This comparison simply includes all savings accounts.
RBS Fixed Rate ISA
Why we like it: Fee Free Account. An everyday current account. Great money management tools with our mobile banking app. ‘Criteria Apply’. Multiple ways to pay: Apple Pay, Google Pay™ and Contactless Visa Debit Card. Limits apply. Arranged overdraft available (subject to eligibility). No monthly fee. Defaqto 5* rated. Must be 18 or older and UK resident. Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200 you’ll be charged interest at 39.49% EAR variable. To get the £100, use the Current Account Switch Service to close your account held elsewhere and switch by 5pm on 2nd December 2021. Then pay in at least £1,500 in total and log into Online or Mobile Banking by 13th January 2022. To get a further £50 you have to make at least 10 eligible debit or credit transactions each month between 1st January 2022 and 30th September 2022. Offer T&Cs apply. Account eligibility criteria apply. Apply online only
Why we like it: Earn £4 a month back in Rewards by making a minimum of 2 direct debit payments of at least £2 each, or earn £1 a month in rewards with 1 mobile app login. Earn Rewards that you can redeem as cash back, gift cards or e-codes with our retail partners. Great money management tools with our mobile banking app. ‘Criteria Apply’. Arranged overdraft available (subject to eligibility). Multiple ways to pay: Apple Pay, Google Pay™ and Contactless Visa Debit. Must be 18 or older and UK resident. Customers need to pay at least £1,250 into any eligible personal current account every month (excludes transfers between your own accounts). Must not currently hold 2 Reward accounts. £2 monthly fee. Representative example: If you use an arranged overdraft of £1,200 you’ll be charged interest at 39.49% EAR variable. To get the £100, use the Current Account Switch Service to close your account held elsewhere and switch by 5pm on 2nd December 2021. Then pay in at least £1,500 in total and log into Online or Mobile Banking by 13th January 2022. To get a further £50 you have to make at least 10 eligible debit or credit transactions each month between 1st January 2022 and 30th September 2022. Offer T&Cs apply. Account eligibility criteria apply. Apply online only
Why we like it: No minimum monthly funding or monthly fee to maintain the account. Earn up to 15% cashback with Retailer Offers. Stress-free account switching in 7 days with the Current Account Switch Service. £300 ATM withdrawal per day, Arranged Overdraft facility (subject to status). Online and Mobile Banking with text and email alerts. Must be 18 or older and live in the UK permanently. 39.94% EAR overdraft charge. Bank is registered with the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), so any money you keep will be fully protected, up to £85,000. £130 cashback when you complete a full switch to a Santander Everyday Current Account within 60 days, set up 2 Direct Debits, pay in £1,000 and log into Online or Mobile Banking. T&Cs apply.
Why we like it: SPECIAL OFFER - £100 for SWITCHING to a First Direct 1st Account. Access to Regular Saver Account paying 1.00% AER/Gross fixed for 12 months if saving between £25 and £300 a month (up to £3,600 per year). £250 interest-free overdraft (subject to status). No minimum monthly funding and no monthly account fee. Mobile banking app. UK based contact centre. To qualify, switch using the Current Account Switch Service, deposit £1000 within 3 months of account opening. New customers only that have not opened a HSBC account on or after 1 Jan 2018
Why we like it: SPECIAL OFFER - Get £110 + £30 Uber Eats voucher or The Dining Out Gift Card 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+. Get the £110 when switching to an HSBC Advance Account as a new customer using the Current Account Switch Service within 30 days of account opening, with at least 2 Direct Debits or standing orders. Eligibility criteria and T&C's apply. Offer may be withdrawn anytime. Offer isn’t available to customers who have held a HSBC current account, or opened a first direct account since 1 January 2018. Offer ends 31st October 2021
Why we like it: SPECIAL OFFER - £130 cashback when you switch to a Santander 123 Current Account. Earn 0.30% 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. £130 cashback when you complete a full switch to a Santander 123 Current Account within 60 days, set up 2 Direct Debits, pay in £1,000 and log into Online or Mobile Banking. T&Cs apply.
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. Best British Bank and Best Current Account in 2020 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: Up to 3% cashback on selected household bills, capped at £5 for each cashback tier each month. Earn up to 15% cashback with Retailer Offers. Easy to manage online or on mobile app. Get access to a range of 123 offers. Arranged Overdraft facility (subject to status) - 39.94% APR / EAR (variable). Must be 18 or older and UK resident. Customers must pay a minimum of £500 into account each month, have 2 active Direct Debits, log onto Online or Mobile Banking at least once every 3 months. Must not currently hold 2 Reward accounts. £2 monthly fee. £130 cashback when you complete a full switch to a Santander 1|2|3 Lite Current Account within 60 days, set up 2 Direct Debits, pay in £1,000 and log into Online or Mobile Banking. T&Cs apply
Why we like it: Can be opened by or on behalf of any child up to the age of 17. Debit or cash card available for those aged between 13 and 17. Monthly interest. No monthly fee. For children under age 13, the account must be opened in trust and managed by an adult (trustee). If you’re aged between 13 and 17 years old and live permanently in the UK you can apply online by telephone or in branch. No overdraft facility. 1% interest on the entire balance once the balance is £100, 2.00% AER/1.98% gross (variable) on the entire balance once the balance is £1,500, 3.00% AER/2.96% gross (variable) on the entire balance once the balance is £1,500 or over (up to a maximum of £2,000). 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: A bank account that can build credit history. No credit check during sign up. Apply straight from your mobile. Instant online decision. Get your Contactless Debit Mastercard within 3-5 working days. Add Creditbuilder onto your account and it could help build your credit rating at no extra cost. Deposit cash into your account at any Post Office UK branch. Money is available in your account immediately. Manage your account 24/7 from any device with the banking app - get real time balance information, statements, add payees send payments and apply for extras. Automatic payment alerts. UK based Customer Services Team. Your money is protected up to £85,000 by the FSCS (Financial Services Compensation Scheme)
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: 0.60% AER if customer makes two or fewer withdrawals within an anniversary year. Monthly or annual interest. Manage your account online. Covered by the FSCS. 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. Must be UK resident and be aged 18 or older
RBS Fixed Rate ISA
An ISA is a tax efficient way to save and stands for Individual Savings Account. An ISA lets you pay little or no tax on the interest your savings and investments making them a popular choice for saving large amounts of money.
They have become less popular since the new PSA (Personal Savings Allowance) has allowed lower rate tax payers to save up to £1000 tax-free and higher rate tax payers up to £500. As many current accounts are now offering competitive rates of interest, many people are moving away from ISAs.
Why use an ISA?
As your tax-free amount is much higher in an ISA, there are still opportunities for savers to make the most of their money.
Paying into an ISA is called ‘subscribing’. You can subscribe to one of each type of ISA each tax year, providing you do not subscribe more than your annual ISA allowance. For the 2017/2018 tax year that runs from 6th April 2017 to 5th April 2018 your annual ISA allowance is £20,000.
ISAs are a good idea whatever your savings goal. With certain types of cash ISAs, you have instant access to your money, which makes it a flexible way to plan your finances.
It’s also important to remember that ISA allowance limits apply to everyone on an individual basis, so if you’re married or in a relationship, you can both hold your own ISA, each with the full allowance.
What do RBS offer?
RBS offer two kinds of tax-free ISA. Their Fixed Rate ISA and their Instant Cash ISA. Their Fixed Rate ISA allows you to:
- Have a fixed interest rate on your cash ISA so you know in advance what your savings will earn
- Choose a term that suit you, either one or two years
- Keep all the interest - which helps your savings grow faster
- Make transfers into your ISA, so you can bring all your ISAs together in one place
You will earn a higher rate of interest on the two year plan and for any amount above £25,000.
Useful to Know
As this is a fixed rate ISA, you cannot withdraw your money during the agreed term. If you do choose to withdraw your money, then you will incur an early closure charge. They offer both one year and two year terms, so be sure to pick one that’s right for you. Also:
- The minimum deposit is £1,000
- The early closure charge is the lower of the amount of interest earned on your account in 90 days
- You will need your National Insurance Number to apply for any ISA
RBS is one of the few banks that offer a fixed rate ISA for one year, as many offer a two year minimum and some up to five year minimums. For many people this time frame isn’t convenient and so RBS are offering an easy way for savers to take the plunge and begin their savings.
However, they do not currently offer the highest rate of interest on the market.
