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We compare investment platforms and savings accounts from multiple providers. Capital at risk. The information shown is accurate at time of display but may change.

Savings Account Interest Rates

Compare the best UK savings account interest rates across easy access, notice accounts, fixed-term bonds, regular savers, and Cash ISAs. Find the highest AER for your cash. Updated regularly.

1. Choose Account Type 2. Compare Rates 3. Check Terms 4. Open Account

FSCS protected: Savings up to £120,000 per person, per bank are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme.

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Updated

Jan 18, 2026 21:16
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UK Savings Account Interest Rates

I built this comparison to show the best savings rates in one place. The tables above compare easy access accounts, notice accounts, fixed-rate bonds, regular savers, and Cash ISAs from UK banks and building societies. Rates change frequently, so I update this regularly. Nothing here is financial advice – just the facts to help you compare.

Types of Savings Accounts

Savings accounts come in several types, each with different access rules and interest rates. Generally, the more restrictions on access, the higher the rate.

Easy Access

Withdraw anytime without penalty. Rates are variable and can change at any time. Some accounts limit the number of withdrawals per year. Useful for emergency funds or money that might be needed at short notice.

Notice Accounts

Must give notice (typically 30, 60, 90, or 120 days) before withdrawing. Rates are usually higher than easy access but lower than fixed. Some allow instant access with an interest penalty.

Fixed-Rate Bonds

Lock money away for a set term (typically 1-5 years) at a guaranteed rate. Usually offer the highest rates. Early withdrawal is often not allowed, or comes with a significant penalty.

Regular Savers

Deposit a fixed amount monthly (often £25-£500). Often offer high headline rates, but limited to 12 months and capped deposits. The actual interest earned is less than it appears because the balance builds gradually.

Cash ISA (Easy Access)

Easy access savings within the ISA tax wrapper. Interest is tax-free. Shares the £20,000 annual ISA allowance with other ISA types. Rates often slightly lower than taxable easy access accounts.

Cash ISA (Fixed)

Fixed-rate savings within the ISA tax wrapper. Interest is tax-free. Lock-in periods typically 1-5 years. Early access usually not permitted or incurs penalties.

AER Explained

AER stands for Annual Equivalent Rate. It's the standard way to compare savings accounts because it shows the true yearly interest rate, taking into account how often interest is paid.

AER vs Gross Rate

The gross rate is the basic interest rate. The AER shows what you'd actually earn over a year. If interest is paid annually, they're the same. If interest is paid monthly, the AER is slightly higher – because each month's interest gets added to your balance and itself earns interest the following month.

Example: An account paying 4.89% gross with monthly interest has an AER of 5.00%. The difference is small, but it adds up on larger balances.

Monthly vs Annual Interest

  • Monthly interest: Interest is calculated and added to the account each month. Useful if you want to withdraw interest as income, or if you want each month's interest to start earning interest too.
  • Annual interest: Interest is calculated daily but only paid once a year (usually on the anniversary of opening). Same AER, but the interest doesn't hit your account until the year ends.

When comparing accounts, always use the AER – all providers must display it.

Tax on Savings Interest

Interest earned on savings accounts is taxable as income, but most people pay nothing thanks to the Personal Savings Allowance.

Personal Savings Allowance (PSA)

The Personal Savings Allowance lets you earn a certain amount of interest tax-free each year:

Tax Band Personal Savings Allowance Tax-Free Interest at 5% AER
Basic rate (20%) £1,000 Up to £20,000 in savings
Higher rate (40%) £500 Up to £10,000 in savings
Additional rate (45%) £0 No allowance

Starting Rate for Savers

If total non-savings income (salary, pension, etc.) is below £17,570, there's an extra £5,000 of interest that can be earned tax-free. This is on top of the Personal Savings Allowance. See GOV.UK guidance for details.

Cash ISAs

Interest in a Cash ISA is always tax-free, regardless of how much is earned. Additional rate taxpayers get no PSA, so all their savings interest outside a Cash ISA is taxable.

Tax collection: Banks report interest to HMRC automatically. If tax is owed, it's usually collected through PAYE (taken from salary or pension) or Self Assessment. There's no need to do anything unless the figures are wrong.

Cash ISA Rules

Cash ISAs are savings accounts where interest is completely tax-free. They share rules with other ISA types:

Annual Allowance

The £20,000 annual ISA allowance is shared across all ISA types – Cash ISA, Stocks & Shares ISA, Innovative Finance ISA, and Lifetime ISA. Money put into a Cash ISA reduces what can go into other ISAs that year.

Multiple Cash ISAs

Since April 2024, you can pay into multiple Cash ISAs in the same tax year (previously limited to one). Cash ISAs from previous years can be held with different providers.

Flexible vs Standard Cash ISAs

Standard Cash ISA Flexible Cash ISA
Withdraw and replace Withdrawn money uses up allowance Can replace withdrawals in same tax year
Example Withdraw £5,000 → only £15,000 allowance left Withdraw £5,000 → can put £5,000 back and keep full allowance

Cash ISA Transfers

Cash ISAs can be transferred between providers without losing the tax-free status. Transfers from previous tax years can be partial or full. Transfers from the current tax year must be the full balance. Withdrawing and redepositing doesn't count as a transfer – it uses up allowance.

Note: From April 2027, the annual Cash ISA allowance is being reduced to £12,000 for under-65s. The overall £20,000 ISA limit remains, but the additional £8,000 must go into other ISA types (e.g. Stocks & Shares). Over-65s keep the full £20,000 Cash ISA allowance. This doesn't affect 2025/26 or 2026/27. See GOV.UK announcement.

NS&I (National Savings & Investments)

NS&I is the government's savings bank. Unlike high street banks, NS&I savings are backed by HM Treasury, meaning 100% of deposits are guaranteed – there's no £85,000 or £120,000 limit.

NS&I Products

  • Premium Bonds: Prize draw instead of interest. Each £1 bond is entered into monthly draws with prizes from £25 to £1 million. Tax-free. Maximum holding £50,000.
  • Income Bonds: Variable rate, monthly interest, easy access. Minimum £500.
  • Direct Saver: Variable rate easy access. Online only. Minimum £1.
  • Fixed-rate bonds: Guaranteed Savings Bonds and other fixed-term products at various terms.

Pros and Cons

Advantages Disadvantages
100% government-backed (no limit) Rates often lower than best-buy accounts
Premium Bond prizes are tax-free Premium Bond returns are luck-based
Well-established, trusted provider Limited product range

NS&I rates are set by the government and can change. They're sometimes competitive, sometimes not – it's worth comparing with other providers.

FSCS Protection

Cash deposits with UK-regulated banks and building societies are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS):

  • Protection limit: Up to £120,000 per person, per banking licence
  • Temporary high balances: Up to £1.4 million for 6 months for certain events (house sale, inheritance, redundancy, etc.)

December 2025 update: The deposit protection limit increased from £85,000 to £120,000 on 1 December 2025. The temporary high balance limit also increased from £1 million to £1.4 million. See FSCS announcement.

Shared Banking Licences

Some banks share the same banking licence, meaning the £120,000 protection limit is shared across them. Examples:

  • Lloyds Banking Group: Lloyds, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, Scottish Widows Bank – one shared £120,000 limit
  • NatWest Group: NatWest, RBS, Ulster Bank – one shared £120,000 limit
  • Santander UK: Santander, Cahoot – one shared £120,000 limit

Check our FSCS Protection Checker to see which banks share limits.

Joint accounts: Joint accounts are protected up to £240,000 (£120,000 per person). Each person's share counts towards their individual limit with that banking group.

Savings Account FAQ

What is AER?

AER stands for Annual Equivalent Rate. It shows the interest rate as if interest was paid and compounded once per year, making it easier to compare accounts that pay interest at different intervals. All UK savings accounts must display the AER.

Do I pay tax on savings interest?

Most people don't, thanks to the Personal Savings Allowance. Basic rate taxpayers can earn £1,000 in interest tax-free, higher rate taxpayers £500. Additional rate taxpayers get no allowance. Interest in Cash ISAs is always tax-free regardless of the amount.

What's the FSCS protection limit for savings?

Up to £120,000 per person, per authorised banking firm. This increased from £85,000 in December 2025. Some banks share a licence, meaning the limit is shared across them. NS&I has no limit as it's 100% government-backed.

What's the difference between a Cash ISA and a normal savings account?

Interest in a Cash ISA is completely tax-free. Normal savings accounts are subject to income tax on interest above the Personal Savings Allowance. Cash ISAs share the £20,000 annual ISA allowance with other ISA types.

Can I have more than one Cash ISA?

Yes. Since April 2024, you can pay into multiple Cash ISAs in the same tax year. You can also hold Cash ISAs from previous years with different providers.

What is a flexible Cash ISA?

A flexible Cash ISA allows withdrawals to be replaced within the same tax year without using up additional allowance. With a standard Cash ISA, any withdrawal permanently reduces the amount that can be deposited that year.

What's the difference between easy access and notice accounts?

Easy access accounts allow withdrawals at any time with no notice. Notice accounts require advance notice (typically 30-120 days) before withdrawing. Notice accounts usually offer higher interest rates in exchange for the reduced flexibility.

Are Premium Bonds worth it?

Premium Bonds offer prize draws instead of guaranteed interest. The prize fund rate (currently 3.60%) represents the average return, but individual results vary based on luck. Prizes are tax-free and deposits are 100% government-backed with no limit. Whether they're 'worth it' depends on individual circumstances and attitude to the prize-draw format.

What is the starting rate for savers?

An additional 0% tax band of up to £5,000 for savings interest, available to those with non-savings income below £17,570. This is on top of the Personal Savings Allowance and can mean up to £6,000 in tax-free interest for basic rate taxpayers with low incomes.

How do I transfer a Cash ISA?

Contact the new provider and request a transfer – they handle the paperwork. Transfers from previous tax years can be partial or full. Transfers from the current tax year must be the full balance. Always use the official transfer process; withdrawing and redepositing counts against the annual allowance.

What happens to a fixed-rate bond if I need the money early?

Most fixed-rate bonds don't allow early access at all. Some permit it with a penalty, typically losing 90-180 days of interest. Check the terms before opening – if there's any chance the money might be needed, a notice account or easy access account may be more suitable.

Do banks share FSCS protection limits?

Some do. Banks operating under the same banking licence share one £120,000 protection limit. For example, Lloyds, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland share one limit. Check the FSCS website or our protection checker to see which banks are linked.

Is NS&I protected by FSCS?

NS&I isn't covered by FSCS because it doesn't need to be – it's backed by HM Treasury, meaning 100% of deposits are guaranteed by the government. There's no upper limit on protection.

What is a regular saver account?

An account requiring a fixed monthly deposit (often £25-£500) for 12 months. Often advertise high headline rates, but because the balance builds gradually, the actual interest earned is less than the rate suggests. Usually limited to one per person and may require a linked current account.

Are savings rates going up or down?

Savings rates broadly follow the Bank of England base rate, though not exactly. When the base rate rises, savings rates tend to rise; when it falls, they tend to fall. Individual banks set their own rates and may change them at different times.

About This Comparison

This table shows current interest rates from UK banks and building societies. Rates are updated regularly but can change at any time – check the provider's website for the latest rates before opening an account.

What's included: Easy access accounts, notice accounts, fixed-rate bonds, regular savers, and Cash ISAs (both easy access and fixed). We include accounts that can be opened online or via an app from major UK providers.

What's not included: Accounts that require branch visits or phone applications, accounts restricted to existing customers, children's accounts, business accounts, or accounts with very limited availability. Current account interest is also excluded.

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