New to investing?

An investment is putting aside money today to use in the future. Unlike with a savings account, there aren't any guarantees. But an investment could give your money more potential to increase in value over time. 

There are several ways to invest in the markets. 

If you're happy spending time doing your own research, shares could be a good option for you. When you buy a share, you're buying a stake in a company. It's best to invest in companies that you know and understand. Even then, investing in shares usually carries a higher risk than investing in funds.

If you want to spend as little time as possible investing, funds can be an attractive way to invest for beginners. Instead of choosing your own shares, you buy units in a ready-made basket of investments, that will then be managed for you. Investing in funds is way to spread your risk without having to buy lots of individual shares yourself. 

Return on investment is the profit you generate from the money you invest.

When you invest in a ready-made portfolio, any profit is reinvested straight back into the fund with the aim of achieving higher growth over the long term.

Tax is usually payable on any income from investments.

If you invest and use a stocks & shares ISA as your investment account, you can invest up to £20,000 each tax year without paying any UK income tax or capital gains tax on any income or growth. And, you don’t have to mention your ISA on your UK tax return. 

If you open a general investment account (GIA), any income will be liable for UK income tax and/or capital gains tax. Find out more on Gov.uk. 

Tax rules can change and any benefits will depend on your individual circumstances.

You can track your portfolio's performance and manage your investment straight through the app. Just select 'Investments' on your account screen to get started.

Or, read our step-by-step guide to learn how to manage your investments via online banking.