Savings FAQs

You can request an Electronic Payment (also known as a Faster Payment) from your Harpenden Building Society account to your nominated UK bank or building society account, provided it is in your name and meets the terms and conditions of your account.

Before we can process your first payment, we will carry out a validation check on your nominated account. If we are unable to verify the details automatically, we will ask you to provide a recent bank statement or another official document (such as a cheque or paying-in slip) that clearly shows the account name, sort code, and account number.

You can make payment requests via:

• Harpenden Online
• In branch
• By post

Once your nominated account has been successfully verified, you will not need to provide this evidence again for future payments.

Members can withdraw up to £500 in cash per account daily. However, you will not be able to withdraw cash from an online-only savings account.

You may be required to provide a valid form of ID along with your passbook, even if you are familiar with our staff in branch. We would like to remind our members to be extra vigilant carrying large sums of cash around. Therefore, we recommend that you take a cheque or send a faster payment to your nominated bank account, where possible.

1. Log in to your Harpenden Online account.
2. Your home page will now be displayed, showing your accounts held with us.
3. Click on ‘transfer’ on the account you wish to request a transfer from.
4. An account summary will now display for the selected account.
5. Select the appropriate destination, as per the terms of your account.
6. Click on ‘next’.
7. Enter your preferred reference, required amount and date. The date will default to today’s date.
8. Click on ‘next’
9. The authentication code box will appear, a code will be sent to either your mobile or landline, input the code and click on ‘confirm’.
10. A summary of your request will appear, and you will be able to make another transfer if you wish or click on ‘No thanks’ to close the box.
11. All pending transfer requests can be viewed by clicking on ‘transfer’ or ‘details’ next to the appropriate account and then selecting ‘transfers’ from the left strip menu. 

1. Log in to your Harpenden Online account.
2. Your home page will now be displayed, showing your accounts held with us.
3. Click on ‘details’ on the account you wish to apply notice to.
4. An account summary will now display for the selected account.
5. Then from the strip menu on the left of your screen, select ‘account closure’.
6. Select the appropriate destination, as per the terms of your account.
7. Click on ‘next’.
8. The amount will default to the balance held in the account for closure, we will add the interest at the point of closure, if the account is a notice account, the date will default to the appropriate date.
9. Click on ‘next’.
10. The authentication code box will appear. A code will be sent to either your mobile or landline, input the code and click on ‘confirm’.
11. A summary of your request will appear, you will be able to make another transfer if you wish or click on ‘No thanks’ to close the box.

1. Log in to your Harpenden Online account.
2. Your home page will now be displayed, showing your accounts held with us.
3. Click on ‘details’ on the account you wish to close.
4. An account summary will now display for the selected account.
5. Then from the strip menu on the left of your screen, select ‘account closure’.
6. Select the appropriate destination, as per the terms of your account.
7. Click on ‘next’.
8. The amount will default to the balance held in the account for closure, we will add the interest at the point of closure, the date will default to today’s date, amend this as required.
9. Click on ‘next’.
10. The authentication code box will appear, a code will be sent to either your mobile or landline, input the code and click on ‘confirm’.
11. A summary of your request will appear. You will be able to make another transfer if you wish or click on ‘No thanks’ to close the box.

1. Log in to your Harpenden Online account. 
2. Your home page will now be displayed, showing your accounts held with us.
3. Click on ‘details’ on the account you wish to cancel your applied notice for.
4. An account summary will now display for the selected account.
5. Then from the strip menu on the left of your screen, select ‘Transfers’.
6. All transfer requests will be displayed here
7. A confirmation pop-up box will appear, if you wish to proceed with cancelling the request, click on ‘confirm’.
8. Your request will be removed.

In the event that your local branch is closed for any reason, you will need to visit one of the other branches or contact our Member Services Team to discuss your options.

Yes, you can set up a Standing Order from your bank to your Harpenden Building Society account using the details below:

Bank: HSBC
Sort Code: 40-05-30
Account Number: 34577388
Reference: Your 10-digit Harpenden roll number (found in Harpenden Online or your passbook)

Please ensure you include your roll number to credit the correct account. Payments usually appear in your account within 24 hours.

Note: Some accounts don’t accept additional payments — please check your account’s terms and conditions.

We appreciate that your account with us is a savings account and there may not be regular transactions. However, in order to help us protect your account from fraud or identity theft, we may ask you, after a period of inactivity, to provide us with some form of identification so that we can be sure we are dealing only with you. It is all for your security and best interest.

Yes – and it’s a completely free service. We will supply you with second-class postage paid envelopes, should you wish to use this service. Alternatively, you can just mail your passbook and cheque(s) to us. We strongly advise you not to send cash by post as we cannot accept liability for any loss. 

Yes your money is secure with us. Eligible deposits are also covered by the FSCS scheme.

Visit the FSCS website for more information.

Yes, subject to the conditions and restrictions on your account, you will be able to view your balances, your transaction history and request to transfer money between your Harpenden Building Society accounts. For further details about Harpenden Online, please click this link: Harpenden Online.

If you would like to understand how the Society will use your information please view our privacy policy.

Unfortunately we are not able to open accounts for non-U.K. residents.

If you are moving abroad then unfortunately we will not be able to maintain your account.  We will discuss with you how to close your account, in relation to its terms and conditions, and how we will return the balance to you.

We will require your confirmation in writing, together with either the original or certified copy of the documentation detailing your change of name. Alternatively, a Change of Customer Details Form is available as a PDF download within our resources section.

If your passbook has been lost or stolen, please let us know immediately. You can call our Member Services team on 01582 765411 or visit any one of our branches. A replacement passbook will be issued seven days after your notification of loss.

A lost passbook form is available as a PDF download within our resources section.

Please let us know by either:

• Sending us a secure message through Harpenden Online for a change of address,
• You can update your phone and email details in Harpenden Online
• Visiting one of our branches,
• Letting us know over the phone,
• Writing to us with your new details, or
• Completing and returning our Change of Customer Details Form which is available as a PDF download within our resources section.

This helps us keep your account information up to date.

If you are unable to maintain the minimum balance then we will provide you with details of alternative accounts and transfer your remaining funds if required.

We reserve the right not to accept, or pay a cheque, that is older than 6 months (from the date written on the front of the cheque, unless stated otherwise by the issuing bank/building society.) If you have a cheque that is dated 6 months or older, it may not clear. In this instance you should contact the issuer of that cheque and ask for a replacement.

If a cheque we’ve issued on your behalf has been lost, not received by the payee, or has not been presented within six months, you should contact us in order to provide the details to stop the cheque. If you do not stop the cheque it may still be paid.

We understand that dealing with a bereavement can be a difficult time, and we would like to make this process for you as easy as possible. This guide below gives you information about how to notify us that someone has passed away, what will happen to their account and how to release money to help with probate fees, funeral costs and inheritance tax.

Registering the death with us

A) Before you have the death certificate

If you don’t have the death certificate yet and want to safeguard the account and stop any correspondence being sent out and addressed to the person who has passed away, you can inform us in any of the ways detailed below:

• You can visit us in any of our branches
• Or call our Member Services team on 01582 765411
• Or complete our ‘Notice of Bereavement’ form* and send it to us at Member Services Team, Harpenden Building Society, FREEPOST SB165, Mardall House, 9-11 Vaughan Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 4HU

Here’s what we will need from you:

1. Full name, date of birth, date of death and the Harpenden Building Society account details of the person who has passed away. This will enable us to identify their account;
2. Full name, address and one piece of identification of the Personal Representative. This is the person we will be corresponding with.  If we are to contact a Solicitor at any time, then their contact details will be sufficient;
3. The passbook(s), or a completed ‘Lost Passbook’ form* to be completed for each account. Please note the £1.00 administration fee will be waived.

What happens once your notification has been received?

We will update our records. If we have not received the death certificate within 30 days of receiving your notice, we will write to the Personal Representative or Solicitors as requested.

B) If you have the death certificate

We will require a certified copy, or original death certificate, once you have obtained it. This can be sent to us by either;

• You can visit us in any of our branches
• Send it to us at; Member Services, Harpenden Building Society FREEPOST SB165, Mardall House, 9-11 Vaughan Road,  Harpenden, AL5 4HU

Here’s what we will need from you:

• Full name, date of birth, date of death and the Harpenden Building Society account details of the person who has passed away. This will enable us to identify their account;
• Full name, address and one piece of identification of the Personal Representative. This is the person we will be corresponding with. If we are to contact a Solicitors, then their contact details will be sufficient;
• The passbook(s), or a completed ‘Lost Passbook’ form* to be completed for each account. Please note the £1.00 administration fee will be waived.

We will write to the Personal Representative or Solicitor, as requested within 7-10 days with details of how to close the account(s).

Releasing funds to pay for Probate fees/a funeral inheritance tax.

Once we have received notification of the passing of one of our members, and we are in receipt of the death certificate, you can request funds to help pay for probate fees, a funeral and/or inheritance tax.

In all cases we will require the original invoice (IHT423 form in the case of inheritance tax) and a completed ‘Request for Probate, Funeral Fees, Inheritance Tax’ form* to be completed by the Personal Representative.

Where to send these details to:

• You can visit us in any of our branches
• Send it to us at; Member Services Team, Harpenden Building Society, FREEPOST SB165, Mardall House, 9-11 Vaughan Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 4HU

Closing the account(s)

To close the account(s) we will require the relevant sections of the ‘Request to close account form’* to be completed and returned to us.

You can send the completed form to us either by:

• You can visit us in any of our branches
• Send it to us at this address; Member Services Team, Harpenden Building Society, FREEPOST SB165, Mardall House, 9-11 Vaughan Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 4HU

* All forms and information sheets are available as a PDF download within our resources section.

Should you wish to open or operate an account on behalf of another person, due to holding a Power of Attorney or Court of Protection Order, you will need to obtain a copy of our form* ‘Operating an Account for Someone Else’. This is also available in branch.

This document should be returned with your completed application form by post to any of our branches/Head Office, or by visiting one of our branches.

* All forms and information sheets are available as a PDF download within our resources section.

If you’re a basic or higher-rate taxpayer you’re entitled to a Personal Savings Allowance. For most people, this means you can earn more savings interest without paying tax. This means for basic rate taxpayers, a higher limit* of income from savings (e.g. any interest earned) will be tax-free, whereas for any higher rate taxpayers, a reduced limit* of savings income will be tax-free.

There is no action for most customers to take. Those with savings income below their Personal Savings Allowance will have no tax to pay. Where possible, those with savings interest above their personal savings allowance will have any tax they have to pay collected automatically by HMRC, through a change to their tax code- based on information provided by banks and building societies. Those who currently complete a Self Assessment tax return should continue to do so. For further information about these changes, go to GOV.UK and search for Personal Savings Allowance.

For individual Personal Savings Allowance FAQs, please click on the Personal Savings Allowance tab at the top of this page.

*Please see GOV.UK and search for Personal Savings Allowance for more information and for latest allowance figures. Full details have been added to the HMRC website after April when the new rules came into effect.

Yes, this can either be done in one of our branches, by ringing our Member Services Team or through Harpenden Online. If you wish to transfer money outside the Society then, for your protection, this must be transferred to your own nominated bank account.

The Society is constantly reviewing its product range and monitors its rates for both borrowers and savers to ensure that they are competitive whilst balancing members’ interests. Changes will not occur if you currently have a fixed rate savings product.

If you’re a basic or higher-rate taxpayer you’re entitled to a Personal Savings Allowance. For most people, this means you can earn more savings interest without paying tax. This means for basic rate taxpayers, a higher limit* of income from savings (e.g. any interest earned) will be tax-free, whereas for any higher rate taxpayers, a reduced limit* of savings income will be tax-free.

There is no action for most customers to take. Those with savings income below their Personal Savings Allowance will have no tax to pay. Where possible, those with savings interest above their personal savings allowance will have any tax they have to pay collected automatically by HMRC, through a change to their tax code- based on information provided by banks and building societies. Those who currently complete a Self Assessment tax return should continue to do so. For further information about these changes, go to GOV.UK and search for Personal Savings Allowance.

Savings income includes:

• Interest from banks, building societies and other account providers (such as credit unions and NS&I)

• Interest distributions (but not dividend distribution) from authorised unit trusts, open-ended investment companies and investment trusts

• Income from government or company bonds

• Some types of purchased life annuity payments and gains from certain contracts for life insurance

*Please see GOV.UK and search for Personal Savings Allowance for more information and for latest allowance figures. Full details have been added to the HMRC website after April when the new rules came into effect.

No, incomes from ISAs does not count towards your Personal Savings Allowance.

No, taxpayers do not need to give any information about their tax circumstances or other savings income to their account provider.

Banks and building societies will still be required to take tax from any compensation interest paid. Customers may be able to claim the tax back by filling in form R40 (or form R43 if living overseas) and sending it to HMRC. These forms are available online at GOV.UK

Banks and building societies will pay account interest with no tax taken off. However, you may still receive other types of savings income with tax taken off.

You may be able to claim this tax back by filling in form R40 (or form R43 if living overseas) and sending it to HMRC. These forms are available online at GOV.UK.

You will both receive the applicable Personal Savings Allowance* which you will use against your share of the interest.

*Please see GOV.UK and search for Personal Savings Allowance for more information and for latest allowance figures.

If you are a higher rate taxpayer, a reduced limit* of savings income will be tax-free. To find out more about how this impacts you, visit GOV.UK and search for Personal Savings Allowance.

*Please see GOV.UK and search for Personal Savings Allowance for more information and for latest allowance figures.

No, you will not receive a Personal Savings Allowance.

If your total taxable income – for example, from wages, profits, pensions and savings – is less than the current threshold*, you won’t pay any tax on your savings income.

*Please see GOV.UK and search for Personal Savings Allowance for more information and for latest allowance figures.

You do not need to do anything because all account interest will be paid without tax taken off.

Only individuals get a Personal Savings Allowance.

If they are a business, charity, club or association, they will already receive interest without tax taken off.

If they are a trustee or are administering an estate, banks and building societies will no longer deduct tax form the interest they pay, so any tax due will have to be paid through the trust/estate tax return, where appropriate.