New figures reveal £257.8bn is languishing in financial savings accounts paying no curiosity in any respect, leaving savers lacking out on £13.6bn a yr in curiosity.
That’s nearly doubled in a yr from an equal £7.4bn final October, in keeping with funding platform Hargreaves Lansdown.
Greater than 1 / 4 (27%) of individuals have by no means switched financial savings accounts for a greater price and nearly half (49%) don’t have any plans to modify at any level, the agency mentioned.
Its analysis confirmed that the commonest cause for not switching was as a result of folks assume they’ve one of the best price already (28%), adopted by the very fact they belief their financial institution (27%) after which the trouble concerned in switching (17%).
A yr in the past a 3rd of individuals mentioned they didn’t swap as a result of charges had been too low to trouble with. That determine has now fallen to 17% as charges have risen a lot within the meantime.
Final October, one of the best easy accessibility financial savings accounts had been paying lower than 3%, whereas now they’re paying greater than 5%.
Sarah Coles, head of private finance at Hargreaves Lansdown, mentioned: “Sticking with easy accessibility department accounts run by the excessive avenue giants paying depressing ranges of curiosity is costing savers a fortune.”
The analysis recommended the most important motivation for folks to remain put is as a result of they assume they have already got the absolute best price (28%).
Ms Coles mentioned: “This can be the case for some, however on condition that the lion’s share of cash remains to be within the easy accessibility accounts of the large excessive avenue giants, and the overwhelming majority of them pay a fraction of what’s out there from newer on-line banks, there’s an inexpensive probability others simply don’t realise how rather more charges have risen elsewhere.”
The second commonest cause for cash languishing in depressing accounts is that individuals belief their financial institution (27%). However on condition that newer banks often supply one of the best charges, savers want to think about how a lot curiosity they’re shedding by selecting to not belief a financial institution on the grounds it doesn’t really feel as acquainted, mentioned Ms Coles.
• Calculations are primarily based on incomes 5.15% in an easy accessibility account. Financial savings knowledge from the Financial institution of England’s most up-to-date figures (September) and switching knowledge from a survey of two,000 folks by Opinium for Hargreaves Lansdown in October 2023.