AIB confirm drop in savings rates

azerogo

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We're writing to let you know about some changes we are making to your accounts, specifically to the interest rates we offer and to our terms and conditions.
The first change is to interest rates. Globally interest rates have been exceptionally low for some time in many countries, including our own. Unfortunately, as a result we have to lower the interest rates we offer on many of our deposit accounts from 12 January 2021. In many cases the rate will be zero.
This table shows what the rates are now and what they will be from 12 January 2021. You will also be able to find more information on all our savings options at www.aib.ie, or at any of our branches.

5027



AER is the annual equivalent rate. Rates quoted are variable. Interest is subject to Deposit Interest Retention Tax (D.I.R.T.) at the prevailing rate, where applicable.
(For more information, visit www.revenue.ie)

Your accounts below will have the new deposit interest rate applied on 12 January 2021.
The second change is to a number of our account terms and conditions, you can see what changes we've made in the attached document.
For customers who are Microenterprises, we would like to draw your attention to the removal of the clause which excludes Microenterprises from the application of negative interest rates. These changes are due to the current extraordinary negative interest rate environment which we are continuing to insulate the vast majority of our customers against.

We must keep our interest rate policy under review and if a decision is taken in the future to apply negative interest that will affect you as a Microenterprise, then we will write to you in advance and let you know your options and what it means for you.
We do appreciate your business but at the same time we understand that you may not want to accept these changes, and you have the right to close your account free of charge by contacting your local AIB branch. If you have an Online Notice Deposit Account you can close it online through Internet Banking.
If we do not hear from you before 12 January 2021 we will take it to mean that you have accepted these changes.
If you're not sure you understand these changes or what they mean for you, you can contact us on 0818 300 092 from 9am - 5pm Monday to Friday except for bank holidays.
 

Attachments

  • AIB Terms and Conditions Changes 12 January 2021.pdf
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Makes sense now for anyone with savings who are carrying loans, to start clearing off the loans.
 
No matter how low the interest rate on the loan, it is higher than a zero rate on a saving account

There can hardly be a loan, where it is better to not pay it off than to pay it off
 
Invoking the possibility of negative interest rates in retail banking seems to be a bit of a red herring to make customers think that getting zero interest on their deposits is in fact a good deal. Negative interest isn't practically feasible but I'm sure banks will come up with other ways of extracting additional cash from their customers.
 
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No matter how low the interest rate on the loan, it is higher than a zero rate on a saving account

There can hardly be a loan, where it is better to not pay it off than to pay it off

True. And as Polonius famously said, “neither a borrower nor a lender be”.
However, lending is part of life and life would be a lot worse without it. For those like Polonius, good luck to them.
And for those with mortgages and loans, we’ve never had it so good. Interest rates are at a historical low.
 
Not only practical but has been in operation for a couple of years in the wholesale world
But not for individual retail customers. Human psychology is much more adverse to losing something than to not getting something. If banks started to deduct money from their customers' deposits it would lead to mass withdrawals, which isn't in their interest.
 
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mass withdrawals? shoeboxes stuffed with cash under the bed - you must be joking.

Most people will just have to take the hit - what else can they do?
 
If banks started to deduct money from their customers' deposits it would lead to mass withdrawals, which isn't in their interest.

That is the objective of the exercise - discourage people from putting money on deposit. The banks can’t generate the income required to pay you the interest, so the last thing they need is more deposits that they need to pay interest on.
 
mass withdrawals? shoeboxes stuffed with cash under the bed - you must be joking.

Most people will just have to take the hit - what else can they do?
I would withdraw and put it into another bank that doesn't charge me negative interest or move it to a bank account outside of the country which doesn't charge me a negative interest rate.
I do not have to accept negative interest rates
 
You will when all banks start charging - it's only a matter of time
 
If you don't need access to your savings quickly it's free to lodge with the Prize bonds
And you might win something while its sitting there, highly unlikely but 5633 bonds won something today
 
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