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Frequently Asked Questions

All you need to know about Sensible Savings

To be eligible to apply for a Sensible Savings Fixed Rate Bond, you must be a UK resident and over 18 years of age. You must also hold an existing current account with a UK bank. Applications can be made in your sole name or as a joint application with one other person. Sensible Savings Fixed Rate Bonds are available only to individuals – companies, charities, clubs or associations are not eligible to apply.

Open an account in minutes with our quick and easy online application or simply download an application form from our website under Important documents or by clicking here. Alternatively, contact us if you would like us to post an application form to you. Once you have fully completed and signed the form, post it to us together with a cheque drawn on your UK bank account for the amount which you wish to invest. Unfortunately we are not able to accept bankers drafts. Please ensure you have read and understood the Key Features and Terms and Conditions before you apply.

By Internet Banking, BACS or CHAPS
You can make your deposit by applying online and using your bank’s internet banking facility if available to you or contact your bank or building society. Please use the account details given to you in the final step of the online application to make the transfer.

You will also need to correctly quote your application reference when making the transfer as any error could result in a delay in allocating the money to your account or returning the funds to your bank. This reference is a unique number and will be assigned to you when you submit your application online. You will start to earn interest as soon as you have completed your online application and we have received your funds.

You may be charged a fee by your bank for this service or monetary limits may apply – please check with your bank.

By Cheque
Please download an application form from our website under Important documents or by clicking here. Alternatively, contact us if you would like us to post an application form to you.

Once you have fully completed and signed the form, post it to us together with a cheque drawn on your UK bank account for the amount which you wish to invest. Your cheque must be payable to yourself or both of you if you are making a joint application. Unfortunately we are not able to accept bankers drafts. If you are making your deposit by cheque you will start to earn interest as soon as your cheque has cleared and will continue to earn interest up to, but not including, the day we repay you.

Please ensure you have read and understood the Key Features and Terms and Conditions before you apply.

The application form, together with your cheque should be posted to our registered address at 4 Royal Court, Gadbrook Way, Gadbrook Park, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 7UT.

Sensible Savings Fixed Rate Bonds are available for deposit amounts between a minimum of £5,000 and a maximum of £500,000. However, you may apply for more than one Sensible Savings Fixed Rate Bond if you wish.

No – you will not be allowed access to the funds until the Bond matures. We will write to you approximately six weeks prior to the maturity date to ask whether you wish us to repay the amount of your Bond together with accrued interest to the bank account specified in your application form or whether you wish us to re-invest the funds in a new Bond. We will advise you of your options and give details of any new Fixed Rate Bonds which we may offer at that time.

Once we have received your funds, satisfactorily confirmed your identity and booked your Bond, we will send you confirmation of the details of your investment, including the amount invested, the applicable interest rate, the maturity date and the total amount payable on maturity. We will send you a similar confirmation after your Bond has been open for one year and again just prior to the maturity of the Bond.

There is no online access to the account. Internet access will not be available as this is a fixed term product and no withdrawals are allowed for the duration of the Bond. We will however provide you with confirmation of the amount which you have invested, the applicable interest rate, the maturity date and the total amount payable on maturity.

If you have any queries about your investment then please contact our friendly Savings Team on 01606 815440 who will be pleased to assist. Lines are open from 9am to 5pm weekdays (excluding UK bank holidays).

If your personal details change (e.g. if you change your address), please inform us as soon as possible in writing. Please note that if your Fixed Rate Bond is held in joint names, then any changes must be signed and authorised by both of you.

Interest is calculated up to the day before the maturity date. Interest is only paid out on the maturity date of your Bond. Where the maturity date is a non-working day interest will be paid on the next working day. For Bonds with a term of more than 1 year interest is compounded annually.

Unfortunately we are unable to advise you on your personal tax position, and suggest you seek professional tax advice. We can however confirm that interest will only be paid to you on the maturity of your bond.

At Sensible Savings, we pride ourselves on our efficiency when dealing with your queries. However, in the unlikely event that we have not answered your query to your satisfaction, please let us know as soon as possible so that we can rectify the matter without delay.

Please address your complaint to The Customer Services Manager, The Access Bank UK Limited, 4 Royal Court, Gadbrook Way, Gadbrook Park, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 7UT in writing, or by telephone on 01606 815440.

Details of our complaints handling process are available on request from The Access Bank UK Limited, by telephone on 01606 815440, by fax on 01606 45681 or by email: complaints@theaccessbankukltd.co.uk.

If however, you do not feel that we have answered your complaint satisfactorily, you do have the right to refer the matter to the Financial Ombudsman Service.

The Financial Ombudsman Service can be contacted by post at: Exchange Tower, London, E14 4SR or by telephone on 0800 023 4567 or 0300 123 9 123.

Alternatively you can visit the website at www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk

When someone dies it can be hard to think of the practical things. We have created a step-by-step guide to read when you are ready. It helps explain things you might need to do and answers some questions you may have. Bereavement guide

We are aware that sometimes you may find yourself in difficult situations, but we are here to support you through your financial worries, and we have prepared the below list of some organisations that may be able to help with certain difficulties that you may be experiencing. Please follow the link below to access the ‘Where you can go for help’ guide.

Please follow the link to our leaflet for some useful information about ‘How to protect yourself from debit card fraud’. By using the mobile banking app and following these simple steps we can reduce the risk of debit card fraud. If you have any questions about your debit card, please call the Customer Support Team on +44 (0)1606 537 800 between the hours of 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.