Compare Best Buys For Your Money
Best Buys
Why we like it: SPECIAL OFFER - Get £170 when you switch to an HSBC Advance Bank Account. Earn 1.00% AER/gross when you save between £25 and £250 per month. Arranged overdraft limit of at least £1,000 on account opening. Money banking app. No monthly account fee. Easy switching with the Current Account Switch Service. Must be 18 or older and be UK resident. Must pay in £1,750 per month or £10,500 over 6 months. Must be approved for an arranged overdraft of £1,000+. For £170 Switch Offer: Switch using Current Account Switching Service with 2+ Direct Debits/standing orders within 30 days and pay £1,500k+ into account within 60 days. Once eligible, HSBC will pay £170 into your account within 30 days. Offer excludes customers who’ve held an HSBC/opened a first direct current account since 1/1/19
Why we like it: Earn 0.50% AER (variable) interest on balances up to a maximum of £20,000. Up to 3% cashback on household bills - 1% on council tax bills, Mobile and home phone bills, broadband and paid-for TV packages, and Santander monthly mortgage payments. 2% on Gas and electricity bills, Santander Home Insurance premiums and Santander Life Insurance premiums, and 3% on water bills. Monthly fee of £4. Cashback capped at £5 for each cashback tier each month. Must pay in £500 pm. Bank is registered with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), so any money you keep will be fully protected, up to £85,000.
Why we like it: Free current account. Pays 0.05% AER interest on balances up to £85,000. Get set up in minutes. Send money abroad: Fast and secure money transfers to bank accounts in 38 countries worldwide. No fees when you pay with your card abroad or withdraw money. Get a spotlight on your spending: See what you’ve spent instantly with real-time payment notifications. 3 month interest holiday on the first £500 of an arranged overdraft. Voted best British Bank and Best Current Account 2018 - 2021 at the British Bank Awards. Awarded 5 stars by Defaqto. Bank is registered with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), so any money you keep will be fully protected, up to £85,000
Why we like it: Interest paid on maturity. Automatic repayment to your linked account. Maximum deposit £250,000. FSCS Protected. Must have a UK residential address and be aged 18 or older. No withdrawals permitted. Can’t have held an Investec Online Flexi Saver or Fixed Rate Saver in the last 12 months
Why we like it: Register for a free Raisin UK Account to apply for product and receive a £25 cash bonus for deposits of £10,000 or more. Interest paid on maturity. Maximum deposit £85,000. FSCS Protected. Must be UK resident and aged 18 or older. No withdrawals permitted
Why we like it: Which? Recommended Savings Provider. No notice period. Deposit from £100. Interest paid monthly or annually. Apply in minutes. Your eligible deposits with RCI Bank UK Limited are protected up to a total of £85,000 by the Financial Services. Compensation Scheme (FSCS)
Why we like it: Register for a free Raisin UK Account to apply for product and receive a £30 cash bonus for deposits of £10,000 or more. Interest paid on maturity. Maximum deposit £85,000. FSCS Protected. Must be UK resident and aged 18 or older. No withdrawals permitted
Why we like it: Instant access to your savings. Unlimited deposits and withdrawals. Interest paid monthly, either to a linked current account, or adding it to your Online Flexi Saver account. Easy application process, you just need a UK mobile phone and UK driving licence or passport. Manage account online. Maximum balance £250,000. Must be aged 18 or older and have a UK address. Must have a linked UK current account. Your eligible deposits with Investec Bank are protected up to a total of £85,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)
Why we like it: Make up to three withdrawals during the 12-month term of this account. Open with £1. Manage your account online. Interest paid at maturity. FSCS Protected. Must be UK resident and aged 16 or older. Make more than three withdrawals and the rate drops to 0.01% AER/gross p.a. (variable). Not available in branch
Why we like it: Tiered interest: £1 to £10,000 – 0.60% Gross/AER, £10,001 to £50,000 – 0.77% Gross/AER, £50,001 to £500,000 – 0.82% Gross/AER. Unlimited payments and withdrawals. Interest paid annually. Open in a single or a joint name. Maximum deposit £500,000. Open and manage account online. FSCS Protected. Must be UK resident. Must be aged 16 or older
Why we like it: Interest paid annually. Unlimited deposits and withdrawals. Open and manage online. FSCS Protected. Must be UK resident and be aged 18 or older
Why we like it: Make up to three withdrawals during the 12-month term of this account. Open with £1. Manage your account online. Interest paid at maturity. FSCS Protected. Must be UK resident and aged 16 or older. Make more than three withdrawals and the rate drops to 0.01% AER/gross p.a. (variable). Not available in branch
Instant Access Best Buys
RCI Bank »
RCI Bank offer a market leading instant access account.
- 1.10% AER/Gross pa (variable) interest rate
- Interest is paid monthly or annually
- Unlimited payments and withdrawals
- Online account
- Minimum deposit - £100
- Which? Recommended Savings Provider
- FSCS Protected
Quick online application setup from RCI Bank
Brown Shipley »
Brown Shipley also offer a market leading instant access account.
- 1.10% AER/Gross pa (variable) interest rate
- Interest is paid monthly
- Unlimited payments and withdrawals
- Register for a free Raisin UK Account to apply for product
- Minimum deposit - £1,000
- Maximum deposit £85,000
- FSCS Protected
Quick online application setup from Brown Shipley
Investec Bank »
Investec Bank offer a very competitive instant access account.
- 1.06% AER/Gross pa (variable) interest rate
- Interest is paid monthly, either to linked bank account or adding back in
- Unlimited payments and withdrawals
- Minimum deposit - £5,000
- FSCS Protected
Quick online application setup from Investec Bank
Aldermore Bank »
Aldermore Bank also offer a very competitive easy access account.
- 0.85% AER/Gross pa (variable) interest rate
- Interest is paid monthly
- Unlimited payments and withdrawals
- Online account
- Minimum deposit - £1,000
- FSCS Protected
Quick online application setup from Aldermore Bank
Leeds Building Society »
Leeds Building Society offer a competitive instant access account.
- 0.71% AER/Gross pa (variable) interest rate
- Interest is paid annually
- Unlimited payments and withdrawals
- Apply and manage account online
- Minimum deposit - £1,000
- FSCS Protected
Quick online application setup from Leeds Building Society
Hampshire Trust Bank »
Hampshire Trust Bank also offer a competitive instant access account.
- 0.50% AER/Gross pa (variable) interest rate
- Interest is paid annually
- Unlimited payments and withdrawals
- Online account
- Minimum deposit - £1
- Open in single or joint name
- FSCS Protected
Quick online application setup from Hampshire Trust Bank
Fixed Rate Best Buys
Investec Bank 1 Year Fixed Rate Bond »
- Fixed 1 Year 2.25% at time of writing
- Interest paid at maturity
- Open online
- Minimum deposit - £5,000
- FSCS Protected up to £85,000
Quick online application from Investec Bank
Access Bank 2 Year Fixed Rate Bond »
- Fixed 2 Year 2.50% at time of writing
- Interest paid annually
- Open online
- Minimum deposit - £5,000
- FSCS Protected up to £85,000
Quick online application from Access Bank
Access Bank 3 Year Fixed Rate Bond »
- Fixed 3 Year 2.65% at time of writing
- Interest paid annually
- Open online
- Minimum deposit - £5,000
- FSCS Protected up to £85,000
Quick online application from Access Bank
High Interest Current Account
HSBC Advance Account »
Get £170 for switching, and then earn 1.00% AER/gross on a regular savings account .
- £170 when switching to HSBC as a new customer
- 1.00% AER/gross available to HSBC Advance customers who open a new Regular Saver account, saving between £25 and £250 per month
- No monthly fee
- Arranged overdraft limit of at least £1,000 on account opening
- Money Banking app
- FSCS Protected
For more information and to apply for HSBC Advance Account
Santander Everyday Current Account »
An everyday bank account which has no monthly fee, no minimum funding per months and offers up to 15% cashback at chosen retailers.
- No minimum monthly funding
- No monthly fee
- Earn up to 15% cashback with Retailer Offers
- Online and Mobile Banking with text and email alerts
- FSCS Protected
For more information and to apply for Santander Everyday Current Account
First Direct 1st Account »
Get £150 for switching, or £20 just for opening, and then earn 1.00% AER/gross on linked regular savings account.
- £150 when switching to First Direct as a new customer
- No minimum monthly funding
- 1.00% AER/gross for 12 months, available to First Direct 1st Account customers who open a new Regular Saver account, saving between £25 and £300 per month
- No monthly fee
- £250 interest free overdraft (subject to status)
- Money Banking app
- UK based contact centre
- FSCS Protected
For more information and to apply for First Direct 1st Account
Santander 123 Account »
Whilst general interest rates are low some banks and building societies are offering high interest current accounts as an alternative. Santander's 123 Current Account offers a rate of 0.50% AER for savings.
- Fixed interest on balances up to £20,000 - 0.50% AER
- £4 monthly fee
- Up to 3% cashback on household bills
- Must pay in £500 per month
- FSCS Protected
For more information and to apply for Santander 123 Account
With UK savings rates at an all time low, you need to take action to ensure your savings are getting the best interest deal possible.
Many savings accounts' interest rates are below inflation, which means people's savings are being eroded in real terms. While there are many savings accounts on the market, many do not offer much of a financial advantage, as they offer interest that only matches the base rate set by the Bank of England. We help you compare a selection of some of the best interest paying accounts.
A good instant access savings account will offer flexible withdrawal facilities with good rates of interest, and could be suited to savers looking to access their money regularly.
See here for a comparison of leading UK instant access accounts