Fixed Rate Bonds

• Fixed rate bonds can pay higher interest rates than easy access or notice accounts
• Be sure you can commit your money for the full term
• You may only be able to make a single deposit into your bond

Fixed rate bonds pay a set amount of interest, over a predefined period on money you can afford not to access.

Because the bank or building society knows it will have the use of your money for the duration of the bond’s term, it can pay you a higher rate of interest than on an easy access account where it can’t be certain of having your money from one day to the next. The longer you are prepared to not have access to your money for, the higher the rates of interest that will be on offer.

Fixed rate bond terms can range from less than a year, right up to 5 years, giving savers choice on how long they wish to commit their cash. We say ‘commit’ because a fixed rate bond may not allow you to access your money during the term – and if access is allowed, it’s normally at the expense of a big interest penalty. Generally-speaking the best 1 year fixed rate bonds won’t allow you to make a withdrawal if you need to. However, longer term bonds will generally allow access, but will impose strict interest penalties.

Early access penalties…

Bonds that do allow access may impose a flat loss of interest penalty, no matter when in the term you make the withdrawal (so, 180 days’ loss of interest for instance). Others may taper the penalty, depending on the point during the term the withdrawal is made (so, 365 days’ loss if the withdrawal is in the first year, 320 days’ loss if the withdrawal is in the second year, etc.).

If you think that you may need to access your money during the term, a fixed rate bond is not for you.

Depositing into a fixed rate bond…

Fixed rate bonds may only allow you to make a single deposit at account opening. If you are allowed to make further deposits after opening, you will only be able to do this while the bond is on offer to new customers – once it is withdrawn from sale you cannot add to your savings pot.

So if you’re looking for a savings account that will allow you to add to your savings, a fixed rate bond is not for you. You could try the alternatives of a fixed rate regular savings account, or a variable rate easy access or notice savings account instead.

How your interest is paid…

Most fixed rate bonds will pay interest every year, allowing you to benefit from the positive effects of compound interest over a longer term. However, some bonds may pay interest only when the term ends and the bond matures. Providers may also offer a monthly interest option, which allows savers who use their interest as income to get a regular, set monthly payment from their savings.

When your fixed rate bond matures…

Be sure to keep track of when your bond ends. Your bank or building society will normally write to you as the bond approaches the end of its term to ask what you want to do. If it doesn’t hear anything, your money may be re-invested in another fixed rate bond, or a variable rate maturity savings account, which may not pay as competitive an interest rate.

What next?

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Compare:

• 1 year fixed rate bonds
• 2 year fixed rate bonds
• 3 year fixed rate bonds
• 4 & 5 year fixed rate bonds

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