This comparison simply includes all savings accounts.
Savings Accounts
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 - 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 Offer may be withdrawn anytime.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.
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: 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. Easy switching with the Current Account Switch Service. Must be 18 or older and UK resident. Get the £100 when switching as a new customer and paying in at least £1,000 within three months of the account opening
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: Earn £4 a month back in Rewards by making a minimum of 2 direct debit payments of at least £2 each. Plus earn an extra £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. Switch by 18th November 2021 to get an initial £100 and pay in at least £1,500 and log in to Mobile Banking app or Online Banking by the 30th of December 2021. Get a further £50 if you make 10 eligible credit and/or debit transactions on your Current Account each calendar month (e.g. bill payments, debit card spend, direct debits and payments in and out) between January & September 2022
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. Switch by 18th November 2021 to get an initial £100 and pay in at least £1,500 and log in to Mobile Banking app or Online Banking by the 30th of December 2021. Get a further £50 if you make 10 eligible credit and/or debit transactions on your Current Account each calendar month (e.g. bill payments, debit card spend, direct debits and payments in and out) between January & September 2022
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: 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: 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
Instant Access Best Buys
RCI Bank »
RCI Bank offers a competitive instant access savings account.
- 0.40% AER/Gross pa (variable) interest rate
- Interest is paid monthly or annually
- Withdrawals - Unlimited & no penalties
- Online account
- Minimum deposit - £100
- FSCS Protected
Quick online application setup from RCI Bank
Investec Bank »
Investec Bank also offer an instant access account.
- 0.45% AER/Gross pa (variable) interest rate
- Interest is paid monthly either to linked bank account, or added back in
- Unlimited payments and withdrawals
- Online account
- Minimum deposit - £5,000
- FSCS Protected
Quick online application setup from Investec
Fixed Rate Best Buys
Investec Bank 1 Year Fixed Rate Bond »
- Fixed 1 Year 1.01% at time of writing
- Interest paid at maturity
- Open online
- Minimum deposit - £1,000
- Register for a free Raisin UK Account to apply for product
- FSCS Protected up to £85,000
Quick online application from Investec Bank
QIB Bank 2 Year Fixed Rate Bond »
- Fixed 2 Year 1.25% at time of writing
- Interest paid at maturity
- Open online
- Minimum deposit - £1,000
- Register for a free Raisin UK Account to apply for product
- FSCS Protected up to £85,000
Quick online application from QIB Bank
QIB Bank 3 Year Fixed Rate Bond »
- Fixed 3 Year 1.30% at time of writing
- Interest paid at maturity
- Open online
- Minimum deposit - £1,000
- Register for a free Raisin UK Account to apply for product
- FSCS Protected up to £85,000
Quick online application from QIB Bank
High Interest Current 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 £100 for switching, and ten earn 1.00% AER/gross on linked regular savings account.
- £100 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 0.30% AER for savings.
- Fixed interest on balances up to £20,000 - 0.30% 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
Most people want to earn the highest possible rate of interest on their savings, but it’s not always obvious what the best way to do this is. There are various different options for where to put your savings to earn interest, and which option you should choose will depend on various factors.
When thinking about what kind of savings account to use, ask yourself:
- How much do you have in savings?
- What level of interest would you like to earn?
- What level of risk are you willing to take with your savings?
- Are you likely to need your savings in the near future?
Once you know the answers to these questions, it should be easier to identify which type of savings account will best suit your needs. Below are some of the most common kinds of accounts used for savings, one or more of which may be the ideal solution for your saving requirements.
Current Accounts
Many savers don’t realise that current accounts often pay some of the highest interest rates on the market. It is therefore usually a good idea to keep at least some of your savings in your current account to get the best overall rate of return.
Current accounts usually have a fairly low threshold above which they pay no interest, however, so if you have significant savings you will usually need to find another option for the balance to avoid missing out.
Easy Access Savings Accounts
Easy access savings accounts usually come with variable interest rates and allow you to add or withdraw money whenever you like. They don’t necessarily pay the most competitive rates, but are great for those who want the option to save with flexibility. They usually pay interest on much larger balances than current accounts.
Notice Savings Accounts
Similar to easy access savings accounts, except that they usually offer slightly better interest rates in exchange for you having to give the bank a set amount of notice before withdrawing funds. Notice periods vary, but 30, 60, 90 and 120 days are common.
Fixed Rate Bonds
Fixed rate bonds offer guaranteed rates of interest in exchange for agreeing not to touch your savings for a set period. They usually last for 1, 2, 3 or 5 years and some will allow you to withdraw your money early in exchange for a penalty fee.
ISAs
ISAs allow you to earn interest on your savings tax free on deposits up to a threshold decided each year by the UK government. For the 2017/2018 tax year, the limit is £20,000. There are various types of ISAs, including those offering both fixed and variable rates, plus various specialist ISAs.
Compare all high interest savings accounts
With so many different types of savings accounts and lenders to choose from, knowing where the best place to put your savings can be difficult.
The savings account comparison table at the top of this page lets you quickly and easily compare top savings accounts from all the leading providers. This offers a simple way to find the best deal for you, allowing you to start earning a good rate of return on your savings.
