Compare Cash ISAs

We help you to compare the best cash ISAs available in the UK so if you're looking for a tax free savings account you can find the best ISA rates here. We also provide a full guide to saving with cash ISAs so you can get the best ISA rates and the most from your money.
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 TermsCompany / ProductAccountHeadline Interest RateISA Transfers AcceptedMinimum Initial InvestmentMore
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CompanyTypeCash ISA TypeTerm  
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Alliance and LeicesterAlliance and Leicester Direct ISA Issue 5Cash ISAInstant Accessn/a2.00%yes£1Alliance and Leicester Direct ISA Issue 5Visit Site
 Earn 2.50% AER on balances above £9000
SantanderSantander Direct ISA Issue 3Cash ISAInstant Accessn/a2.00%yes£1Santander Direct ISA Issue 3Visit Site
 Earn 3.00% AER on balances above £9000
Principality Building SocietyPrincipality Building Society e-ISACash ISAEasy Accessn/a1.80%yes£1Principality Building Society e-ISAVisit Site
HSBCHSBC Cash e-ISA Ex/CCash ISAInstant Accessn/a1.75%yes£1HSBC Cash e-ISA Ex/CVisit Site
 
Only available to customers who already hold a HSBC Current Account with internet banking.
Full Results
Alliance and LeicesterAlliance and Leicester Super Direct ISA Ex/CCash ISAInstant Accessn/a5.50%yes£1Alliance and Leicester Super Direct ISA Ex/CVisit Site
 
This product is only available to existing customers.
SantanderSantander Super Direct ISA Ex/CCash ISAInstant Accessn/a5.50%yes£1Santander Super Direct ISA Ex/CVisit Site
 
Available to customers who fund a new or existing qualifying investment product. The amount credited to investment... more
Leeds Building SocietyLeeds Building Society 5 Year Fixed Rate ISA Issue 16Cash ISAFixed Term5years4.60%yes£1Leeds Building Society 5 Year Fixed Rate ISA Issue 16Visit Site
Birmingham MidshiresBirmingham Midshires 5 Year Fixed Rate ISACash ISAFixed Term5years4.55%yes£500Birmingham Midshires 5 Year Fixed Rate ISAVisit Site
NationwideNationwide 5 Year Fixed Rate ISA BondCash ISAFixed Term5years4.50%yes£1Nationwide 5 Year Fixed Rate ISA BondVisit Site
 
Existing customers will not be able to top up an existing ISA, however they can open another ISA to deposit the... more
Northern RockNorthern Rock Stepped Fixed Rate ISA Issue 3 (Step 3)Cash ISAFixed Term15 Mar
2013
4.50%yes£500Northern Rock Stepped Fixed Rate ISA Issue 3 (Step 3)Visit Site
Julian Hodge BankJulian Hodge Bank Cash ISA 5 YearCash ISAFixed Term5years4.40%yes£3,600Julian Hodge Bank Cash ISA 5 YearVisit Site
Norwich & Peterborough Building SocietyNorwich & Peterborough Building Society 5 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISACash ISAFixed Term5years4.30%yes£3,600Norwich & Peterborough Building Society 5 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISAVisit Site
HalifaxHalifax 4 Year Fixed Rate ISA SaverCash ISAFixed Term4years4.25%yes£500Halifax 4 Year Fixed Rate ISA SaverVisit Site
Julian Hodge BankJulian Hodge Bank Cash ISA 4 YearCash ISAFixed Term4years4.15%yes£3,600Julian Hodge Bank Cash ISA 4 YearVisit Site
M&SM&S 3 Year Fixed Rate Savings Cash ISACash ISAFixed Term3years4.00%yes£500M&S 3 Year Fixed Rate Savings Cash ISAVisit Site
CumberlandCumberland 5 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISACash ISAFixed Term5years(25 Nov 2014)4.00%yes£3,600Cumberland 5 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISAVisit Site
 
New accounts only available to people living in Cumbria, Dumfriesshire, Preston area of North Lancashire and Haltwhistle... more
NationwideNationwide 3 Year 50+ Fixed Rate ISA BondCash ISAFixed Term3years4.00%yes£1Nationwide 3 Year 50+ Fixed Rate ISA BondVisit Site
 
This account is only available to those aged 50 or above on or before 5th April 2010.
AldermoreAldermore 3 Year Fixed Rate ISACash ISAFixed Term3years4.00%yes£3,600Aldermore 3 Year Fixed Rate ISAVisit Site
Northern RockNorthern Rock Stepped Fixed Rate ISA Issue 3 (Step 2)Cash ISAFixed Term15 Mar
2013
4.00%yes£500Northern Rock Stepped Fixed Rate ISA Issue 3 (Step 2)Visit Site
Kent Reliance Building SocietyKent Reliance Building Society Direct Fixed Rate ISA to 30 Sept 2014Cash ISAFixed Term30 Sep
2014
4.00%yes£100Kent Reliance Building Society Direct Fixed Rate ISA to 30 Sept 2014Visit Site
Julian Hodge BankJulian Hodge Bank Cash ISA 3 YearCash ISAFixed Term3years3.90%yes£3,600Julian Hodge Bank Cash ISA 3 YearVisit Site
SagaSaga Three Year Fixed ISA MonthlyCash ISAFixed Term3years3.90%yes£1Saga Three Year Fixed ISA MonthlyVisit Site
SagaSaga Three Year Fixed Rate ISACash ISAFixed Term3years3.90%yes£1Saga Three Year Fixed Rate ISAVisit Site
HalifaxHalifax 3 Year Fixed Rate ISA SaverCash ISAFixed Term3years3.75%yes£500Halifax 3 Year Fixed Rate ISA SaverVisit Site
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Cash ISAs Explained

Why cash ISAs are your ticket to tax free savings.

What is a cash ISA?

Cash ISAs are savings accounts that pay interest on your money without deducting tax.

For basic tax payers investing in an ISA could increase the interest return on your savings by 20% while this figure increases to 40% for those taxed at a higher rate.

There are a huge number of fixed rate and instant access options available so, just like regular savings accounts, you can find a Cash ISA that works with the way you use your money.

Who can save?

Cash ISAs are available to all UK residents over the age of 16. Crown employees working overseas but paid by the government (such as members of the armed forces) and their husbands, wives or civil partners are also able to take advantage of the tax free savings opportunities that ISAs provide.

How much can I save?

You can invest up to £3,600 in a Cash ISA every tax year. (In the 2009 budget the Chancellor announced that the ISA limit is set to increase to a total tax free savings allowance of £10,200, £5,100 of which can be saved as cash.  This has already come into effect for those over 50 and will apply early next year to all other savers). However, you are only allowed to pay into one Cash ISA per tax year even though you can contribute to different Cash ISAs in different tax years.

Prior to the 6th April, 2008, Cash ISAs were available either as Mini Cash ISA accounts, or as cash components of Maxi ISAs. However, to make tax free savings more accessible the Mini/Maxi distinction has now been scrapped and all existing Mini Cash ISAs, TESSA-only ISAs and cash components of Maxi ISAs’ are now simply referred to as ‘Cash ISAs’.

Can I access money in a Cash ISA?

Yes, just as with other savings accounts, if you have an instant access ISA you will be able to withdraw money whenever you need to. Fixed rate Cash ISAs on the other hand tend to restrict your access for an agreed period with an interest penalty imposed for early withdrawal.

However, it’s worth bearing in mind that irrespective of the type of Cash ISA account you hold, you will only able to pay in a maximum of £3,600 per financial year no matter how much you withdraw. For example, if you start the tax year by paying in the full £3,600 but later withdraw £600, despite the fact that you now only hold £3,000 in your Cash ISA, you will not be able to pay in any more until the next financial year as you have already used your full £3,600 allowance.

Can I transfer my Cash ISA?

It is possible to transfer Cash ISAs from previous years allowances into a new Cash ISA account. However, you will need to do this officially with the help of your bank or building society (rather than simply withdrawing the cash) to protect your money from losing its tax free status.

From the 6th April, 2008, it’s now possible to transfer funds held in Cash ISAs to a Stocks and Shares ISA without losing any of the tax free benefits. However, you are still unable to move monies held in Stocks and Shares ISAs into a Cash ISA account.

What types of cash ISA accounts are available?

Cash ISAs can be broadly split into two categories, fixed rate accounts and instant access accounts. However within these labels Cash ISAs vary hugely in both the interest rates and the level of access they offer so it’s always important to familiarise yourself with any terms and conditions before signing up.

Fixed term Cash ISA's are usually offered at the start of the new tax year and often require that the full £3,600 allowance be invested on account opening and then held for a specified period. These types of accounts do tend to offer higher rates than their instant access counterparts and so can be a good option if you have £3,600 to invest and don’t need access to your money.

Instant access Cash ISAs allow you to withdraw available funds without notice or penalty. However it is important to remember that once funds have been withdrawn from a fully subscribed ISA they can't be returned in the same tax year.

Cash ISAs which have been government approved are referred to as ‘Stakeholder Cash ISAs’ and, as well as allowing unlimited withdrawals, these will also have a low minimum opening amount, offer free transfers between compliant providers and offer an interest rate no lower than 1% below the Bank of England base rate.

For more advice on how to make the most of your Cash ISA allowance click here

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