How good is 6% Halifax account?

By Helen Loveless, Mail on Sunday 企業 Editor
Updated: 00:00 BST, 20 February 2004

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HALIFAX's new high-利益／興味 貯金 account may seem like manna to cash-餓死するd savers. With a 保証（人） to 支払う／賃金 a 直す／買収する，八百長をするd 率 of 6% for one year, it's no wonder it has attracted lots of attention.

All you need to do is save between £25 and £250 every month, for 12 months in a 列／漕ぐ／騒動. In return you'll earn 利益／興味 of 6% before 税金. Basic 率 taxpayers will earn 4.8% after 税金.

So what's the catch? Not surprisingly, there are a few strings 大（公）使館員d. The money must be paid into the account every month by standing order: a lump sum deposit is not permitted. This 限界s the 量 of 利益／興味 that can be earned on the account.

For example, 投資するing the 十分な £3,000 over the course of the year would earn around £98 in 利益／興味. Yet 利益／興味 of 6% on a lump sum 投資 of £3,000 over the same period would be 価値（がある） £180.

Jason Clarke at Halifax says: 'This account is not 目的（とする）d at people wanting to make lump-sum 投資s. It is designed for those with little or nothing in the way of 貯金 so far - people who don't think they can afford to save, not least because they are often 要求するd to make lump-sum 投資s to do so.'

The 最大限 that can be saved is comparatively low at just £3,000 a year and no 撤退s are 許すd during the course of the year. If you do make a 撤退 the 率 of 利益／興味 paid will 落ちる to its Websaver account 率. However, 現在の 率 of 4.3% 甚だしい／１２ダース it is still one of the most 競争の激しい on the market.

When you open an account you must also 指名する one of four Halifax accounts to 移転 your money into after 12 months - a 条件 that has come under 解雇する／砲火／射撃 from internet and 郵便の bank ING.

Lindsay Sinclair, ING Direct 長，指導者 (n)役員／(a)執行力のある, says: 'Once again 消費者s will be 誘惑するd in with short-称する，呼ぶ／期間／用語 headline 率s. They should 調査／捜査する what happens after one year when they will be transferred to an account 支払う／賃金ing 大いに inferior 利益／興味.' The four accounts 含む the Websaver account 支払う／賃金ing 4.3% 甚だしい／１２ダース and the Telephone 接近 account which 支払う／賃金s 3% 甚だしい／１２ダース. The 率s 落ちる はっきりと for people transferring to the Instant Saver cashcard account, 支払う／賃金ing 1.75% on balances of £3,000, or the Saver Reward passbook account, which has a meagre 率 of 1.65% on balances of £3,000 加える.

Yet there are no 制限s on how long 貯金 must remain in the transferred account, so those unhappy with the 率 can 簡単に 身を引く their money and の近くに the account.

Whatever you decide make sure you know what to 推定する／予想する before deciding where to 投資する your money.