Leeds Building Society launches new tracker cash Isa linked to Bank of England base rate - is it any good?

Leeds Building Society has launched a new cash Isa that guarantees to increase interest paid to savers should the Bank of England base rate rise from 0.5 per cent.

Rates are tipped to rise in May but only marginally - and it won't necessarily happen. Savers with a variable rate account are also not guaranteed to feel the benefit if it does materialise.

The Leeds account currently pays a rate of 0.96 per cent, but the 12 month Limited Issue Tracker Isa promises to always pay 0.46 percentage points above the base rate.

On the up? Leeds BS's new deal promises to 

On the up? Leeds BS's new deal promises to pay 0.46 percentage points more than the base rate

The Leeds Tracker Isa rate would therefore jump to 1.21 per cent if the base rate does rise - read our what next for interest rates round-up.

If rates go up, Britain's fifth largest building society will pass on the increase within 48 hours.

However this is still lower than the top rival one-year fixed rate cash Isa deals from Al-Rayan Bank at 1.5 per cent and Kent Reliance at 1.48 per cent.

Disappointingly few banks choose to boost savers' returns following a rate rise, according to research from Which? despite being quick to hike mortgage rates.

In the five weeks following the previous Bank of England change in November 2017, savers with nearly half of the 327 variable instant access Isa and savings accounts on the market at the time didn't see their interest increase.

Research from the consumer group showed only one in five banks passed on the full 0.25 per cent increase.

If the Bank of England raises rates twice this year, as largely predicted, this means savers could miss out on a 0.5 percentage point bump, a significant increase when savings rates are so disappointingly low.

What is Leeds Building Society offering?

The account is limited issue and likely to prove popular with savers banking on a base rate rise so you will need to act fast if you want to open an account before it is pulled. 

It can be opened online, in branch or by post with a £1,000 minimum deposit and it allows transfers in.

The account allows unlimited withdrawals without penalty.

Watch out, if you balance falls below £1,000 your interest rate drops to just 0.05 per cent. Interest is paid on maturity on June 2 2019. 

How does it compare?

There are few accounts on the market offering guarantees to track the base rate, and as mentioned above many banks won't automatically pass on increased on standard variable interest accounts.

Kent Reliance and Family BS are the only others offering a tracker Isa deals, according to research by information website Moneyfacts.

Rachel Springall, finance expert at Moneyfacts, said: 'Tracker deals are a great choice when there is a potential base rate rise on its way, as there is usually a guarantee set in place for the interest rate to pay above the current base rate.

'As an example, the Kent Reliance two year tracker Isa will always be 0.75 per cent above the Bank of England base rate throughout the two years. 

'These types of deals tend to be unique in the market, as most providers offer variable Isa's that may or may not fluctuate if base rate changes, there is no guarantee even though it is largely assumed.

'If savers are looking for an Isa that takes into account the average return of the highest rates, then the Family Building Society Market Tracker Isa could be a worthy choice. 

'It tracks the average interest rate of the 20 highest variable interest rates. 

'It's worth keeping in mind in this case, that the rate sits shy of the Best Buys, where the top Isa deals are currently 1.35 per cent from Al Rayan Bank and 1.30 per cent from Nationwide BS.' 

TOP RATES: CASH ISAS 

Nationwide currently pays the top rate to Isa savers at 1.4 per cent, but you must have been a customer of the building society for over a year to be eligible.

Just below at 1.3 per cent is its Single Access Isa which can be opened by anyone but limits savers to one withdrawal a year, otherwise interest falls to 0.5 per cent.

Al Rayan Bank pays a slither more at 1.35 per cent. The bank is compliant with Sharia principles however and offers an expected profit rate rather than guaranteed interest.

Coventry BS sits next in the tables and is the top deal without restrictions at 1.25 per cent.

As mentioned above Al Rayan pays the top rate on a one-year fixed rate cash Isa and just below sits Kent Reliance at 1.48 per cent, requiring a minimum balance of £1,000.

Al Rayan and Kent Reliance also beat the rest over two years at 1.7 per cent and 1.68 per cent respectively. If you choose to lock your money away for three years you can earn up to 1.8 per cent from Aldermore, or 1.77 per cent from Paragon Bank.

The top Isa rate on the market is currently offered by Halifax and United Trust Bank at 2.25 per cent.

>For more of the top rates skip to This is Money's independently complied best buy Isa savings tables.

 

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New cash Isa promises to pass on any base rate increases to savers

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