Compare Savings Accounts

Compare the whole savings accounts market so you can find the best high interest savings account for your money no matter how much you have to save. We list all types of account including tax free isas, internet saving, fixed term, instant access and offshore savings.

Savings Accounts

Compare the whole savings accounts market so you can find the best high interest savings account for your money no matter how much you have to save. We list all types of account.

Glossary of Terms	Company / Product	Account Type	Headline Interest Rate	Interest Payment Frequency	Minimum Initial Investment	Access			More Info	Visit Site
	Company					Online	Branch	Phone
Promoted Results
	Alliance and Leicester Online Saver Issue 7	Instant Access	2.75%	annually	£1,000
	Halifax Bonus Saver Account Issue 2	Offshore Instant Access	2.53%	n/a	£2,500	n/a	n/a
	Santander eSaver Issue 2	Instant Access	2.50%	choice	£1
	Nationwide e-Savings Plus Ex/C	Easy Access	2.00%	annually	£1
	Nationwide e-Savings Plus Ex/C	This account can only be opened by those with Nationwide's current account - FlexAccount. All transactions are... more This account can only be opened by those with Nationwide's current account - FlexAccount. All transactions are made via the FlexAccount through the Nationwide's Online Banking site.
	HSBC Cash e-ISA Ex/C	Cash ISA	1.75%	monthly	£1
	HSBC Cash e-ISA Ex/C	Only available to customers who already hold a HSBC Current Account with internet banking.
	HSBC Online Bonus Saver	Easy Access	0.75%	monthly	£1
	HSBC Online Bonus Saver	0.75% on your savings with no withdrawals
	TD Waterhouse Self Select ISA	Investment ISA	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
	Selftrade Self Select ISA	Investment ISA	n/a	n/a	£50	n/a	n/a	n/a
	Selftrade Self Select ISA	Choose where and when to invest, and have the flexibility to change your investments at any time.
	Virgin ISA	Investment ISA	n/a	n/a	£500	n/a	n/a	n/a
	Virgin ISA	Climate Change ISA - An environmental fund with a difference.
	Legal & General ISA	Investment ISA	n/a	n/a	£50	n/a	n/a	n/a
	Legal & General ISA	Find out more about Legal & General's range of ISAs. Invest online today from just £50 a month or £500 lump sum.
	Barclays Wealth Regular Income Bond	Investment ISA	n/a	n/a	£3,600	n/a	n/a	n/a
	F & C F&C Investment Trust ISA	Investment ISA	n/a	n/a	£50	n/a	n/a	n/a
	Hargreaves Lansdown HL Vantage ISA	Investment ISA	n/a	n/a	£100	n/a	n/a	n/a
	Henderson New Star Henderson Investment Funds ISA	Investment ISA	n/a	n/a	£25	n/a	n/a	n/a
	JPMorgan Asset Management Investment Trust ISA	Investment ISA	n/a	n/a	£100	n/a	n/a	n/a
	M&G Financial Services M&G Stocks & Shares ISA	Investment ISA	n/a	n/a	£10	n/a	n/a	n/a
Full Results
	Abbey International Monthly Offshore Saver Ex/C	Offshore Term	10.00%	maturity	£250	n/a	n/a	n/a
	Abbey International Monthly Offshore Saver Ex/C	This product is only available to existing customers.
	HSBC Regular Saver Ex/C	Regular Saver	8.00%	maturity	£25
	HSBC Regular Saver Ex/C	Regular monthly payments must be made into this account by standing order from a HSBC current account. The monthly... more Regular monthly payments must be made into this account by standing order from a HSBC current account. The monthly minimum payment is £25 and the maximum is £250. Only available to customers who have a HSBC Premier, Plus or Passport current account.
	Skipton International Limited International Escalator Bond Monthly (Step 5)	Offshore Term	6.06%	monthly	£10,000	n/a	n/a	n/a
	Halifax Children's Regular Saver Ex/C	Regular Saver	6.00%	maturity	£10
	Halifax Children's Regular Saver Ex/C	This is a children's regular savings account. Regular monthly payments must be made into this account by standing... more This is a children's regular savings account. Regular monthly payments must be made into this account by standing order from a parent or guardian's bank account. The monthly minimum credit is £10. The monthly maximum credit is £100. If a monthly payment is missed the account will close, funds will be swept into a nominated account (which can be a save4it account or another Halifax account) and investors will receive the current rate payable on the save4it account for the period of the investment.
	Alliance and Leicester Super Bond (Issue 17) Ex/C	Fixed Bond	6.00%	choice	£1
	Alliance and Leicester Super Bond (Issue 17) Ex/C	Customers must also pay in the same amount or more into a qualifying investment product to qualify for this ac... more Customers must also pay in the same amount or more into a qualifying investment product to qualify for this account.
	Skipton International Limited International Escalator Bond (Step 5)	Offshore Term	6.00%	annually	£10,000	n/a	n/a	n/a
	Santander Super Bond Issue 17 Ex/C	Fixed Bond	6.00%	choice	£1
	Santander Super Bond Issue 17 Ex/C	Customers must hold or open an Santander Savings Account for the account deposit to be taken from. Customers must... more Customers must hold or open an Santander Savings Account for the account deposit to be taken from. Customers must also pay in the same amount or more into a qualifying investment product to qualify for this account.
	Santander Super Fixed Rate Monthly Saver Issue 9 Ex/C	Regular Saver	6.00%	maturity	£20
	Santander Super Fixed Rate Monthly Saver Issue 9 Ex/C	Regular monthly payments must be made into this account by standing order. The minimum monthly credit is £20... more Regular monthly payments must be made into this account by standing order. The minimum monthly credit is £20 and the maximum is £250. The customer must open a new regular investment (excluding Child Trust Fund) or a pension or Protection Plan with Santander to open this account.
	Alliance and Leicester Super Direct ISA Ex/C	Cash ISA	5.50%	annually	£1
	Alliance and Leicester Super Direct ISA Ex/C	This product is only available to existing customers.
	Santander Super Direct ISA Ex/C	Cash ISA	5.50%	annually	£1
	Santander Super Direct ISA Ex/C	Available to customers who fund a new or existing qualifying investment product. The amount credited to investment... more Available to customers who fund a new or existing qualifying investment product. The amount credited to investment must at least equal the amount deposited into the Super Direct ISA.The investment must remain open for 12 months or the rate applicable to the Direct ISA 3 will apply.
	Nationwide Stepped Rate Bond (Year 4)	Fixed Bond	5.25%	choice	£5,000
	Aldermore 5 Year Fixed Rate Bond	Fixed Bond	5.15%	choice	£1,000
	AA 5 Year Fixed Rate Savings Account	Fixed Bond	5.10%	choice	£500
	Birmingham Midshires 5 Year Fixed Rate Bond	Fixed Bond	5.10%	choice	£1
	Saga Five Year Fixed Rate Savings Bond	Fixed Bond	5.10%	choice	£1
	Skipton Fixed Rate Bond Fixed Until 31 Jan 2015	Fixed Bond	5.01%	choice	£500
	Skipton International Limited International Escalator Bond Monthly (Step 4)	Offshore Term	5.01%	monthly	£10,000	n/a	n/a	n/a
	Nationwide e-Bond 5 Year Ex/C	Fixed Bond	5.00%	choice	£1
	Nationwide e-Bond 5 Year Ex/C	The customer is required to have or open a Flex Account to be eligible for an e-Bond.
	Halifax Web Saver - 5 Year Term	Fixed Bond	5.00%	annually	£500
	Halifax Web Saver - 5 Year Term	To open a fixed rate Halifax Web Saver, you will need to open a variable rate Halifax Web Saver account as well.
	Halifax Web Saver - 5 Year Term Maturity	Fixed Bond	5.00%	maturity	£500
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Savings Accounts Explained

Find the savings account that will work for you and your money - we explain how.

Shocking as it sounds your savings could actually be losing you money by paying you a rate of interest that’s below inflation. For this reason, if you haven’t kept an eye on the return you’re getting, it could well be time to move your hard earned cash to a more profitable home. However, deciding to move is the easy part, choosing an account can be more tricky.

There are such an enormous range of savings accounts available now that knowing which is right for you isn’t always easy. So, to make things a whole lot simpler, we explain the three essential questions that you need to ask when looking for the best place to stash your cash.

Where can I get the best return?

This is always the most important question to ask and while it may seem like an obvious one, the answer isn’t always as straight forward as it may seem. Getting the best return isn’t always about picking the highest interest rate as, once tax is factored in and bonuses expire, a great account can soon turn into a mediocre one.

If you’re a tax payer at least 20% of any interest you earn on your money will go straight to the tax man (40% of it if you pay your tax at higher rate). The only relief your savings get from this deduction are when they are ‘hidden’ in an ISA. You can save up to £3,600 a year in a Cash ISA (£7,200 in total including stocks and shares) and, as interest is paid tax free, this is the first place you should look to save as great returns are available.

In the past many people found ISAs inaccessible as the regulations that surrounded them were confusing (to say the least). However, as of 6th April 2008 they have been simplified so that now there is really no excuse not to take advantage of the tax free saving benefits these accounts offer. For more information on finding an ISA account that’s right for you click here

In general, regular savings accounts are often the next best place for your money as they often feature headline grabbing rates that banks and building societies use to lure in new customers. However, while this type of account can give you a really good return they usually come with a whole plethora of restrictions that govern how much you can pay in and how you can access your money so it pays to do your research first. For more on the benefits and drawbacks of regular savers click here

Bonds and fixed term accounts usually offer a better return than their instant access counter parts and really attractive rates of interest are available for those who don’t mind tying their money up for a while. However, this type of account is only ever worth considering if you are confident that you won’t need to access your money as it’s likely that interest penalties will be applied if you need to make a withdrawal mid term.

Instant access accounts are next in line and tend to be a much more flexible option as you can get to your money as and when you need it. Look for the highest interest rate possible but keep an eye out for bonuses that inflate the interest rate for a short while and then drop.

If you’re happy to move your money regularly then chasing bonus rates can be a very profitable pastime. However, if this sounds like too much effort then an account that pays a consistently high rate of interest is likely to be more suitable. Accounts that offer rate guarantees are also a very good bet as they give you the confidence that your money is getting a good return until a certain date in the future.

What kind of access do I need?

While interest rates are an undoubtedly important part of choosing a home for your money, it’s also important to find an account that’s going to let you access your money in a way that suits you.

Fixed term options do often offer the best returns (and tend to be available in anything from 6 month to 5 year terms). However, if you are likely to need your money at all during the specified time frame then it’s unlikely that this type of account will be worth your while as the interest penalties typically associated with mid-term withdrawal will outweigh any benefit earned from the higher rate.

For this reason, high interest, instant access accounts are usually a good bet if you need to be flexible with your funds. Both taxable and tax-free accounts are available with instant access so you will be spoilt for choice and should base your decision largely on interest rates when comparing them.

In addition to this, you’ll also need to consider how you want to access your money. If you’re friendly with your computer then an online account is likely to be convenient and providers often offer the best returns over the internet. However, if you value a branch based service then this is something to look out for too as, while maximising your savings is about getting the best return on your money, it’s only worth it if you have an account that you feel comfortable operating.

Do I need an income from my savings?

Many accounts only pay interest annually, either on the anniversary of account opening or on some other pre-specified date. However, others allow you to take income from your investment on a monthly basis. Some accounts on the other hand offer both options so that you have the flexibility to choose without compromising on getting the type of account you want.

If you’re likely to need a monthly income from your money then this is definitely an important feature to consider when comparing accounts.

What now?

Once you’ve figured out what type of savings account is going to work for you it’s simply down to finding an account that matches your criteria, something that using our handy comparison tables should only take a few minutes at most.

However, it doesn’t stop there. While it’s tempting to sit back and relax once you’ve made sure that your money is working hard you shouldn’t get too comfortable as accounts do change and interest rates do drop. By keeping an eye on the return your account is providing and strategically switching when it stops giving you the best deal, you can make sure that your savings continue to grow as fast as they possibly can indefinitely.