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Johannesburg - Investors wanting to invest in Absa's Money Market Fund will in future have to invest a minimum of R100 000, instead of the R25 000 minimum to date. This is a 300% increase.
This startling increase is only one of the adjustments the bank has effected in the fund.
Although balances below the new minimum will still be permitted for existing investors, these clients will be prejudiced by significantly higher annual management fees and transaction costs.
This information was sent to investors in a letter and the new arrangements will come into effect from March 1 next year.
For investors with the balance of less than R100 000, the annual management fee will jump from 0.46% to 1.14% (including VAT).
Transaction costs will also be introduced for balances below the minimum.
For balances above R100 000, annual management fees will increase from 0.46% to 0.57%, and no transaction costs will be levied on these accounts.
Banking services ombud Clive Pillay said on Tuesday that this appeared to be a significant jump, "but it is difficult to comment if one does not have all the facts".
Wayne Dicks, Absa Fund Managers general manager, said the increase from R25 000 to R100 000 as a minimum balance for new investors is part of the repositioning of the Absa Money Market Fund within Absa's offering to its client base.
"With a minimum balance of R25 000 and free cash transactions the Money Market Fund had begun to compete with Absa's other investment products."
He said the bank was encouraging people to save at the entry level through alternative options such as the Investment Advantage and Moneybuilder accounts, which also offered a high return without fees.
Absa's Money Market Fund also hit the news last year when an error in the calculation of interest rates on these accounts resulted in lower yields for investors.
According to the October monthly report on the Absa Money Market Fund, about R52bn is invested in the fund and the average annual return is 11.25%, compared with a sector average of 11.52%.
- For more business news in Afrikaans, visit www.sake24.com.