Phillip Wickenden: The new cash divide and why it matters now

'This is inertia on a vast scale'

clock • 6 min read

Why most savers miss best‑buy rates - and how advisers can reclaim £450,000 per £10m with simple, auditable actions, by Phillip Wickenden

Cash is cooling — and the loyalty penalty is back The Bank of England held the bank rate at 4% on 6 November 2025. Markets read the accompanying signals as: if disinflation keeps grinding lower, we drift - not drop - down the slope. Meanwhile, what matters for clients is already moving: average savings rates are sliding. Moneyfacts' composite "Average Savings Rate" fell again in October and November to ~3.4%, while the average easy‑access rate has sunk to 2.49%, its lowest in over two years. Yes, there are still headline "best buys" around 4.5% to 4.55% AER — but only one in four accou...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Your profession

Feel Good Friday: Continuum adviser to run London Marathon for hospice charity

Feel Good Friday: Continuum adviser to run London Marathon for hospice charity

Mike Jarrett will raise funds for St Peter’s Hospice

Professional Adviser
clock 27 February 2026 • 1 min read
One in five adults have made panic-driven financial decisions

One in five adults have made panic-driven financial decisions

Link between financial education and levels of anxiety

Jaskeet Briah
clock 25 February 2026 • 1 min read
Who really owns the digital client relationship? From ownership to orchestration

Who really owns the digital client relationship? From ownership to orchestration

The battle for the digital layer

Tessa Lee
clock 23 February 2026 • 5 min read