This comparison simply includes all savings accounts.
Nationwide 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.
Compare Nationwide savings accounts
Nationwide is the world’s largest building society with a number of different types of savings accounts available. Getting the best one for your saving goals means you need to understand the pros and cons of the different types of accounts.
Current Accounts
For smaller amounts of money, a current account will often give the best rates of interest. However, if you exceed Nationwide's interest paying limit, the excess balance of your savings will earn no interest.
Instant Access Savings Accounts
If you want to save while still having access to your money whenever you need it, an instant access account is ideal. You can add and remove money to suit you, although there may be a yearly limit on the number of withdrawals you can make. Most providers will allow you to perform transfers over the phone or online, and you may be issued a cash card to use at ATMs.
Regular Savings Accounts
One of the most popular ways to save is to put a small amount of money away each month. Regular savings accounts allow you to do this while offering attractive rates of interest. There may be a yearly limit on the amount of withdrawals you can make, and you will normally have to make a minimum deposit each month or pay a penalty.
It is worth bearing in mind that it can take a long time to build up capital this way, so you may not initially see much of a return in spite of the favourable interest rates.
Fixed Rate Bonds
Fixed rate bonds offer a guaranteed rate of interest for a set period (usually between 1 and 5 years). This means they are often seen as a “safe bet”, because you know how much you will get back when the bond matures. The longer the term of the bond, the better rate you will normally get.
Cash ISAs
If you are a UK tax payer, it is often advantageous to place at least part of your savings into a cash ISA. This is because ISAs allow you to earn interest without paying tax on it. There is a limit to how much you can put into an ISA which is determined by the government for each tax year. For 2017/18 it is £20,000.
The most common types of ISAs are instant access and fixed rate. These operate similarly to instant access savings accounts and fixed rate bonds, respectively, but with the added advantage of not having to pay tax on the interest you earn.
Find the best Nationwide savings account for you
Knowing where to put your savings to get the best return is a challenge, especially with the ever-changing rates and features different providers offer. Our savings account comparison table, at the top of this page, shows you the best deals on the market to help you find the best savings account for your financial needs.
