Shepherds Friendly

Shepherds Friendly review

Investing with Shepherds Friendly is a relatively easy process and only takes a few minutes to set up.

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Danny Butler

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Established in 1826, Shepherds Friendly is a mutual organisation that offers its members savings bonds and individual savings accounts (ISAs), income protection plans and over-50s life insurance.

Shepherds Friendly investment products

  • Stocks and shares ISA
  • Junior stocks and shares ISA (JISA)
  • 5-year fixed rate bond

Adult ISA

The Shepherds Friendly stocks and shares ISA is a personal account where you can invest up to £20,000 alongside other ISAs, including help to buy, lifetime and cash ISAs in the tax year 2024/2025. This means that you can invest up to £20,000 without being taxed on the profits you make.

You can open an ISA with the Shepherds Friendly app. You can save from £30 per month or make single lump sum payments, starting at £100.

You’ve got a couple of different options for your ISA:

  • Standard. Invest in a ready-made option and have Shepherds Friendly professionals manage the portfolio for you.
  • Sustainable. The same as the standard ISA, except it’s an ethical option that invests in companies that are driving social and economic development.

Junior ISA

You can also save into junior versions of adult ISAs for your children. They’re virtually the same, except the annual allowance is £9,000 in the 2024/2025 tax year. The money you save up is locked away until your child turns 18, when they’re able to access it.

5-year fixed rate bond

You can save any amount from £1,000 to £125,000, and your money is protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, even if you deposit the full £125,000.

How to set up a Shepherds Friendly account

You can apply to Shepherds Friendly on its website. You’ll then be able to download the app, where you’ll need to provide:

  • Plan number
  • Date of birth
  • Email address
  • Mobile phone number

Is Shepherds Friendly safe?

Shepherds Friendly is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority. It’s also covered by the FSCS, which means that if Shepherds Friendly were to go bust, your deposits are covered for up to £85,000 – or more, in the case of the bond.

Shepherds Friendly customer reviews

Overall, the reviews posted on Trustpilot are positive. Current and previous members have reported receiving a good level of customer service from Shepherds Friendly’s staff.

Members of Shepherds Friendly said that the website was easy to navigate, and their accounts were straightforward to set up. However, members frequently mentioned that they received reductions – commonly 10% – when withdrawing their investment. The policy and reasoning behind the reduction were well and clearly explained by the Shepherds Friendly customer service advisors.

On Trustpilot, Shepherds Friendly has 4.3 out of 5 stars, based on more than 600 reviews. The organisation has 4.6 out of 5 stars on Reviews.io, based on 2,700 reviews (last updated: November 2023).

Pros and cons of Shepherds Friendly

Pros

  • Long-established brand. Shepherds Friendly has been going for nearly 200 years.
  • Online banking. This gives you instant access to your accounts.
  • Junior ISA available
  • Insurance. A few of the products include life or sickness cover.
  • Gift voucher. You might get a Love2Shop gift voucher of up to £50 when you open certain accounts.

Cons

  • Little choice for adult savers. You will get a more comprehensive selection of savings accounts elsewhere. If you’re after a fixed-rate saver or an easy access account, then maybe look at other providers.
  • No high-street presence. It might not be suited to those who prefer face-to-face banking. However, you can contact Shepherds Friendly over the phone, online, and by post and email.

All investing should be regarded as longer term. The value of your investments can go up and down, and you may get back less than you invest. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. If you’re not sure which investments are right for you, please seek out a financial adviser. Capital at risk.

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