Savings account rates: how to make your money work harder
A plain-English, independently produced comparison of savings accounts for people on everyday incomes. No paywall, no sales pitch — we're not owned by anyone selling you these products.
Savings account rates
Easy-access savings accounts
| Provider | Rate (AER) | FSCS protected | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| LemFi — Instant Access Savings via ClearBank (includes 1.89% six-month bonus; rate reverts to 3.04% AER after bonus period — set a reminder to switch) | 5.00% | ✓ Yes (via ClearBank) | lemfi.com |
| Oxbury Bank — Easy Access Autumn Account, Issue 2 (no bonus; min £1,000, max £120,000). | 4.57% AER | ✓ Yes | oxbury.com |
| Zopa — Limited Access pot (includes 1.05% bonus for 12 months on £1–£50,000; balances above £50,000 earn 3.50%; three penalty-free withdrawals a year, then 2.00%). | 4.56% AER | ✓ Yes | zopa.com/savings |
| Tembo Money — HomeSaver (includes 1.55% bonus for 12 months; app-based; min £10; withdrawals to a nominated account). 5.55% with a qualifying Tembo mortgage. | 4.55% AER | ✓ Yes | tembomoney.com |
| NS&I Premium Bonds — not a savings account in the traditional sense. You buy bonds (min £25, max £50,000) and enter a monthly prize draw instead of earning interest. Prizes are tax-free and range from £25 to £1,000,000. Average prize rate is 4.35% from the September 2026 draw. No interest guarantee — in a poor month you could win nothing. Instant access. Government-backed (NS&I) — not covered by FSCS, but all money is 100% secure as it is backed by HM Treasury. Best suited to higher-rate taxpayers whose savings interest would otherwise be taxed, or anyone who enjoys the lottery element. | 4.35% prize rate (average; tax-free; not guaranteed) | ✓ Gov-backed | nsandi.com |
Sorted by AER, highest first. Rates including introductory bonuses marked — check the revert rate before opening. FSCS protection up to £120,000 per authorised institution (raised from £85,000 in December 2025). Rates as at 30 October 2026 (Moneyfacts; Afin from 1 November). Where savings are held via a partner bank (e.g. ClearBank), protection applies through that bank — check you don't already hold savings there. Updated at least weekly.
Fixed-rate savings accounts
| Provider | Rate (AER) | FSCS protected | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Afin Bank — 5-Year Fixed Term Account, Issue 15 (min £1,000, max £200,000; online). | 5.40% AER | ✓ Yes | afinbank.co.uk |
| Afin Bank — 3-Year Fixed Term Account, Issue 5 (min £1,000, max £200,000; online). | 5.28% AER | ✓ Yes | afinbank.co.uk |
| Afin Bank — 2-Year Fixed Term Account, Issue 11 (min £1,000, max £200,000; online). | 5.28% AER | ✓ Yes | afinbank.co.uk |
| Afin Bank — 1-Year Fixed Term Account, Issue 9 (min £1,000, max £200,000; online). | 5.17% AER | ✓ Yes | afinbank.co.uk |
Sorted by AER, highest first. Terms shown per row. Afin Bank leads every term in Moneyfacts data of 30 October to 1 November 2026; rates from other providers listed last week (including GB Bank 5.37%) were not reconfirmed and have been removed. Money is locked for the full term — check penalty conditions before opening. NS&I carries a full government guarantee (not subject to the £120,000 FSCS cap). Updated at least weekly.
Regular saver accounts
| Provider | Rate (AER) | FSCS protected | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santander — Regular Saver (up to £200/month; variable; requires a Santander current account). | 8.00% | ✓ Yes | santander.co.uk |
| First Direct — Regular Saver (up to £300/month; 7.00% fixed; no withdrawals; requires a 1st Account). | 7.00% | ✓ Yes | firstdirect.com |
| Co-operative Bank — Regular Saver (up to £250/month; variable; requires a Co-operative Bank current account). | 7.00% | ✓ Yes | co-operativebank.co.uk |
| Chase — Regular Saver (up to £300/month; fixed; requires a Chase current account). | 6.50% | ✓ Yes | chase.co.uk |
| Nationwide — Flex Regular Saver (up to £200/month; variable; requires a Nationwide Flex account; three withdrawals a year, after which the rate falls to 1.05%). | 6.50% | ✓ Yes | nationwide.co.uk |
| Lloyds Bank — Club Lloyds Monthly Saver (up to £250/month; fixed; requires Club Lloyds or Lloyds Premier). | 6.25% | ✓ Yes | lloydsbank.com |
| Skipton Building Society — Regular Saver (up to £250/month; variable; no current account needed). | 5.75% | ✓ Yes | skipton.co.uk |
Sorted by AER, highest first. Most regular savers require a linked current account with the same provider — check eligibility before applying. Rates shown include introductory bonuses where applicable; check the revert rate. Monthly deposit caps apply — missed payments may affect your rate. FSCS protection up to £120,000 per institution. Updated at least weekly.
Notice accounts
| Provider | Rate (AER) | FSCS protected | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bank of London and The Middle East — 90 Day Notice Account (Issue 10; expected profit rate, not guaranteed interest; min £10,000; online; paid quarterly). Rate as at 22 October 2026 — Moneyfacts' top 90-day notice rate on 1 November is also 4.58%. | 4.58% | ✓ Yes | blme.com |
Moneyfacts top rates on 1 November 2026 by notice period: up to 30 days 4.00%, up to 60 days 4.31%, up to 90 days 4.58%, over 180 days 4.75% (providers not named in the source, so not listed). Notice periods typically range from 30 to 120 days; withdrawals made without notice may incur penalties. FSCS protection up to £120,000 per institution. Updated at least weekly.
Cash ISAs
| Provider | Rate (AER) | FSCS protected | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shawbrook Bank — 2 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA Plus, Issue 2 (min £10,000; accepts transfers in; early access normally penalised). | 5.12% | ✓ Yes | shawbrook.co.uk |
| Castle Trust Bank — 2 Year Fixed Rate e-Cash ISA (min £1,000, max £500,000; interest paid on maturity; early closure loses 180 days of interest). | 5.10% | ✓ Yes | castletrust.co.uk |
| Shawbrook Bank — 1 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA Plus, Issue 2 (min £10,000; accepts transfers in; early access normally penalised). | 5.02% | ✓ Yes | shawbrook.co.uk |
| Trading 212 — Cash ISA Promo Rate, easy access (rate includes a bonus — check how it changes when the bonus ends; min £1; does not accept transfers in). | 4.87% | ✓ Yes (via partner banks) | trading212.com |
Sorted by AER, highest first. Rates as at 30 October 2026 (Moneyfacts). Budget 28 October 2026: the planned cut in the cash ISA allowance for under-65s was dropped — the allowance stays at £20,000 for all ages. From 6 April 2027, tax rates on savings interest above the Personal Savings Allowance rise by 2 percentage points, to 24% (basic), 44% (higher) and 49% (additional); the allowance itself is unchanged (Unbiased; Evelyn; Be Clever With Your Cash). Where savings are held via partner banks, check your combined balance across all accounts at that banking group does not exceed £120,000. FSCS protection up to £120,000 per authorised institution. Updated at least weekly.
Related guides
Frequently asked questions
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) protects up to £120,000 per person, per authorised institution (raised from £85,000 in December 2025). If you have savings with multiple brands owned by the same banking group, they may share a single £120,000 limit — always check. FSCS protection status is shown in the table above for every account listed. Where an account holds savings via a partner bank (e.g. ClearBank), protection applies through that bank — check you don't already hold savings there. If an account is not FSCS protected, that is flagged clearly — it doesn't mean it's unsafe, but you should understand what alternative protection applies before opening one.
Most people on everyday incomes pay no tax on savings interest, thanks to the Personal Savings Allowance (PSA). Basic-rate taxpayers (income up to £50,270) can earn up to £1,000 in savings interest per year before any tax is due. Higher-rate taxpayers get a £500 allowance; additional-rate taxpayers receive none. At a rate of 5% AER, a basic-rate taxpayer would need roughly £20,000 in savings before tax becomes relevant. If your interest stays within your allowance, interest is simply paid gross — no action needed. If you exceed the PSA, HMRC will typically collect the tax through an adjustment to your PAYE tax code. Interest inside a cash ISA is always tax-free and does not count against the PSA.
Neither term is a regulated definition — both are marketing descriptions. In practice, "easy access" and "instant access" are often used interchangeably, but the access conditions can differ significantly. Some accounts marketed as easy-access require same-day notice; others process withdrawals only on working days, meaning a Friday request may not clear until Monday. Before opening any account, check: (1) how quickly withdrawals actually reach your nominated account; (2) whether withdrawals are restricted on weekends or bank holidays; and (3) whether there is a limit on the number of withdrawals per year (some accounts penalise frequent withdrawals). The table notes above flag any access restrictions for each account listed.
For most people on modest incomes whose savings interest falls within the Personal Savings Allowance, a cash ISA currently offers no immediate tax advantage. A non-ISA easy-access account paying a higher gross rate is likely the better choice in the short term. However, there are two reasons a cash ISA may still be worth considering: (1) future-proofing — if your savings grow, your interest rate rises, or the PSA is reduced by future legislation, the ISA wrapper provides permanent shelter; and (2) the wrapper is permanent — once money is inside an ISA, the tax-free status lasts for life, regardless of how large the balance grows. If the best ISA rate is within 0.5% of the best non-ISA rate, the ISA is generally worth choosing for the long-term flexibility it provides.
For the latest rate changes and money news, see our money news page. This is factual information, not financial advice or a personal recommendation — please check current rates and terms with the provider before applying.