This comparison simply includes all savings accounts.
Savings Accounts
Why we like it: 5.00% interest for 12 months on balances up to £2,500 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. Must be aged 18 or older.
Why we like it: MARKET LEADING RATE. No notice period. Deposit from £100. Interest paid monthly or annually. Apply in minutes.
Why we like it: Free withdrawals and no notice period. Deposit from £100. Includes a fixed bonus of 0.95% gross fixed for the first 12 months. Quick and easy online application
Why we like it: £1,000 minimum deposit, £250,000 maximum. Interest paid on maturity. No withdrawals permitted. FSCS Protected
Why we like it: £1,000 minimum deposit, £250,000 maximum. Interest paid on maturity. No withdrawals permitted. FSCS Protected
Why we like it: £1,000 minimum deposit, £250,000 maximum. Interest paid on maturity. No withdrawals permitted. FSCS Protected
Why we like it: £1,000 minimum deposit, £250,000 maximum. Interest paid on maturity. No withdrawals permitted. FSCS Protected
Why we like it: Save from £1,000 to £1,000,000. No withdrawals before the end of the term. RCI Bank are protected up to a total of €100,000 by the FGDR (Fonds de Garantie Dépôts et de Résolution), the French deposit protection scheme. Apply online.
Why we like it: Minimum deposit £1,000. Interest paid monthly or annually. Apply online. Eligible deposits covered by UK FSCS.
Why we like it: Minimum deposit £1,000. Interest paid monthly or annually. Apply online. Eligible deposits covered by UK FSCS.
1. POST OFFICE MONEY Online Saver »
The Post Office is one of the best-known brands in the country with over 11,500 branches.
Their Online Saver is one of our most popular instant access accounts:
- Competitive interest rate: 1.30% AER/Gross pa (variable)
- Interest paid monthly or annually
- Unlimited withdrawals
- Manage online or via the Post Office app
- Start from just £1
- Maximum deposit - £2 million
- FSCS Protected
Quick online application from Post Office Money
2. RCI BANK »
Market leading RCI Bank offers a competitive instant access savings account.
- Highest UK rate on instant access savings 1.30% AER/Gross pa (variable)
- Interest is paid monthly or annually
- Withdrawals - Unlimited & no penalties
- Online account
- Minimum deposit - £1
- Maximum deposit - £1 million
- FSCS Protected
Quick online application setup from RCI Bank
Fixed Rate Best Buys
Ford motor company have been managing money since 1963. They offer market leading savings accounts which come under the FSCS protection scheme.
3. Ford Money 1 Year Fixed Rate »
Ford Money offers a great 1 year fixed rate.
- Fixed 1 Year 1.70% AER/Gross pa (variable)
- Interest is paid monthly or annually
- Online account
- Unlimited deposits for first 14 days
- Minimum deposit - £500
- Maximum deposit - £2 million
- FSCS Protected
Quick online application from Ford Money
4. The Access Bank UK 2 Year Fixed Rate »
Access Bank UK Market leading 2 year fixed rate.
- Fixed 2 Year 2.02% AER/Gross pa (variable)
- Interest is paid monthly or annually
- Online account
- Unlimited deposits for first 14 days
- Minimum deposit - £5,000
- Maximum deposit - £2 million
- FSCS Protected
Quick online application from UK Access Bank
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.
