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Investment guide

Should I save or invest?

The value of investments can fall as well as rise, and you may not get back the full amount you invest. Eligibility criteria, fees and charges apply.

Thinking longer term

Moving home? Starting a business? A bucket-list holiday? How will you get there?

If you're looking to grow some of your money over the longer term, typically five years or more, investing could deliver a better return and it could help protect the value of your cash from the effects of inflation.

Where do you want to be in 5 years time?

If you can’t think that far ahead right now, then savings might be a better bet for you. It’ll give you a pot of cash to dip into now and then for unexpected expenses and to treat yourself and loved ones. 

Either way, feeling in control of your cash by putting it somewhere it has a chance of growing can bring a sense of calm and happiness. We could all do with a bit of that.

A good rule of thumb is to consider investing when you have a long-term goal in mind and at least four-months-worth of outgoings in a savings account that you can access immediately if needed. And it’s important to remember that investments carry a higher risk and their value can go down as well as up.

Find out what some of our customers think of NatWest Invest

Coutts, investment managers for NatWest Invest, look after £43bn (Q1, 2024) and have over 300 years of experience.

Know your savings from your investments

Saving

Savings have the advantage of being dependable, predictable and easy to access. If you know you'll need a set amount of money in the next 12 months, for example, then regularly depositing in a savings account may be the best solution. Savings will grow over time as more money is put away and interest accrues on your balance. 

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Investing

If you are saving for a longer-term goal, typically five years or more, investing your money has the potential to deliver a better return, and help protect your buying power from the effects of inflation. The value of investments can go down as well as up.

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Get started with NatWest Invest

You’ll need to be a NatWest customer with Online Banking, aged 18 – 84 and a UK residence for tax purposes. 

Click “Continue” to log into the NatWest Invest portal.

Learn more about investments

Whether you’re an experienced investor or just finding out what investing is, we’ve got a range of articles to help you understand more about investing.

We regularly update our articles depending on what’s happening in the market so check back for future updates.

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