How the base rate has affected standard variable rates

DanAronG · Joined: 17 Oct 2008 Posts: 103

With this months Monetary Policy Committee meeting due today and speculation showing general expectations of another interest rate cut, it's an interesting time to examine how lenders have reacted to the previous rate cuts.

Since October 2008, the base rate has dropped by 4 percentage points from 5% to 1%.

Currently, the lowest Standard Variable Rates (SVR) are with Lloyds TSB (also Cheltenham & Gloucester) and Nationwide Building Society, both with SVR's of 3% as of the 1st March 2009. Since October 2008 that is a drop of 3.49% & 4% respectively.

Bristol & West have cut there SVR by 3.6% in the same period to a current rate of 3.49%.

Halifax, Royal Bank of Scotland & Skipton Building Society all have their SVR's at 4% which are cuts since Oct 08 of 3%, 3.19% & 2.45% respectively.

All other major lenders have SVR's of above 4%, with one lender as high as 7.94%

If another cut in rates takes place today, it leads one to wonder how much will be passed on and by how many.