actually won it yet.
I’m not eligible for the Pension Bonds as yet, so will probably miss out. We’re just looking for a small return to go somewhere towards 2 holidays each year, so that we take the minimum out of the capital. We need to keep as much as possible for shortfalls in bills and in case one of us pops off first, as of course there will be an even larger shortfall.
Count me in !! 
I may buy some Premium Bonds and keep them for 12 months, as a bit of fun. Always nice to dream each month and saves on buying Lottery tickets, not that I do very often!!