This comparison simply includes all savings accounts.
Savings Accounts vs Investments
Why we like it: SPECIAL OFFER - Get £150 if you switch from another bank with Current Account Switcher Service until 5pm on 07/04/22. Terms & Conditions apply. 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. To apply you need to be 18+ and a UK resident. No monthly fee. For Switcher offer pay in at least £1250 and log into mobile banking by 12/05/22. Online only and account and app eligibility criteria apply
Why we like it: SPECIAL OFFER - Get £150 if you switch from another bank with Current Account Switcher Service until 5pm on 07/04/22. Terms & Conditions apply. Earn £4 a month back in Rewards by making a minimum of 2 direct debit payments of at least £2 each, or earn £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. To apply you need to be 18+ and a UK resident. No monthly fee. For Switcher offer pay in at least £1250 and log into mobile banking by 12/05/22. Online only and account and app eligibility criteria apply
Why we like it: SPECIAL OFFER – £140 when you switch to Santander Everyday Current Account. T&Cs apply. 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. £140 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: Interest paid annually. Open in a single or a joint name. Maximum deposit £250,000. FSCS Protected. Winner of Platinum Feefo Trusted Service Award in 2021. Must be UK resident and be aged 18 or older. Unlimited withdrawals subject to 120 days notice
Why we like it: SPECIAL OFFER - £130 for SWITCHING to a First Direct 1st Account. 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. To qualify, switch using the Current Account Switch Service, deposit £1000 within 3 months of account opening. New customers only that have not opened a HSBC account on or after 1 Jan 2018
Why we like it: SPECIAL OFFER – £140 cashback when you switch to a Santander 1|2|3 Current Account. T&Cs apply. 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. £140 cashback when you complete a full switch to a Santander 1|2|3 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 – £140 cashback when you switch to a Santander 1|2|3 Lite Current Account. T&Cs apply. 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. £140 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: 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. Voted best British Bank and Best Current Account 2018 - 2021 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: Market Leading 1 Year Fixed Rate Bond. Interest paid on maturity. Automatic repayment to your linked account. Maximum deposit £250,000. FSCS Protected. Must have a UK residential address and be aged 18 or older. No withdrawals permitted. Can’t have held an Investec Online Flexi Saver or Fixed Rate Saver in the last 12 months
Why we like it: Register for a free Raisin UK Account to apply for product and receive a £50 cash bonus (terms apply). Interest paid on maturity. Maximum deposit £85,000. FSCS Protected. Must be UK resident and aged 18 or older. No withdrawals permitted
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: Interest paid annually. Unlimited deposits and withdrawals. Open and manage online. FSCS Protected. Must be UK resident and be aged 18 or older
Looking for a great Investment ISA?
Investments- Structured Investment ISA:
Structured Investments are designed to offer investment growth or income with performance linked to an underlying asset e.g. the UK stock market. Structured investments provide investors with the opportunity to invest in stock markets and other asset classes with pre-defined risk and returns potential.
Important Information: Structured investment plans are not capital protected and are not covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) for default alone. Income and growth returns are not guaranteed. There is a risk of losing some or all of your initial investment due to the performance of the underlying investment. There is also a risk that the company back the plan, known as the Counterparty, may be unable to repay your initial investment and any returns stated.
Things to consider with an investment ISA
- Be prepared to invest for the medium to long term with a investment ISA - five years or more is recommended.
- Different investment ISAs have different investment options. These range from as little as £10 per month (e.g. through a fund) to a specified minimum investment (e.g. £500).
- Online access - Some ISA providers will provide online access to your investment allowing you to see performance of your ISA.
- If your current investment ISA isn't performing as well as you'd like, you will usually be permitted to transfer to another provider. Speak to your new ISA manager who will arrange the transfer, allowing you to avoid losing any tax benefits by withdrawing your cash.
- With an investment ISA, there is greater long-term growth potential than a cash ISA - however, bear in mind that the value of your investment can go down as well as up.
- If you have an investment ISA from a previous tax year, you're permitted to move this into a current investment ISA or split it between more than one investment ISA.
- If you want to open a Junior ISA for your child or grandchild, then you can also invest in the investment on their behalf up to a maximum of £4,260.
Savings Accounts:
A good instant access savings account will offer flexible withdrawal facilities with good rates of interest, and could be suited to savers looking to access their money regularly.
Depending how often you want to access your savings/ withdraw your savings, will determine whether you might want to choose an Easy Access, Instant Access, or Fixed Rate account.
