Foundations Cash ISA

Key Features

  • No additional deposits can be made into this account
  • Variable interest rate of 3.10% gross* p.a./AER**
  • Minimum interest rate guarantee of 1.00% gross* p.a./AER**
  • No notice withdrawals
  • A minimum balance of £25 is required in your account
  • View your account, request withdrawals and send secure messages via our online service (restrictions apply)
  • Interest payable on 5 April
  • Voting rights available [1]


*All ISA interest is paid tax-free, which means it's exempt from income tax and no tax is deducted.  It's your responsibility to pay any tax due, based on your individual circumstances.  Tax rules may change in future.

**AER stands for Annual Equivalent Rate and provides a means of comparing interest rates by showing what the rate would be if interest was paid and added once a year.

[1] Voting rights are available to those individuals aged 18 or over whose account balance was not less than £100 between the Society's previous financial year end (or other date as specified in the Rules) and the date of voting.

24. Updates to this privacy notice

This privacy notice may be updated from time to time. This means we may send you an updated copy (depending on whether we are required to do that or not) or notify you of the changes.

Foundations Cash ISA Summary

Key Features

  • Variable interest rate of 1.10% gross* p.a/AER**
  • Minimum interest rate guarantee of 1.00% gross* p.a./AER**
  • The minimum amount to open a Foundations Cash ISA is £25
  • The maximum ISA allowance is £20,000 for the 2020/2021 tax year
  • We're not accepting deposits after 1 April for the 2021/2022 tax year
  • No-notice withdrawals; however, if a withdrawal is made, the value may only be replaced by further subscriptions where the annual investment limit for the relevant tax year has not been reached.
  • A minimum balance of £25 is required in your account
  • Monthly savings options
  • View your account, request withdrawals and send secure messages via our online service (restrictions apply)
  • Deposits can be made via bank transfer, Direct Debit or by cheque
  • Interest payable on 5 April
  • Limited to one ISA per member
  • This account is not available for children
  • Voting rights available


*All ISA interest is paid tax-free, which means it's exempt from income tax and no tax is deducted.  It's your responsibility to pay any tax due, based on your individual circumstances.  Tax rules may change in future.

**AER stands for Annual Equivalent Rate and provides a means of comparing interest rates by showing what the rate would be if interest was paid and added once a year.

1)Voting rights are available to those individuals aged 18 or over whose account balance was not less than £100 between the Society's previous financial year end (or other date as specified in the Rules) and the date of voting.

Regular Savings Summary Box

The information provided in this Summary Box is a summary of the key features of the Regular Savings account. It isn’t intended to be a substitute for reading the terms and conditions that apply to the account.

Account name: Regular Savings

What is the interest rate?

The Regular Savings account offers a variable rate of interest of 3.85% gross* p.a./AER**.

Interest is calculated daily and credited to your account on 31 December each year. If you close the account before 31 December we’ll credit the interest to your account

* We pay all savings interest gross, which means that no tax is deducted. It’s your responsibility to pay any tax due, based on your individual circumstances. Tax rules may change in future.

** AER stands for Annual Equivalent Rate and provides a means of comparing interest rates by showing what the rate would be if interest was paid and added once a year.

Can Ecology Building Society change the interest rate?

We may change interest rates at any time if we reasonably believe that the change is needed for any of the following reasons (which may relate to circumstances existing at the time or those that are expected to apply in the near future):
• to respond to changes in the Bank of England Base Rate
• to respond to changes in mortgage or interest rates generally (including the interest rates paid on similar accounts by other providers of financial services)
• to enable us to manage the difference between the interest rates charged to our borrowers and interest rates paid to our investors, or the providers of funds to us, taking into account the interests of the Society, our members, and your rights and interests as an account holder
• to respond to changes in the law or the decision of a court or ombudsman
• to meet relevant regulatory requirements
• to respond to new (or changes to) statements or codes of practice or industry guidance designed to enhance consumer protection
• to reflect changes to our costs in providing the account, including
administration costs and costs of providing services or facilities
• to introduce or alter ‘tiers’ of interest where different rates apply depending on the amount in the account.

Where we make any such change, we will act reasonably and we will only make the change if we believe it is fair in the circumstances.

Any change we make to interest rates will be proportionate to the circumstances giving rise to the change.

For further information regarding interest rate changes including the process for notifying you, please refer to section 7 in our leaflet Saving with Ecology – General terms and conditions.

What would the estimated balance be after 12 months based on a monthly deposit of £250?

Based on an interest rate of 3.85% gross, the estimated balance on a monthly deposit of £250 after 12 months would be £3,062.56.

This projection is provided for illustrative purposes only and does not take into account your individual circumstances.

How do I open and manage my account?

Applications for this account can be made online or by posting a completed application form.

You can manage your account using our online service (restrictions apply) or by post.

With our online service, you can view your account transactions, send secure messages and request withdrawals. Payments can take up to two working days to show on your account.

Deposits can be made by bank transfer, Standing Order, transfer from another Ecology account or cheque.

You can save between £10 and £250 a month with the maximum investment being £3,000 per calendar year.

If your monthly payment is less than £250, you can top it up to the value of £250 by bank transfer or cheque.

If you pay more than £250 into this account in a month, the money over £250 will be automatically returned to you.

The minimum amount required to keep a Regular Savings account open is £10.

Can I withdraw money?

Yes, you can withdraw money twice a year. The minimum withdrawal amount is £10 and withdrawals must be for a specific amount unless the account is to be closed. There is no notice period for withdrawals with the Regular Savings account. Accounts can be closed at any time upon request, with no penalty and in addition to the two withdrawals.

Withdrawals can be requested via our online service (restrictions apply) or by using one of our Withdrawal forms.

Additional information
This Summary Box should be read in conjunction with the following brochures and leaflets before applying for a Regular Savings account:
Regular Savings information sheet
Saving with Ecology – General terms and conditions
FSCS Information Sheet
Current savings rates and charges
Savings account identification requirements

Easy Access Summary Box

The information provided in this Summary Box is a summary of the key features of the Easy Access account and is not intended to be a substitute for reading the terms and conditions that apply to the account.

Account name: Easy Access

What is the interest rate?

The Easy Access account offers a current variable rate of interest of 3.20% gross* p.a./AER**.

Interest is calculated daily and credited to your account on 31 December each year. If you close your account before 31 December we’ll credit the interest to your account on the day you close it.

* We pay all savings interest gross, which means that no tax is deducted. It’s your responsibility to pay any tax due, based on your individual circumstances. Tax rules may change in future.

** AER stands for Annual Equivalent Rate and provides a means of comparing interest rates by showing what the rate would be if interest was paid and added once a year.

Can Ecology Building Society change the interest rate?

We may change interest rates at any time if we reasonably believe that the change is needed for any of the following reasons (which may relate to circumstances existing at the time or those that are expected to apply in the near future):
• to respond to changes in the Bank of England Base Rate
• to respond to changes in mortgage or interest rates generally (including the interest rates paid on similar accounts by other providers of financial services)
• to enable us to manage the difference between the interest rates charged to our borrowers and interest rates paid to our investors, or the providers of funds to us, taking into account the interests of the Society, our members, and your rights and interests as an account holder
• to respond to changes in the law or the decision of a court or ombudsman
• to meet relevant regulatory requirements
• to respond to new (or changes to) statements or codes of practice or industry guidance designed to enhance consumer protection
• to reflect changes to our costs in providing the account, including administration costs and costs of providing services or facilities
• to introduce or alter ‘tiers’ of interest where different rates apply depending on the amount in the account.

Where we make any such change, we will act reasonably and we will only make the change if we believe it is fair in the circumstances.

Any change we make to interest rates will be proportionate to the circumstances giving rise to the change.

For further information regarding interest rate changes including the process for notifying you, please refer to section 7 in our leaflet Saving with Ecology – General terms and conditions.

What would the estimated balance be after 12 months based on a £1,000 deposit?

Based on an interest rate of 3.20% gross, the balance on a £1,000 deposit after 12 months would be £1,032.00.

This projection is provided for illustrative purposes only and does not take into account your individual circumstances.

How do I open and manage my account?

Applications for this account can be made online or by posting a completed application form.  Please refer to the Easy Access information sheet for further details of how to open an account and make your initial deposit.

With our online service, you can view your account transactions, send secure messages and request withdrawals.

The minimum amount to open an Easy Access account is £25 and the maximum investment is £500,000.

The minimum amount required to keep an Easy Access account open is £25.

Deposits can be made by bank transfer, Standing Order, transfer from another Ecology account or cheque.

Can I withdraw money?

As there is no notice period with the Easy Access account, you have unrestricted access to your funds.

The minimum withdrawal amount is £5 and withdrawals must be for a specific amount unless the account is to be closed. Accounts can be closed upon request and with no penalty.

Withdrawals can be requested via our online service (restrictions apply). For postal accounts, withdrawals can also be requested by using one of our Withdrawal forms or by sending us a letter signed by whoever is authorised to operate the account.

Additional information
This Summary Box should be read in conjunction with the following brochures and leaflets before applying for an Easy Access account:
Easy Access information sheet
Saving with Ecology – General terms and conditions
FSCS Information Sheet
Current savings rates and charges
Savings account identification requirements

90-Day Notice Summary Box

The information provided in this Summary Box is a summary of the key features of the 90-Day Notice account and is not intended to be a substitute for reading the terms and conditions that apply to the account.

Account name: 90-Day Notice

What is the interest rate?

The 90-Day Notice account offers tiered variable interest rates depending on your account balance as follows:

Interest rate
(% gross* p.a./AER**)
£500-£4,9993.75%
£5,000 - £9,9993.85%
£10,000 - £24,9993.95%
£25,000 +4.15%

Interest is calculated on a daily basis and credited to your account on 31 December each year. If you close your account before 31 December we’ll credit the interest to your account on the day you close it.

* We pay all savings interest gross, which means that no tax is deducted. It’s your responsibility to pay any tax due, based on your individual circumstances. Tax rules may change in future.

** AER stands for Annual Equivalent Rate and provides a means of comparing interest rates by showing what the rate would be if interest was paid and added once a year.

Can Ecology Building Society change the interest rate?

We may change interest rates at any time if we reasonably believe that the change is needed for any of the following reasons (which may relate to circumstances existing at the time or those that are expected to apply in the near future):
• to respond to changes in the Bank of England Base Rate
• to respond to changes in mortgage or interest rates generally (including the interest rates paid on similar accounts by other providers of financial services)
• to enable us to manage the difference between the interest rates charged to our borrowers and interest rates paid to our investors, or the providers of funds to us, taking into account the interests of the Society, our members, and your rights and interests as an account holder
• to respond to changes in the law or the decision of a court or ombudsman
• to meet relevant regulatory requirements
• to respond to new (or changes to) statements or codes of practice or industry guidance designed to enhance consumer protection
• to reflect changes to our costs in providing the account, including administration costs and costs of providing services or facilities
• to introduce or alter ‘tiers’ of interest where different rates apply depending on the amount in the account.

Where we make any such change, we will act reasonably and we will only make the change if we believe it is fair in the circumstances.

Any change we make to interest rates will be proportionate to the circumstances giving rise to the change.

For further information regarding interest rate changes including the process for notifying you, please refer to section 7 in our leaflet Saving with Ecology – General terms and conditions.

What would the estimated balance be after 12 months based on a £1,000 deposit?

Based on an interest rate of 3.75% gross, the balance on a £1,000 deposit after 12 months would be £1,037.50.

The following projections are based on the minimum balances required to achieve the next interest rate tier:

Based on the interest rate of 3.85% gross, the balance on a £5,000 deposit after 12 months would be £5,192.50.

Based on an interest rate of 3.95% gross, the balance on a £10,000 deposit after 12 months would be £10,395.00.

Based on an interest rate of 4.15% gross, the balance on a £25,000 deposit after 12 months would be £26,037.50.

This projection is provided for illustrative purposes only and does not take into account your individual circumstances.

How do I open and manage my account?

Applications for this account can be made online or by posting a completed application form.

With our online service, you can view your account transactions, send secure messages and request a withdrawal.

Deposits can be made by bank transfer, Standing order, transfer from another Ecology account or cheque.

The minimum amount to open and keep a 90-Day Notice account is £500. The maximum investment is £500,000.

Can I withdraw money?

90 days’ notice is required for any withdrawal from your account.

The notice period starts on the date we receive your request via our online service, or a completed withdrawal notification form or by a signed confirmation letter.

The minimum withdrawal amount is £250 and withdrawals must be for a specific amount unless the account is to be closed.

Withdrawals should be requested using using our online service. You can also use our Withdrawal form or send us a letter signed by whoever is authorised to operate the account.

Additional information
This Summary Box should be read in conjunction with the following brochures and leaflets before applying for a 90-Day Notice account:
90-Day Notice information sheet
Saving with Ecology – General terms and conditions
FSCS Information Sheet
Current savings rates and charges
Savings account identification requirements

Treasurers’ Deposit

Key Features

  • Variable interest rate of 2.35% gross* p.a./AER**
  • Available to small groups and charities
  • The minimum amount to open a Treasurers' Deposit account is £25
  • The maximum investment is £500,000
  • No-notice withdrawals
  • View your account and send secure messages via our online service (restrictions apply)
  • Deposits can be made via bank transfer, Direct Debit or by cheque through the post
  • You can also save monthly by Direct Debit or standing order
  • Interest payable on 31 December
  • Statements issued annually in January
  • Limited to one account per group/charity
  • This Deposit account has no voting rights


*Gross is the interest rate without tax deducted.

**AER stands for Annual Equivalent Rate and provides a means of comparing interest rates by showing what the rate would be if interest was paid and added once a year.

Self Invested Personal Pensions (SIPP)

Key Features

  • Interest rates are variable at 0.60% below Bank of England Base Rate (BoEBR) for balances up to £50,000 and 0.40% below BoEBR for funds in excess of £50,000.
  • Interest rates are 4.15% (for up to £50,000) and 4.35% (for £50,001+)
  • Minimum interest rate guarantee of 1.00% gross* /AER**
  • The minimum amount to open a SIPP is £5,000
  • The minimum deposit and balance to keep an account open is £250
  • Funds will only be accepted from the Scheme Administrator
  • No notice withdrawals
  • Interest payable on 31 December
  • Statements issued annually in January to the Scheme Administrator and if requested to the beneficiary
  • This Deposit account has no voting rights

*We pay all savings interest gross, which means that no tax is deducted. Tax rules may change in future.

**AER stands for Annual Equivalent Rate and provides a means of comparing interest rates by showing what the rate would be if interest was paid and added once a year.