Easy access
Easy access savings allow you to dip into your savings at short notice with no penalty. Most children’s savings accounts offer easy access
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Savings accounts
find a great new savings account
Compare rates from a wide range of leading providers
When searching for a savings account you’ll want to find the highest interest rates. That way every penny is working hard to give you the best returns possible. But with so many different options available to UK savers it’s not always an easy decision to make.
Here at MoneySuperMarket, we do the hard work for you by comparing savings accounts across a range of leading providers. With a click of a button, you can find the right account to suit your needs and start saving today.
What are the different types of savings account?
A savings bank account is a type of deposit account held by a bank, building society or other financial institution. You can put money into your savings account as a lump sum or regularly and you’ll earn interest on your balance. There are different types of account and some have limits on deposits and withdrawals.
Fixed rate
Fixed rate savings accounts, also known as fixed term bonds, offer you a fixed rate of interest rate over a set period of time, such as one year.
Regular saver
With a regular saver account you save a set amount of money each month. There are usually stricter rules about how much you can pay in and take out.
ISAs
Individual savings accounts (ISAs) let you save up to £20,000 per tax year, without paying tax on the interest. There are cash and equity ISA options.
How to choose the best savings account
There are a range of things to consider when thinking about what type of savings account is right for you and your goals:
Match the account to your savings goal
Setting a savings goal can help you decide which savings account would suit you best. If you’re saving for a new kitchen or a holiday, an easy access account will mean you can get your cash without penalty. For long-term savings, a fixed rate account will usually pay more interest, for example.
Consider how much you want to save
How much you’re looking to save will affect which savings account suits you best. Regular savings accounts require you to put away a set amount of money every month. If you don’t make the minimum payment into your account, your account may be closed or your rate falls. ISAs have a £20,000 annual cap on the amount you can save each year.
What level of access do you need?
Different savings accounts will have varying rules on withdrawals. Usually, the tighter these rules, the higher the interest rate you’ll earn on your savings. Easy access accounts allow you to withdraw your money whenever you like without incurring a penalty – but they do come with lower interest rates than fixed-rate savings accounts.
Look for features and perks you’ll use
Savings accounts come with different features. Online banking should make it easy to move money from your current account to a savings account. But are you happy with a web or app account or do you want branch access? Some accounts offer incentives, such as free insurance, rail cards or higher introductory interest rates when you sign up.
What is the best savings interest rate?
Savings rates fluctuate over time depending on several factors. The savings rate you can achieve on your cash will depend on a variety of things, including:
The Bank of England base rate. The base rate is the interest rate the Bank of England charges when it lends money to other UK banks - so it acts as a benchmark for interest rates across the country. Savings providers use this rate as a reference point for what they’ll offer you through a savings account
The savings account term. As a general rule, the longer you can tie up your money in a fixed rate savings account, the higher the interest rate you’ll earn. Although with interest rates at historic lows this is not always the case – so check the terms and conditions of different accounts. Some easy access account pay higher initial interest rates than some fixed rates, for example
The policy of your savings provider. Some banks and building societies will offer savings rates above the Bank of England base rate to attract new savers. You may be able to take advantage of ‘special offer’ rates, but make a note of when any rates end so you can move to a better paying account
How many savings accounts can I have?
You can have as many savings accounts as you like. Having multiple savings accounts has its advantages. It can help you:
Meet your savings goals
You can lock some money away in accounts with higher interest rates such as fixed rate bonds, perhaps saving for a child or your retirement, while having another pot of savings in an easy access account can be useful for emergencies
Take advantage of perks
Savings accounts might offer incentives such as introductory rates and bonuses or free insurance when you sign-up. While it may not be the first reason to choose a savings account it can be a beneficial added extra
Protect your money
Savings are covered up to £85,000 per person per banking group under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. If you have a lump sum to save, splitting it between more than one account gives added protection.
Compare savings accounts with MoneySuperMarket
MoneySuperMarket can help you compare several accounts all in one place
Browse our providers
Just click the button below to see a list of all our savings accounts, ordered by highest interest rate.
Filter and sort
Use our filters to narrow down your options by what’s most important to you, whether it’s interest rate or deposit amount
Click through to provider
When you find the account you want, click straight to the provider to complete your application online today.
Reporting savings scams
We’re aware some fraudsters are trying to use the MoneySuperMarket brand to trick consumers into handing over money or financial details, by offering fake ISA and savings products with eye-catching rates. The best way to stop these scams is to report them.
How do I report an ISA scam?
If you think you’ve been contacted by a fraudster, please stop all communication with them and report it to Action Fraud.
If it’s someone impersonating MoneySuperMarket, please contact our customer services team.
Check out our tips on how to keep you and your family safe from scams.
Are savings accounts worth it?
How much should I have in savings?
Where can I get maximum interest on my money?
Where can I put money instead of a savings account?
Where is the safest place to put your money?
Do savings accounts have a deposit limit?
Savings accounts are a good place to keep your cash safe and secure – even if interest rates aren’t particularly high. The longer you can lock your money away, in general, the higher the rate you’ll earn on your money. You may be able to find higher interest rates on deposits – for example in some high interest current accounts – but there are typically maximum limits on the money you can earn interest on.
Investing in equities offers the potential to earn higher returns than a savings account – but with stock market investing your initial capital will be at risk (the value of your investment can go up and down), which is not the case in a savings account.
While there is no limit to how much you can save, be aware if you have savings worth more than £85,000 you should not hold them all with the same savings provider. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) will cover you up to £85,000 (for FCA regulated firms) should your savings provider run into difficulties. But this is the maximum amount covered per person per banking group.
If you’re looking for a savings account that can give you maximum interest, a fixed-term savings account may be your best option. Fixed-term savings accounts generally will offer higher interest rates than easy-access savings accounts, as you’ll be committed to locking away your money for a fixed period, such as one year, two years or three year, for example. With a fixed-term savings account, you’ll be given a fixed interest rate so you know exactly what interest you’ll gain, unlike other savings accounts which offer variable rates.
If you’re just looking to deposit your money somewhere safe, you could keep your savings in your regular current account.
If you want to put money away so it can grow, you might also consider investing in stocks and shares ISA rather than keeping it in a savings account. But bear in mind that investing carries higher risk, as there is a chance you could lose money on your investment.
All UK-regulated savings accounts and cash ISAs offered by banks, building societies and credit unions are covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).
This means if your bank collapses and you lose your money, you can claim back up to £85,000 per person, per financial institution.
Different types of saving accounts can come with different deposit limits. Tax free ISAs have a maximum amount of money you can deposit into your account each year, for example and this can change annually. For other types of savings account, the maximum deposit allowed may vary depending on the provider and the type of account. All UK savers have an amount of savings interest they can earn each tax year free of tax. This is known as the personal savings allowance.
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Children’s savings accounts
Opening a savings account for your child is a great way to build up a nest egg for his or her future.
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A fixed rate bond is a type of savings account which lasts for a set period of time.
Offshore accounts
Offshore savings accounts allow you to save in different currencies & you could take advantage of them.
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Saving for retirement
Saving for retirement is essential if you want the financial freedom to enjoy your later years.
What is NS&I?
More than 25m people in the UK have savings invested with National Savings & Investments (NS&I).
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Explore
Easy access accounts - Fixed rate bonds - Cash ISAs - Fixed rate cash ISAs - Help to Buy ISAs - High interest accounts - Savings calculator - Investments - Self select ISAs - Stocks and shares ISAs - Junior ISAs - Business savings account - Children's accounts - Regular savings - Notice accounts - Peer to peer investments - Lifetime stocks and shares ISAs
Savings account companies
Barclays - Virgin Money - Nationwide - Natwest - Post Office - Halifax - Lloyds Bank - HSBC - Coventry - Royal Bank of Scotland - NS&I - Tesco - Marcus - Saga
Comparing savings accounts
Get Money Calm
You can compare savings accounts using a number of factors. These include the interest rates they offer as well as how long the rate will last, the amount you might need to deposit in order to open the account, and how you can access the account. Once you’ve decided which account you want, simply click through and you’ll be taken to the provider’s website.
Not sure what type of account to go for? Our Savings Decision Tree can help you decide.
MoneySuperMarket gives you lots of clever ways to save a lot, by doing very little. So how do we make our money? In a nutshell, when you use us to buy a product, we get a reward from the company you’re buying from. But you might have other questions. Do we provide access to all the companies operating in a given market? Do we have commercial relationships or ownership ties that might make us feature one company above another? We commit to providing you with clear and informative answers on all points such as this, so we have gathered the relevant information on this page.