This comparison simply includes all savings accounts.
Easy Access Savings Accounts
Why we like it: MARKET LEADING. 0.60% AER if customer makes two or fewer withdrawals within an anniversary year. If a customer makes three or more withdrawals in an anniversary year the rate reduces to 0.10% from the date of the third withdrawal. Monthly or annual interest. Must be UK resident and be aged 18 or older. Maximum deposit £1,000,000. Manage your account online. Covered by the FSCS
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: Top UK Instant Access Account. 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: Balances from £1,000 to £1 million. Unlimited withdrawals without restriction or loss of interest. Eligible deposits covered by UK FSCS.
Why we like it: You need to download the Plum Savings App and sign up for the Plum Plus or Plum Pro subscription to access 0.60% AER. Plum can help you save automatically. Interest is calculated daily but is applied to your account monthly. Your money is covered by the FSCS up to £85,000, if the scheme applies to you. If you would deposit £1,000 into your savings account, without adding or withdrawing any money throughout the year, you would have a predicted £1,006 in your account at the end of the year (at 0.60% interest). Interest accounts are provided by Investec Bank, who have the right to change the rate at any time. Must be UK resident. Must be aged 18 or older
Why we like it: Interest paid monthly or annually. Manage account online. Which? Recommended Savings Provider. Unlimited withdrawals subject to 95 days notice. Must be UK resident. Must be aged 18 or older. 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: Unlimited withdrawals subject to 120 days notice.
Why we like it: 2.00% interest for 12 months on balances up to £1,500 for the first year. You must pay in £1,000 or more each month to receive interest (excluding transfers from any Nationwide account held by you or anyone else). 12 month fee-free arranged overdraft available. No monthly fee. Access to Flexclusives - Select Credit Card and low personal loan rate. Must be aged 18 or older
Why we like it: Earn 0.60% AER (variable) interest on balances up to a maximum of £20,000. Up to 3% CASHBACK on various household bills. Monthly fee of £5. Cashback capped at £5 for each cashback tier each month. Must pay in £500 pm.
Finding the best easy access savings account
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If you think that you might need to access your savings in the short to medium term, your best choice is likely to be an easy access savings account.
Given that interest rates are low with little chance that they will increase in the near future, it’s even more important that you find the best easy access savings accounts on the market. This short guide is intended to help you do just that.
What is an easy access savings account?
An easy access savings account is essentially what it says; a savings account that gives you easy access to your money.
With such an account you can access your savings without giving prior notice, and without forfeiting any interest.
There are some caveat’s however: there may be restrictions on the number of penalty free withdrawals you can make in any specific time period and, although you have easy access to your savings, unlike an instant access savings account there might be a few days’ delay before you have the cash in your hand.
Instant access accounts compared with easy access accounts
It is easy to get confused by the differences between easy access and instant access accounts. While both of these provide you with rapid access to your money, with an easy access account you must transfer your savings to another account, for instance your bank account, before you can receive the money as cash.
Generally, you will carry this out over the internet and there is likely to be a delay between your request to withdraw money, the money appearing in your bank account and for the funds to clear so that you can withdraw them.
This will vary between savings accounts and will depend on the bank, but it could typically take several days with the longest delay often being clearing.
With an instant access savings account, you can walk into the bank or building society and withdraw your cash immediately.
While there are no restrictions on the amount of your savings you are able to withdraw, you might be penalised in terms of loss of interest. From the provider’s viewpoint such an account is more expensive to manage than an easy access account. Consequently, interest rates tend to be a little lower than those on an equivalent easy access account.
Easy access ISA savings account
An easy access savings account can also be held in an ISA wrapper. Otherwise known as a cash ISA, the advantage is that you don’t have to pay tax on your interest. The two largest downsides are the restrictions on how much you are able to save each year in a cash ISA and you will not be able to replace any money you withdraw.
There is, however, an exception to this. With a flexible ISA you can withdraw money and replace it within the same tax year without losing any of your allowance, though not all providers offer flexible ISAs.
Which is the best choice for me?
The best easy access savings account will depend on your circumstances, savings objectives and tax position.
You might decide to keep some savings in an instant access savings account to provide you with emergency funds immediately; some in an easy access savings account that will provide you with cash within a few days of making a withdrawal, or alternatively you might decide on a cash ISA that provides you with all the advantages of an easy access account without the need to pay tax on your interest.
The problem with cash ISAs is that the interest rates are often lower than those of a conventional easy access savings account, so don’t forget to check out the small print.
