Aviva with-profits bonus rates stay flat as MVRs cut 2%

Aviva has kept annual bonuses flat for the majority of the 1.5 million savers in its with-profits funds, while market value reductions have been reduced by an average of 2% where they apply.

In its announcement on annual bonuses for 2013, it said they would be kept in line with 2012 levels.

However for the 27,000 savers in ex-Commercial Union bonds, annual bonuses have been reduced from 2.5% to 2%, while for the 24,000 savers in ex-Norwich Union bonds without a guaranteed bonus have reduced from 1% to 0.75%.

It has increased final bonus rates by an average of 2.5% for must unitised with-profits policies and by an average of 3% for most conventional policies. Aviva said some conventional final bonus rates had fallen by an average of 1.7%.

Annual bonus rates for new business has remained at 2.5% for bonds, 3% for pensions and 2.75% for stakeholder pensions. 

Aviva said a saver with a £10,000 with-profits bond purchased 10 years ago would now have a holding worth £17,082, equating to an annual return of 5.5%.

Aviva propositions and pricing director Tim Orton said: 'Our with-profits funds continue to perform well for our customers. With bank and building society accounts yielding low returns and stock market volatility an ongoing concern, the great strength of with-profits is its ability to invest in assets that provide income and growth.'

The main Aviva with-profits fund delivered an estimated return of 7.2% before tax in 2012.