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

You can make payments into your account by bank transfer, transfer from another Ecology account and standing order. You can also pay by cheque. Please see our Terms and Conditions for more information and Product Specific Conditions.

Cheques should be made payable to Ecology Building Society re: your name and the account number needs to be written on the back of the cheque so it is clear who the money is intended for. On joint accounts cheques can be made payable to either account holder.

If you want to transfer funds direct via Faster Payments or CHAPS, your bank will need the following details:

• Destination sort code: 08 90 72
• Destination account number: 70361591
• Account name: Payee name
• Reference: quote your 10 digit Ecology account number

If your account number is not quoted, the payment will be returned.

Transferring money from a Co-operative Bank account?
The above details are for a collection account that we hold with the Co-operative Bank. Please note, if you hold an account with the Co-operative Bank and are using their online facility to transfer funds into your Ecology account, you will need to use the Co-operative’s ‘bill payment‘ function. This is because it will allow you to quote a reference when making your transfer; without a reference, we may be unable to pay the money into your Ecology account.