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Fixed bond savings rates on the downward trend

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Rachel Springall, Press Officer
Rachel Springall, Press Officer / Finance Expert 01603 476210 Email Rachel
09/09/2024

Fixed bond savings rates on the downward trend

The top one-year fixed bond rate fell more than other terms month-on-month and average rates have dropped across the board. Moneyfactscompare.co.uk reveals the state of play in the fixed bond market for savers.

Fixed bond savings rates on the downward trend

The top one-year fixed bond rate fell more than other terms month-on-month and average rates have dropped across the board. Moneyfactscompare.co.uk reveals the state of play in the fixed bond market for savers.

  • The top five-year, three-year, two-year and one-year fixed bonds fell month-on-month, with the top four-year bond remaining unchanged.
  • The top one-year fixed bond fell to 5.05% gross which is now 0.41% higher than the top five-year fixed bond at 4.64%. The rate gap was 0.45% a month prior.
  • In March 2024, the rate gap between the top one- and five-year bonds was 0.31%, as they sat at 5.26% and 4.95%, respectively.
  • A year ago, the top one-year bond paid 6.20%, with the average five-year bond paying 5.85%, a gap of 0.35%.
  • The top five-year, three-year, two-year and one-year fixed bonds fell month-on-month, with the top four-year bond remaining unchanged.
  • The top one-year fixed bond fell to 5.05% gross which is now 0.41% higher than the top five-year fixed bond at 4.64%. The rate gap was 0.45% a month prior.
  • In March 2024, the rate gap between the top one- and five-year bonds was 0.31%, as they sat at 5.26% and 4.95%, respectively.
  • A year ago, the top one-year bond paid 6.20%, with the average five-year bond paying 5.85%, a gap of 0.35%.

 

Savings market analysis – top fixed bond rates

 

Mar-22

Sep-22

Mar-23

Sep-23

Mar-24

Aug-24

Sep-24

Top one-year fixed bond rate

1.50%

3.50%

4.26%

6.20%

5.26%

5.40%

5.05%

Top two-year fixed bond rate

1.70%

3.49%

4.40%

6.13%

5.10%

5.13%

4.90%

Top three-year fixed bond rate

1.92%

3.50%

4.50%

6.00%

4.85%

4.85%

4.72%

Top four-year fixed bond rate

1.95%

3.50%

4.53%

5.85%

4.54%

4.54%

4.54%

Top five-year fixed bond rate

2.19%

3.61%

4.63%

5.85%

4.95%

4.95%

4.64%

Top interest gross rates based on a £10,000 deposit as at the start of the month.

Source: Moneyfactscompare.co.uk

 

 

Savings market analysis – top fixed bond rates

 

Mar-22

Sep-22

Mar-23

Sep-23

Mar-24

Aug-24

Sep-24

Top one-year fixed bond rate

1.50%

3.50%

4.26%

6.20%

5.26%

5.40%

5.05%

Top two-year fixed bond rate

1.70%

3.49%

4.40%

6.13%

5.10%

5.13%

4.90%

Top three-year fixed bond rate

1.92%

3.50%

4.50%

6.00%

4.85%

4.85%

4.72%

Top four-year fixed bond rate

1.95%

3.50%

4.53%

5.85%

4.54%

4.54%

4.54%

Top five-year fixed bond rate

2.19%

3.61%

4.63%

5.85%

4.95%

4.95%

4.64%

Top interest gross rates based on a £10,000 deposit as at the start of the month.

Source: Moneyfactscompare.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

  • All average fixed bond rates dropped month-on-month, with the one-year falling the most.
  • The average one-year fixed bond at 4.43% gross is now 0.63% higher than the top five-year fixed bond at 3.80%. The rate gap was 0.71% a month prior.
  • In March 2024, the rate gap between the average one- and five-year bonds was 0.67%, as they sat at 4.61% and 3.94%, respectively.
  • A year ago, the average one-year bond paid 5.35%, with the average five-year bond paying 4.86%, a gap of 0.49%.
  • All average fixed bond rates dropped month-on-month, with the one-year falling the most.
  • The average one-year fixed bond at 4.43% gross is now 0.63% higher than the top five-year fixed bond at 3.80%. The rate gap was 0.71% a month prior.
  • In March 2024, the rate gap between the average one- and five-year bonds was 0.67%, as they sat at 4.61% and 3.94%, respectively.
  • A year ago, the average one-year bond paid 5.35%, with the average five-year bond paying 4.86%, a gap of 0.49%.

 

Savings market analysis – average fixed bond rates

 

Mar-22

Sep-22

Mar-23

Sep-23

Mar-24

Aug-24

Sep-24

Average one-year fixed bond rate

0.92%

2.33%

3.69%

5.35%

4.61%

4.63%

4.43%

Average two-year fixed bond rate

1.08%

2.51%

3.81%

5.32%

4.31%

4.33%

4.19%

Average three-year fixed bond rate

1.33%

2.72%

3.92%

5.09%

4.15%

4.16%

3.99%

Average four-year fixed bond rate

1.58%

2.84%

3.99%

4.97%

3.97%

3.87%

3.77%

Average five-year fixed bond rate

1.61%

2.95%

3.99%

4.86%

3.94%

3.92%

3.80%

Average interest gross rates based on a £10,000 deposit as at the start of the month.

Source: Moneyfactscompare.co.uk

 

 

Savings market analysis – average fixed bond rates

 

Mar-22

Sep-22

Mar-23

Sep-23

Mar-24

Aug-24

Sep-24

Average one-year fixed bond rate

0.92%

2.33%

3.69%

5.35%

4.61%

4.63%

4.43%

Average two-year fixed bond rate

1.08%

2.51%

3.81%

5.32%

4.31%

4.33%

4.19%

Average three-year fixed bond rate

1.33%

2.72%

3.92%

5.09%

4.15%

4.16%

3.99%

Average four-year fixed bond rate

1.58%

2.84%

3.99%

4.97%

3.97%

3.87%

3.77%

Average five-year fixed bond rate

1.61%

2.95%

3.99%

4.86%

3.94%

3.92%

3.80%

Average interest gross rates based on a £10,000 deposit as at the start of the month.

Source: Moneyfactscompare.co.uk

 

 

 

 

 

Rachel Springall, Finance Expert at Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, said:

“Fixed bond rates took a turn for the worse during August and the pool of bonds paying 5% or more continues to dwindle. It is entirely plausible that providers may drop rates further in the weeks ahead, but the challenger banks are holding firm in the top rate tables. Those challenger banks will have their own deposit targets to meet so that they can comfortably fund their future lending. Therefore, some could break against the rate-cutting trend to entice new business, but the deals may not be on the shelf for long. However, fixed bonds can face notable cuts or even be withdrawn from sale if providers get inundated with deposits from savers rushing to secure a top rate deal, fearing rates are doomed to fall further still.

“It has now been a month since the Bank of England base rate cut, which was the first drop in over four years. Any cuts to base rate can typically impact variable savings rates, but providers will also review rates on accounts that guarantee returns. Unsurprisingly then, fixed bond rates from one-year, up to and including five-year terms, have dropped month-on-month. It is also worth noting that time is a key factor in the flow of cuts within the savings market, and each institution will no doubt be monitoring their peers’ moves in the coming weeks. Those savers who are prepared to lock their cash away for a guaranteed return may be wise to act with pace to secure a 5% bond.”

Rachel Springall, Finance Expert at Moneyfactscompare.co.uk, said:

“Fixed bond rates took a turn for the worse during August and the pool of bonds paying 5% or more continues to dwindle. It is entirely plausible that providers may drop rates further in the weeks ahead, but the challenger banks are holding firm in the top rate tables. Those challenger banks will have their own deposit targets to meet so that they can comfortably fund their future lending. Therefore, some could break against the rate-cutting trend to entice new business, but the deals may not be on the shelf for long. However, fixed bonds can face notable cuts or even be withdrawn from sale if providers get inundated with deposits from savers rushing to secure a top rate deal, fearing rates are doomed to fall further still.

“It has now been a month since the Bank of England base rate cut, which was the first drop in over four years. Any cuts to base rate can typically impact variable savings rates, but providers will also review rates on accounts that guarantee returns. Unsurprisingly then, fixed bond rates from one-year, up to and including five-year terms, have dropped month-on-month. It is also worth noting that time is a key factor in the flow of cuts within the savings market, and each institution will no doubt be monitoring their peers’ moves in the coming weeks. Those savers who are prepared to lock their cash away for a guaranteed return may be wise to act with pace to secure a 5% bond.”

Notes to editors

Pioneering financial comparison technology for over 35 years.

Moneyfacts Group plc is the UK’s leading provider of retail financial product data. Used by virtually every bank and building society in the UK, and supplied to the Bank of England, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Ombudsman Service, HM Treasury, Prudential Regulatory Authority and UK Finance.

Our expert research team monitors the thousands of mortgages, savings, credit card, personal loan, business banking, life, pension and investment products in the UK.

Moneyfactscompare.co.uk is the financial product price comparison site, launched as Moneyfacts.co.uk in 2000 and rebranded to Moneyfactscompare.co.uk in 2023, which helps consumers compare thousands of financial products, including credit cards, savings, mortgages and many more. Unlike other comparison sites, Moneyfactscompare.co.uk shows whole of market data regardless of commercial bias, showing consumers a true picture of the best products based on the criteria they select.

We hope you find this press release insightful. We would appreciate a link back to Moneyfactscompare.co.uk if you decide to source this information.

For more information about us please see our key facts.

Broadcast

Our broadcast suite enables our finance experts to appear in-vision for television, and we regularly comment live on national and regional radio.

To arrange an interview for radio or television, please contact our press department. We have an in-house broadcast room.

 

Notes to editors

Pioneering financial comparison technology for over 35 years.

Moneyfacts Group plc is the UK’s leading provider of retail financial product data. Used by virtually every bank and building society in the UK, and supplied to the Bank of England, Financial Conduct Authority, Financial Ombudsman Service, HM Treasury, Prudential Regulatory Authority and UK Finance.

Our expert research team monitors the thousands of mortgages, savings, credit card, personal loan, business banking, life, pension and investment products in the UK.

Moneyfactscompare.co.uk is the financial product price comparison site, launched as Moneyfacts.co.uk in 2000 and rebranded to Moneyfactscompare.co.uk in 2023, which helps consumers compare thousands of financial products, including credit cards, savings, mortgages and many more. Unlike other comparison sites, Moneyfactscompare.co.uk shows whole of market data regardless of commercial bias, showing consumers a true picture of the best products based on the criteria they select.

We hope you find this press release insightful. We would appreciate a link back to Moneyfactscompare.co.uk if you decide to source this information.

For more information about us please see our key facts.

Broadcast

Our broadcast suite enables our finance experts to appear in-vision for television, and we regularly comment live on national and regional radio.

To arrange an interview for radio or television, please contact our press department. We have an in-house broadcast room.

 

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Rachel Springall Press Officer / Finance Expert
Caitlyn Eastell Apprentice Press & PR Assistant