This comparison simply includes all savings accounts.
Santander 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 Santander savings accounts
The Santander Group is a Spanish banking group which offers a range of savings products to customers around the world. Below we look at the main types of savings accounts Santander has on offer and explain some of their key pros and cons.
Current Accounts
When your savings are relatively modest, you are probably best keeping them in your current account. This is because current accounts usually pay good rates of interest on smaller amounts. Right now, 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 balance goes over the interest-paying limit, however, you will usually earn nothing on the excess. This should then be transferred to another type of savings account to maximise your return.
Instant Access Savings Accounts
If you want the flexibility to add and remove funds from your savings account when it suits you, an instant access savings account is likely to be the best fit. You can normally deposit and withdraw money instantly, but there may be an annual limit on the number of times you can do this.
Many instant access accounts will come with a cash card, allowing you to get money from a standard ATM. Others require you to make withdrawals in person at a branch or use phone and online banking to make transfers.
Regular Savings Accounts
For savers who want to put a little bit of money aside each month, a regular savings account makes a lot of sense. You will usually have to commit to making a minimum deposit each month or risk paying a penalty fee and you make only be able to make so many withdrawals a year.
In exchange you will generally get a favourable interest rate, although it may take a while to see much of a benefit from this as you will need to build up your capital first.
Fixed Rate Bonds
If you want a reliable return on a lump sum, fixed rate bonds are a good possibility. They pay guaranteed rates of interest over a set period with the downside being you can’t access your money until the bond matures. The longer the bond lasts for, the higher the interest rate you will tend to be offered.
Cash ISAs
For UK tax payers, cash ISAs are a very attractive proposition. They let you earn interest tax free on deposits below a certain yearly threshold set by the government. For the 2017/18 tax year the cut-off is £20,000.
ISAs are usually offered either as instant access or fixed term. Instant access cash ISAs let you add and remove funds whenever you want to and pay variable rates of interest. Fixed term cash ISAs act like fixed rate bonds, but with the benefit of paying no tax on your interest.
Find the best Santander savings account for you
With such a range of providers and products on the market, making the best choice is challenging. To help make things a little easier, we offer a savings account comparison tool (see the top of this page). This allows you to quickly and simply compare the best offers currently available on savings accounts from all the top providers, making your decision much less confusing.
