Top picks

The best easy-access savings accounts (September 2026)

Zoe Roddy
Updated 1st September 2026

These are the top easy access savings accounts and highest-paying easy-access Cash ISAs available at the moment

Easy-access savings accounts are ones where you can withdraw your money whenever you want. The rates are largely dependent on the Bank of England’s base rate — when we see a drop or rise in the rate, we tend to see savings accounts move in the same direction. Here are the best-paying ones at the moment.

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Best easy access ISAs

While ISAs don’t typically belong on this page, the top rates for ISAs at the moment are a lot better than for standard savings accounts, so here’s the top few available – if you want to see the full list, we have a whole table of the best easy-access ISAs on the market at the moment.

Easy access Cash ISAs
Customer rating 3.8/5
Editor's comment
This isn't a standard Cash ISA - the money is held in a Qualifying Money Market Fund rather than as cash, so it's a low-risk investment. This means that the FSCS protection is different, as it's got investment protection rather than savings protection. It's worth researching QMMFs to see how you feel about the account.
  • AER (variable)
    4.87%
  • Minimum
    £500
  • Access
    Limited access
  • Maximum withdrawals
    3
Rate includes a 1% boost on top of the standard introductory variable rate, paid after 12 months
  • FSCS Protected? Yes, although as the money is held in Qualifying Money Market Funds (QMMFs), it's covered by the FSCS investment protection, not deposit protection. QMMFs are a type of low-risk investment.
  • Allows transfers in? Yes
  • Flexible ISA Yes
  • Important details Variable rate correct as of 3 August 2026. eToro account required. Your capital is at risk. ISA powered by Moneyfarm. ISA rules. UK residents only. The Cash ISA interest rate is variable and linked to the secure and protected Qualifying Money Market Fund (QMMF) your money is held in.
  • Bonus Rate includes a 1% boost on top of the standard introductory variable rate (3.87%), paid after 12 months
Customer rating 4.7/5
  • AER (variable)
    4.61%
  • Minimum
    £1
  • Access
    Full access
Includes bonus of 1.01% for 12 months
  • Important details Existing Trading 212 customers get a rate of 3.6%
  • FSCS Protected? Yes
  • Allows transfers in? Yes, but no bonus rate on transfers
  • Flexible ISA Yes
  • Bonus New Trading 212 customers get a bonus of 1.01% AER for 12 months for current year subscriptions with a yearly gross rate of 4.47%.

Chip Cash ISA

Customer rating 4.9/5
  • AER (variable)
    4.6%
  • Minimum
    £1
  • Access
    Full access
Rate includes 0.82% bonus for 12 months
  • FSCS Protected? Yes
  • Allows transfers in? Yes
  • Bonus Rate includes 0.82% bonus for 12 months
Featured investment account offer
Sponsored
Customer rating 4.8/5
  • Offer
    £0 platform fee and £0 subscription fee*
  • Annual fee
    £0 with offer
  • Investment styles
    Shares, funds and ready-made portfolios
  • Minimum deposit
    £10
*Open and fund a Quilter Invest account before 11:59pm on 30 November and receive £0 platform fee and £0 subscription fee. T&Cs apply. Other fees apply.
  • FSCS Protected Yes. Your eligible deposits and investments may be protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Protection is up to £120,000 per person, per firm. FSCS does not cover losses due to market performance.
  • Accounts available General Investment Account (GIA), Stocks & Shares ISA, Junior ISA (JISA), SIPP 
  • Interest on uninvested cash Yes (variable, see here for current rate) 
  • Fractional shares  Yes 
  • Foreign exchange fee 0.40%. Other fees may apply. 
  • Fund fees Variable depending on the fund selected. See fund documentation for specific charges. Other fees may apply.
  • Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority Yes: FRN 955775
  • Risk warning The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invest.
  • Offer Open and fund a Quilter Invest account before 11:59pm on 30 November and receive £0 platform fee and £0 subscription fee. T&s apply. Other fees apply.

Best easy access savings accounts

These are the most flexible accounts available, but as a result, you usually get lower rates. You can add and take your money out at any time. Some accounts may have limits to the number of withdrawals you can make each year.

Easy access savings

Spring Savings Accelerate Saver

Customer rating 4.2/5
  • Access
    Full access
  • AER (variable)
    5%
  • Minimum
    £1
  • Maximum
    £5,000
  • FSCS Protected? Yes

Cahoot Sunny Day Saver

Customer rating 4.2/5
  • Access
    Full access
  • AER (variable)
    5%
  • Minimum
    £1
  • Maximum
    £3,000
This is the best-paying account at the moment, but you can only save up to £3,000 in it.
  • FSCS Protected? Yes

First Active Instant Access Savings Account

  • Access
    Full access
  • AER (variable)
    4.55%
  • Minimum
    £1
  • Maximum
    £1m
Rate includes 1.45% bonus for 12 months
  • FSCS Protected? Yes
  • Bonus Rate includes 1.45% bonus for 12 months
Customer rating 4.8/5
Editor's comment
This account is technically for those looking to buy a home within the next few years. However, even without the extra HomeBuyer bonus, it's a decent-paying account and it's easy access.
  • Access
    Full access
  • AER
    4.55%
  • Minimum
    £10
  • Maximum
    £20,000
  • FSCS Protected? Yes
  • Rate details The rate is made up of a 3% AER (variable) base rate and a 1.55% AER (fixed) 12-month introductory bonus. There's also a homebuyer bonus available on top of this if you're looking to buy a home soon.
  • HomeBuyer bonus On top of the underlying rate, you can get a 12-month boost of 1% that is paid at the end of the 12 month period if you take out a mortgage with Tembo, or, if you take a mortgage out after the 12 month period, it'll be paid after your mortgage completes. You have three years from first paying into the account to complete.
  • Included features You'll also get fee-free access to Tembo's mortgage brokers

Tesco Bank Internet savings account

Customer rating 3.5/5
  • Access
    Full access
  • AER (variable)
    4.53%
  • Minimum
    £1
  • Maximum
    N/A
  • FSCS Protected? Yes

Cahoot Simple Saver

Customer rating 4.2/5
  • Access
    Full access
  • AER (variable)
    4.52%
  • Minimum
    £1
  • Maximum
    £500,000
  • FSCS Protected? Yes
  • Rate details For 12 months only

Saga Easy access savings account

Customer rating 4.8/5
  • Access
    Full access
  • AER (variable)
    4.5%
  • Minimum
    £1
  • Maximum
    £1m
Rate includes 1.59% bonus
  • FSCS Protected? Yes
  • Bonus Rate includes 1.59% bonus for 12 months

Oxbury Bank Easy access savings account

Customer rating 4.2/5
  • Access
    Full access
  • AER (variable)
    4.33%
  • Minimum
    £1,000
  • Maximum
    £120,000
  • FSCS Protected? Yes

Post Office Online Saver

Customer rating 2.7/5
  • Access
    Full access
  • AER (variable)
    4.31%
  • Minimum
    £1
  • Maximum
    £2m
Includes 3.33% bonus for 12 months
  • FSCS Protected? Yes
  • Bonus Rate includes 3.33% bonus for 12 months

United Trust Bank Limited access savings

Customer rating 4.9/5
  • Access
    Limited access
  • AER (variable)
    4.3%
  • Minimum
    £5,000
  • Maximum
    £150,000
  • FSCS Protected? Yes
  • Withdrawals allowed? Lower rate paid if you make more than two withdrawals per year
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For homebuyers

These accounts are best for those looking to save for a home. You might also want to consider Lifetime ISAs.

Savings accounts for homebuying
Customer rating 4.8/5
Editor's comment
This rate is specifically for those looking to buy a home within the next few years. If you get it without the HomeSaver bonus, it pays 4.75%.
  • Offer
    1% fixed rate bonus for homebuyers
  • AER (variable)
    5.55%
  • Minimum
    £10
  • Maximum
    £20,000
Rate includes a 1.55% 12-month bonus plus an additional 1% fixed 12-month bonus for those looking to buy a home in the next 3 years who go on to get a mortgage with Tembo (4.55% AER variable otherwise)
  • FSCS Protected? Yes
  • Underlying rate The rate is made up of a 3% AER (variable) base rate and a 1.55% AER (fixed) 12-month introductory bonus. There's also a homebuyer bonus available on top of this.
  • Homebuyer bonus On top of the underlying rate, you can get a 12-month boost of 1% that is paid at the end of the 12 month period if you take out a mortgage with Tembo, or, if you take a mortgage out after the 12 month period, it'll be paid after your mortgage completes. You have three years from first paying into the account to complete.
  • Included features You'll also get fee-free access to Tembo's mortgage brokers

Best current account linked easy access savings

Some of the best rates are in or linked to current accounts – or you might just want the convenience of having everything at the same bank (though that’s not always a good idea).

Anyone can open all of these accounts, though you will be credit-checked for opening the current account itself. They often have additional requirements or fees to consider. You may already have seen some of these listed in the easy and limited access lists above.

Current Account Linked Savings

Santander Edge Saver

Customer rating 3.9/5
  • AER (variable)
    6%
  • Interest earned
    In separate account
  • Minimum
    £0
  • Maximum
    £4,000
  • Requirements Requires Santander Edge current account (£3 monthly fee). You can open one Edge Saver with a personal account and two Edge Savers with a joint account.
  • FSCS Protected? Yes
  • Bonus Includes 2.5% bonus for 12 months

Nationwide FlexDirect

Customer rating 4.5/5
  • AER (variable)
    5%
  • Interest earned
    In current account
  • Minimum
    £0
  • Maximum
    £1,500
  • Important details Interest is earned in and paid into the main current account. After the first year the rate drops to 1%.
  • FSCS Protected? Yes

Revolut Instant Access Savings

  • AER (variable)
    5%
  • Interest earned
    In separate account
  • Minimum
    £1
  • Maximum
    £25,000
Reverts to 2.9% on 4 December 2026
  • FSCS Protected? Yes
  • Bonus Rate reverts to 2.9% on 4 December 2026
  • Important details Available for new instant access savings accounts. You need a Revolut bank account to get this offer
Customer rating 4.8/5
  • AER (variable)
    4.5% for 12 months
  • Interest earned
    In separate account
  • Minimum
    £0
  • Maximum
    £3m
4.5% AER (4.41% gross) variable for 12 months, including 2.25% AER 12-month bonus on top of the standard saver rate. Available to new current account customers for your first 31 days. May be withdrawn. Interest paid monthly. T&Cs: chase.co.uk
  • FSCS Protected? Yes

Kroo Current Account

Customer rating 4.8/5
  • AER (variable)
    2.65%
  • Interest earned
    In current account
  • Minimum
    £0
  • FSCS Protected? Yes
  • Interest Interest is earned in the main current account
  • Rate details Rate tracks the base rate minus 1.1%
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Best notice accounts

A notice account means you have to request to get your money and interest, which will be released after a set time. They often have a variable rate but if there’s a cut you’ll normally be given notice.

Notice Accounts

Birmingham Bank 95 day notice account

  • AER (variable)
    4.4%
  • Minimum
    £5,000
  • Maximum
    £250,000

BLME 90 day notice account

Customer rating 4.1/5
  • Expected rate (variable)
    4.37%
  • Minimum
    £10,000
  • Maximum
    £1m
  • FSCS Protected? Yes
  • Withdrawals 90 day notice period required for withdrawals

StreamBank 90 day notice account

  • AER (variable)
    4.35%
  • Minimum
    £1,000
  • Maximum
    £100,000
  • FSCS Protected? Yes

Shawbrook Bank 120 days notice account

Customer rating 4.8/5
  • AER
    4.2%
  • Minimum
    £1,000
  • Maximum
    £500,000
  • FSCS Protected? Yes

Oxbury Bank 120 days notice account

Customer rating 4.2/5
  • AER
    4.19%
  • Minimum
    £10,000
  • Maximum
    £1m
  • FSCS Protected? Yes

GB Bank 150 days notice account

  • AER (variable)
    4.38%
  • Minimum
    £1,000
  • Maximum
    £100,000
  • FSCS Protected? Yes

Earl Shilton Building Society 180 days notice account

Customer rating 4.1/5
  • AER (variable)
    4.27%
  • Minimum
    £5,000
  • Maximum
    £250,000
  • FSCS Protected? Yes

The Stafford Building Society 180 days notice account

Customer rating 4.6/5
  • AER (variable)
    4.26%
  • Minimum
    £5,000
  • Maximum
    £450,000
  • FSCS Protected? Yes
  • Withdrawals allowed Up to 2 withdrawals allowed per society year
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Other top paying savings accounts

Best Fixed Rate savings accounts

If you’d prefer a higher rate in return for fixing your savings, you can go for a fixed-rate savings account, with fixes from as little as three months to five years. But you are locking your money away without access.

We’ve listed all the top fixed rate bonds in our separate tables.

Best Regular Savings accounts

These accounts are all “Regular” or monthly savers which work differently to normal saving accounts. Here’s Andy’s full guide to how they work.

We’ve listed the top-paying options in our separate best buy guide.

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Best Easy Access Cash ISAs

Though most of us don’t need the tax-free “wrapper” offered by an ISA, if you want to use one then the same goes in terms of finding the best rate.

We’ve listed the best options on our dedicated Best Cash ISA page.

Best Fixed Rate Cash ISAs

You can also get fixed rate ISAs, and these can be accessed early – though you’ll pay an interest penalty if you do.

Find the top paying rates for each term on our dedicated Best Fixed Cash ISA page.

Prize draw accounts

Premium Bonds – 3.8% prize rate

The prize rate for Premium Bonds stands at 3.8% from the July 2026 draw onwards. This doesn’t mean you’ll get 3.8% back on your savings, though the closer you are to the £50,000 maximum deposit, the closer you’ll get to the rate (on average). Here’s more.

Best children’s savings account

We’ve written in more detail about the different savings accounts for kids, so do check that article out to understand the conditions such as access and find all the top rates.

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Best ethical savings account

The money you hold in your savings is used by the banks to invest and lend money. This could mean it’s used for things you might disagree with, such as fracking, tobacco or arms manufacturing.

There are banks with ethical policies such as Triodos, while building societies must lend 75% of their funds to home buyers, meaning they don’t have the cash to invest elsewhere.

Sharia accounts can’t be used for things against Islamic law, like tobacco or gambling and I’ve listed the top ones further down the article.

The “greenest” banks are Ecology Building Society and Triodos, though they won’t always make the tables above. The following banks and building societies are more likely to appear above.

There’s also the NS&I Green Bond, a 3-year fixed-rate account. It’s currently paying 2.95%. Here’s our analysis.

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Top Sharia savings accounts

Paying interest isn’t allowed in Islam, so a Sharia-compliant savings account instead promises a return on the money saved – an expected profit rate. Though technically this means the rate isn’t guaranteed, it’s not happened yet. They’re open to everyone, not just Muslims. Money in these accounts won’t be invested in arms, tobacco, gambling or alcohol.

Look in the tables above for banks offering an expected profit rate rather than AER. The main banks are:

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