Payments, deposits and withdrawals
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Deposits made by transfer from an eligible Post Office savings account, subject to the terms of that account, are available for withdrawal immediately.
Deposits made by cash in a Post Office branch are available the next working day.
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No. Instant Saver is not an appropriate account with which to receive and manage third party payments, such as income or DWP pension/benefit payments. As such, it’s also not a suitable replacement for the Post Office card account (POca).
The Money Advice Service, a free and impartial advice service set up by government, can provide information and help on setting up current accounts or fee-free basic bank accounts for those that are not eligible for current accounts. For more information visit the Money Advice Service website or call them on 0800 138 7777.
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When you pay a cheque into your account it needs to be cleared before you can access the funds. How long this takes – the "clearing cycle" – depends on where you deposit or send the cheque.
Cheque deposits made at a Post Office branch:
Cheque deposits at a Post Office branch take two days to reach Bank of Ireland UK. The day of receipt by Bank of Ireland UK is classified as Day 1, when the money will be credited to your account and you’ll start to earn interest on it.
Day cheque paid in at Post Office branch Day account updated and interest starts to accrue
(Day 1)Day funds available for withdrawal
(Day 5)Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
FridayWednesday
Thursday
Friday
Monday
TuesdayTuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
MondayCheque deposits sent by post:
Cheque deposits sent by post take two days to clear once the cheque has been received. The day of receipt is classified as Day 1. We’ll start to pay you interest on the value of these deposits from Day 3. It takes four business days for the cheque to go through the clearing cycle and during this time you can't withdraw funds against any cheques deposited. Your money will be available on Day 5.
Day cheque received by Bank of Ireland UK
(Day 1)Day account updated and interest starts to accrue
(Day 3)Day funds available for withdrawal
(Day 5)Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
FridayWednesday
Thursday
Friday
Monday
TuesdayFriday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
ThursdayIf another bank decides not to honour a cheque you have deposited, the cheque will be returned to us and we will debit it from your account and return the unpaid cheque to you.
Delays in clearing may result in an unpaid item being received after Day 5 but the latest day an unpaid cheque can be debited from your account is Day 7. If debiting an unpaid item results in your account going overdrawn, you must get the account back into credit as soon as possible.
The business day cut off is 5pm. Transactions made after 5pm will start to be processed from the next business day.
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It normally takes 1 business day for withdrawals to reach your linked current account.
Please note, the business day cut off is 5pm. Transactions made after 5pm will start to be processed from the next business day.
Logging into your account
Getting started
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The first time you log in you will see our guide to using our telephone and internet service. Please read it and, if you accept it, click on the "Agree" button at the bottom of the screen. Please do not close the page at this stage without selecting one of the options.
You can now change your six-digit security number to something more memorable. At the top right of your screen, click on "Welcome YOUR NAME" and select "Security" from the drop-down menu. Then follow the on-screen instructions.
When choosing your PIN, please make it memorable to you, but do not make it easy to guess. For instance, do not use your date of birth, the same number repeatedly, such as 111111, or a sequence of numbers, such as 123456.
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Once you’ve logged in the first time it’ll be quicker whenever you come back.
Visit the Post Office Savings page and click "Login" link at the top of the page. From the drop-down list select 'Savings'. This will take you to our secure log-in page, where you’ll need to:
- Enter your user ID
- Enter your date of birth in the format requested
- Enter the requested digits of your six-digit security number when prompted
- Click the "Log in" button to complete your account login
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Yes, you can change your six-digit security number to something more memorable. To do this:
- Log into the online banking service
- At the top right of your screen, click on "Welcome YOUR NAME" and select "Security" from the drop-down menu.
- Follow the on-screen instructions
When choosing your PIN please make it memorable to you but do not make it easy to guess, i.e. don’t use your date of birth, the same numbers, eg 111111 or a sequence of numbers, eg 123456.
Other login questions
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You have three chances to enter your six-digit security number. If you enter the number incorrectly three times, you’ll need to call our Customer Service Centre on 0345 602 3409 to let them know you’ve been locked out of your account. We’ll then post you a new security number.
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Please call us on 0345 602 3409. We’ll reissue you with your user ID and/or six-digit security number. We’ll do this by post to the address registered with us. Your user ID and/or new six-digit security number will arrive separately within five working days.
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Call us on 0345 602 3409. We’ll reissue you with your user ID and/or six-digit security number. We’ll do this by post to the address registered with us. Your user ID and/or new six-digit security number will arrive separately within five working days.
Managing your account
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Yes. noting the below:
- Your new linked account must be a UK Bank or Building Society current account in your name
- Once changed there is a minimum of one full business day, before the account details can be used for withdrawals
Once your Post Office online savings account is open, log in to our online banking service:
- On the account summary page, select “Options” for the Post Office savings account you wish to amend
- Select “Link Account”
- Follow the on-screen instructions
If you are unsure which account number or sort code to use, please contact your bank or building society.
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You can update your email address, phone numbers and postal address using our online banking service. To do so:
1: Log in to our online banking service
2: At the top right of your screen, click "Welcome YOUR NAME"
3: Select "Contact Details" from the drop down menu
4: Follow the on-screen instructions
We will update your email address and phone number instantly. For your security, when you change your address you will not be able to transact on this account for 1 full business day.
If you wish to change your name, please write to us with your new details, providing evidence (i.e. copy of your marriage certificate) at:
Post Office Savings
PO Box 87
Armagh
BT61 0BNPlease note if you did not provide a copy of your signature during the account opening process you will need to complete a Signature Mandate at the same time – simply follow the on-screen instructions to do this.
Interest and savings protection
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Your Savings are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Find out how your savings are protected.
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Interest is paid gross, without the deduction of income tax.
Closing accounts
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Please send us a letter confirming you wish to close your account. We will send the final balance, together with any accrued interest, to your linked account. If you wish to close your account please print off your online statements beforehand, as once the account is closed this will not be possible.
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If you or a representative you’ve appointed need to reclaim the balance of your account, you can do it in two ways:
- Print and fill out our reclaim form and posts it to Post Office Savings, PO Box 87, Armagh, BT61 0BN
- Call us on 0800 169 7500 to see if we can return your balance over the phone. For security and protection, we can only do this if certain criteria are met which we will confirm when we speak to you. If you held a joint account, please make sure both account holders are present
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If you’re facing a bereavement, we’re here to support you. Please let us know as soon as possible in one of two ways:
- Complete our online form on the Bank of Ireland UK website. As the provider of our savings products, they will help with your request
- Call our team on 0800 169 7500 (available Mondays to Fridays from 9am – 7pm and Saturdays from 9am - 2pm (closed Sundays and bank holidays)
We’ll use the information you have provided for identification purposes only in dealing with you in your role as the deceased customer’s Executor/Administrator or Nominated Next of Kin. Please read our privacy notice for full details on the types of personal information we collect, how we use it and who we may share it with.