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Best easy & limited access Cash ISA
If an account is labelled “Limited access” you still get access to your money when you need it, but you might be restricted how may times you can make those withdrawals. If you exceed these limits you might have to close the account and withdraw the entire balance.
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Best Fixed rate ISAs
Unlike fixed savings accounts you can withdraw money from a fixed ISA, though you’ll pay a penalty to do so. For a one-year fix that’s normally 90 days interest.
Rate drops to 4.84 AER from 1 Dec 2024. This is a Stocks and Shares LISA, so it's designed for buying investments, but you don't strictly have to. Any money not invested can earn 5.09%, the highest rate on cash available in a LISA.
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Additional Info
FSCS Protected?: Yes
Fees:: If you choose to invest within Dodl there's a 0.15% fee (minimum £1 per month), but this isn't applied to uninvested cash.
Individual Savings Accounts, or ISAs, are tax free savings products. Though they aren’t the only way to earn interest without paying tax, they can still be worth looking at to get the best rates on your cash.
When looking at easy access Cash ISAs, a “Flexible” ISA means you can withdraw money and pay it back without it impacting that year’s £20,000 allowance.
You can add up to £20,000 of new money each financial year across all ISAs you hold, though Lifetime ISAs are limited to £4,000 within that. Here’s more on ISA allowances.
If you’re moving money from an existing ISA, it’s vital you transfer to the new ISA rather than withdraw it and then deposit it. Not all accounts allow transfers in, but we’ve included in our tables when they do.
Note that the Plum Cash ISA (listed under Limited Access) is useless for transfers in as the bonus is only for new deposits, so the rate on transfers in is just 4.29%
Hi! Be very careful l had my ISA closed by them when I moved some money from my Santander savings account into there savings account we fell out so they kicked me out?
Just went to open a Hinckley and Rugby 5 year fixed but the DO NOT accept transfers in from OTHER ISA providers, you can only tranfer in from Their own
Hi Andy, I have 2 newborns and would like to open savings including ISAs accounts or current accounts with linked savings for them, do you have any info that can help please?
Virgin Money are currently listed at the top of 1 year fixed cash ISA with 5.8%, however this account is only available to eligible current account holders (any of Virgin Money, Clydesdale Bank, Yorkshire Bank). If you don’t have one of these current accounts, the best they offer is 5.61% on their 1 Year Fixed Rate Cash E-ISA.
Thanks very much for all of the content you provide Andy. I was just looking at transfering a cash ISA to Marcus, as looks like from your table this is allowed. However, a couple of clicks through on their site (as an existing customer after having just entered my National Insurance number), part way through the Additional Information section:
“You can’t transfer from an existing ISA with another provider to us. We also can’t accept additional permitted subscriptions.”
Just wanted to say it seems that Paragon Bank offers 5.75% AER for one-year fixed cash ISA, which is a bit higher than Shawbrook Bank and Virgin Money 5.71%.
Can you please list more easy access Flexible ISAs please other than just one listed? e.g. Tesco, Skipton, Virgin, YBS, Ford etc. Its important if we want to spread money across few providers
Love what you are doing! Keep the great work up mate! People Power!
Best easy access Cash ISA – up to 3.75%
Virgin Money (3.75% AER variable from 1 June 2023)L min £1
Requires current account
Transfers in / flexible
Its the 1st June 2023
However the Virgin Easy Access ISA it still states its 3.00% on their website?
Bit confused should it have already changed as its the 1st June 2023
Also Andy I watch and follow you on youtube and keep up-to-date on your website and newsletters!
Are the newsletters weekly?
Virgin did change their website yesterday to show the higher rate. Also 1 year fix now at 4.47%, 2 year fix at 4.57% and 3 year fix at 4.62% all now almost top of market.
My question is what are the best instant access FLEXIBLE Cash Isa’s at the moment?
I have a heathy cash balance and want to avoid tax on savings but want to have access to in effect use it as a savings account that I can transfer in and out of between my current account and the flexible ISA.
I am using pensions contributions to invest new money in but want to protect my cash balance as best I can.
All Cash ISAs are in fact flexible (kind of) – as the bank/society has to let you have your money. So if it is in a fix but a higher interest rate, put it in there then when you need it transfer it to an easy access and take the money out (there might be a hit but you are getting a higher rate). I would say, why you need the money, if it is a one-off case in the future then you might as well fix or go for limited access. If you are using it like a place to put your cash and letting it gain interest until your next shop or when you use it to buy something then no CASH ISA will be right for you as they are not really meant for this. I have mine in Coventry, good rate, I have access to my cash if need be but probably will not so thinking of fixing as will be better for me. I hope this helps
My understanding is that a ‘non’ flexible Cash ISA means that you have an annual £20,000 total addition limit. For example if i put £20,000 into the ISA, I am maxed out and have used all my annual allowance. I could withdraw from it but I couldn’t put anything back in because I have already reached my limit for the year.
A Flexible Cash ISA would allow me to replace the the money, withdrawing and adding to the pot as often as I wished, so long as the total balance didn’t increase by more than 20k in a tax year.
Excellent roundup. Very helpful.
The Moneybox Stocks and Shares ISA does have an attractive cash “stanby” option, but because it’s a stocks and shares ISA the fees are relatively high, including a 0.45 management fee. This effectively brings it way down the list in terms of net returns.
Do you mean you can not transfer your money from another LISA to Bath?
I am in moneybox but the rate I got is 2.75% because I had the account for more than 1 year already.
Zopa’s easy access is still offering 4.8% so it should be above Cynergy.
At the time of writing, it’s 4.55% for new users
The Paragon Bank Double Access Cash ISA (issue 6, 4.87% variable) IS a flexible ISA, according to the T&Cs accessed via the link provided.
According to the information on Coventry Building Society’s website its Four Access ISA (Online) (2) is flexible.
Is Dodl by AJ Bell LISA charging £1/month even all is uninvested money?
Hi, I think the VIRGIN ISA FIX at 5.05% is gone, and only 4.75% on their webpage, isn’t?
Hi Andy, thanks for the help, Secure Trust Bank aren’t offering a 1-year fixed rate ISA only a 3-year ISA offering 4.25%
Note that the Plum Cash ISA (listed under Limited Access) is useless for transfers in as the bonus is only for new deposits, so the rate on transfers in is just 4.29%
Hi! Be very careful l had my ISA closed by them when I moved some money from my Santander savings account into there savings account we fell out so they kicked me out?
The Charter Savings Bank link is broken.
Hodge bank are no longer offering 4.7% on their 1 year fixed rate cash ISA. It now pays 4.59%.
Can you please provide easy access ISA ,Savings accounts & Current account table ( for well known provider/ High street banks ) Thanks
Why is Money box easy access isa not mentioned…?
just curious🤔
Much appreciated
It’s under limited access
Harpenden BS Easy Access Cash ISA rate is 5.01% not 5.1% as you show?
Kent Reliance Easy Access Cash ISA – is not a flexible ISA, nothing on their website say so
Just went to open a Hinckley and Rugby 5 year fixed but the DO NOT accept transfers in from OTHER ISA providers, you can only tranfer in from Their own
Typo on 5 years fixed 4.8% not 5.8%
Gatehouse claims that their ISA is flexible. Can you confirm this please?
Hi Andy, I have 2 newborns and would like to open savings including ISAs accounts or current accounts with linked savings for them, do you have any info that can help please?
Virgin Money are currently listed at the top of 1 year fixed cash ISA with 5.8%, however this account is only available to eligible current account holders (any of Virgin Money, Clydesdale Bank, Yorkshire Bank). If you don’t have one of these current accounts, the best they offer is 5.61% on their 1 Year Fixed Rate Cash E-ISA.
Thanks very much for all of the content you provide Andy. I was just looking at transfering a cash ISA to Marcus, as looks like from your table this is allowed. However, a couple of clicks through on their site (as an existing customer after having just entered my National Insurance number), part way through the Additional Information section:
“You can’t transfer from an existing ISA with another provider to us. We also can’t accept additional permitted subscriptions.”
They also mention it here: https://www.marcus.co.uk/uk/en/savings/cash-isa Shame!
Hi Andy,
Thanks for your great work and helpful content.
Just wanted to say it seems that Paragon Bank offers 5.75% AER for one-year fixed cash ISA, which is a bit higher than Shawbrook Bank and Virgin Money 5.71%.
Tesco ISA 4.25% is Flexible ISA, its incorrect in the page. Please review/correct this.
Virgin ISA now tops the ISA table with 4.25%. Its also Flexible.
Can you please list more easy access Flexible ISAs please other than just one listed? e.g. Tesco, Skipton, Virgin, YBS, Ford etc. Its important if we want to spread money across few providers
You can NOT do that with ISA.
You can only pay into one of each type of ISA in a financial year
Some of us have many many years of past ISA, that we can spread across.
Hi Andy,
Love what you are doing! Keep the great work up mate! People Power!
Best easy access Cash ISA – up to 3.75%
Virgin Money (3.75% AER variable from 1 June 2023)L min £1
Requires current account
Transfers in / flexible
Its the 1st June 2023
However the Virgin Easy Access ISA it still states its 3.00% on their website?
Bit confused should it have already changed as its the 1st June 2023
Also Andy I watch and follow you on youtube and keep up-to-date on your website and newsletters!
Are the newsletters weekly?
According to the Virgin Money press release it’ll happen at some point today.
Yes, they’re weekly!
Virgin did change their website yesterday to show the higher rate. Also 1 year fix now at 4.47%, 2 year fix at 4.57% and 3 year fix at 4.62% all now almost top of market.
Hi Andy
Great website and YouTube channel !
My question is what are the best instant access FLEXIBLE Cash Isa’s at the moment?
I have a heathy cash balance and want to avoid tax on savings but want to have access to in effect use it as a savings account that I can transfer in and out of between my current account and the flexible ISA.
I am using pensions contributions to invest new money in but want to protect my cash balance as best I can.
All Cash ISAs are in fact flexible (kind of) – as the bank/society has to let you have your money. So if it is in a fix but a higher interest rate, put it in there then when you need it transfer it to an easy access and take the money out (there might be a hit but you are getting a higher rate). I would say, why you need the money, if it is a one-off case in the future then you might as well fix or go for limited access. If you are using it like a place to put your cash and letting it gain interest until your next shop or when you use it to buy something then no CASH ISA will be right for you as they are not really meant for this. I have mine in Coventry, good rate, I have access to my cash if need be but probably will not so thinking of fixing as will be better for me. I hope this helps
My understanding is that a ‘non’ flexible Cash ISA means that you have an annual £20,000 total addition limit. For example if i put £20,000 into the ISA, I am maxed out and have used all my annual allowance. I could withdraw from it but I couldn’t put anything back in because I have already reached my limit for the year.
A Flexible Cash ISA would allow me to replace the the money, withdrawing and adding to the pot as often as I wished, so long as the total balance didn’t increase by more than 20k in a tax year.
Coventry bank offers now 1 year ISA at 4.35% above others
Hi Andy thanks for youtube message to my question, any possibility to do a montly interest pay cash ISA five year or more fixed?
Thanks for great advice.
Excellent roundup. Very helpful.
The Moneybox Stocks and Shares ISA does have an attractive cash “stanby” option, but because it’s a stocks and shares ISA the fees are relatively high, including a 0.45 management fee. This effectively brings it way down the list in terms of net returns.
So you only pay the fee if you invest. If it’s just held as cash (in the stocks and shares ISA) you’ll get the full interest rate
Do you mean you can not transfer your money from another LISA to Bath?
I am in moneybox but the rate I got is 2.75% because I had the account for more than 1 year already.
the bath LISA is intriguing but no transfers in