This comparison simply includes all savings accounts.
Nationwide Savings Accounts
Why we like it: MARKET LEADING. 1.25% AER Gross (variable). Open with £1. A simple instant access savings account. Manage your account online, by telephone banking or via our mobile app. You'll need to be 18 or over and a UK resident
Why we like it: No notice period. Deposit from £100. Interest paid monthly or annually. Apply in minutes.
Why we like it: Open with £1. Unlimited deposits and withdrawals. Open an account singly or jointly. Interest can be paid monthly or annually. Eligible deposits covered by UK FSCS.
Why we like it: INNOVATIVE NEW BANKING SERVICE powered by Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks. Get your current account and instant access savings account working together. Earn 0.50% AER on ALL instant access credit balances and 0.25% AER on current account balances up to £2,000. Fee free
Why we like it: 6 month term. Interest can be paid monthly or annually. Minimum deposit £500, Maximum deposit £250,000. No withdrawals permitted. FSCS Protected
Why we like it: 9 month term. Interest can be paid monthly or annually. Minimum deposit £500, Maximum deposit £250,000. No withdrawals permitted. FSCS Protected
Why we like it: 18 month term. Interest can be paid monthly or annually. Minimum deposit £500, Maximum deposit £250,000. No withdrawals permitted. FSCS Protected
Why we like it: Minimum deposit £500. Open an account singly or jointly. Interest can be paid monthly or annually. Eligible deposits covered by UK FSCS.
Why we like it: Save from £5,000 to £500,000. No additional deposits or withdrawals permitted. FSCS Protected
Why we like it: 30 month term. Interest can be paid monthly or annually. Minimum deposit £500, Maximum deposit £250,000. No withdrawals permitted. FSCS Protected
Why we like it: Save from £5,000 to £500,000. No additional deposits or withdrawals permitted. FSCS Protected
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 and which is most suitable for you.
Current Accounts
For smaller amounts of money, a current account will often give the best rates of interest. However, there will normally be a cut-off point where, if you exceed a certain balance, the extra money will earn no interest.
For example, at the moment TSB are offering 5% AER on their TSB current account for balances up to £2,000, while Santander pay 1.5% AER up to a limit of £20,000. If your savings go over you account’s cut-off point, you are likely to be better off moving the excess into a different account.
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 1-5 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 when the rates and other features different providers offer on their products change all the time. Our savings account comparison table, at the top of this page, shows you the best deals we have found from across the market to help make it easier for you to find the best savings account for you.
