The latest news to help you get the most from your savings account.
Here’s our monthly update sharing changes at leading UK savings accounts, as well as some of the articles you might have missed on the site.
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March’s savings news
Base rate cut could happen in March
The next Bank of England MPC meeting takes place on Thursday 19 March. It’s where they decide whether to change the base rate, which can impact the interest rate provided on savings.
Just a month ago it was looking unlikley we’d see a chance at this next meeting, but with the latest inflation figure dropping to 3%, a cut is now back on the cards. This change would probably be down from 3.75% to 3.5%. We should then see another cut later in the year, and perhaps one more too.
But even if there is not cut this month, savings rates could still fall in anticipation of later cuts, if they haven’t already. And don’t forget some popular easy access accounts already track the base rate.
We’ll update you with what happens in our base rate change analysis article.
Premium Bonds prize rate cut
From April 2026, the Premium Bond prize rate will be 3.3%, down from the current 3.6%. As a result the odds of winning a prize have lengthened slightly, and the number of larger prizes have decreased. The most common prize is still £25, but there are now even more of these.
Though still a good option for those who pay tax on some or all of their interest (such as additional rate taxpayers), they’re best ditched if you can utilise your personal savings allowance or ISA allowance. The start of the month is the best time to do this as you won’t miss out on much interest. Leave it any later and you forfeit the chance of a prize next month too.
Zopa quietly alters regular saver length
The highest paying 12 month regular saver since last summer has been for those with a Biscuit current account from Zopa. This paid 7.1%, just a little above a similar account from First Direct.
Well, at some point in recent weeks it’s dropped for new customers from a year to just six months. The rate has remained the same, and you can open up a new one every six months, but the amount you’ll make will be far less.
At a year, putting the maximum £300 away would earn you £137 interest on maturity. Now, six months will earn you just £36, meaning a total of £72. So what might appear as a minor change, actually represents an almost 50% cut in your interest return.
That means unless you want to access the account after six months, it’s now one to avoid, as with the same length 7.5% account from Principality. Instead I’d go for a 12 months account, with options between 6.25% and 7% earning you more.
Tembo offers boosted rate for home buyers
If you’re saving for a new home, then Tembo is offering a rate of 5.75% – though you’ll need to take out a mortgage via them to get the bonus part of this account. Otherwise you’ll earn 4.55%, though that itself is decent right now.
Featured switching deal
Our top pick
Customer rating
3.8/5
- Switch bonus£200
- Offer endsUnknown
- FSCS Protected? Yes
- Bonus requirements Switch using the Current Account Switch Service and close your old account within 60 days of starting the switch
- Deposit requirements Deposit £1,500 in the first 60 days from opening the account
- Direct debits transferred over Set up two Direct Debits before or after the switch from a selected list of household bills
- Existing customers? Can't have held any Santander current account on 1 January 2025
- Restrictions Can't have received a switching bonus from Santander already, offer limited to once per person
- Eligible accounts Open a new or hold an existing Everyday, Edge, Edge Up or Edge Explorer current account
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Plus, new Quidco customers get a high paying £18 welcome offer
March’s savings offers
We’ll share any other deals in our savings deals page if any more come along.
Up to £1,200 bonus via Lloyds
If you switch your current account to Lloyds bank before 30 April 2026, not only can you get £200 (Club Lloyds) or £500 (Lloyds Premier), you’ll also be eligible for a bonus for moving savings too.
You’ll need to open up a one or two year fixed bond or Cash ISA by 31 May 2026. Transfers need to have been started by this date. The amount you get will depend on how much you save in the account.
If you deposit the minimum of each tier you’ll get the equivalent of a 0.6% bonus. But add near to the top of the bands, and it’ll be half that. It’s worth noting that you can get higher rates elsewhere, even when factoring in the extra.
| Money added | Cashback recieved |
|---|---|
| £5,000 to £9,999.99 | £30 |
| £10,000 to £14,999.99 | £60 |
| £15,000 to £19,999.99 | £90 |
| £20,000 to £24,999.99 | £120 |
| £25,000 to £49,999.99 | £150 |
| £50,000 to £74,999.99 | £300 |
| £75,000 to £99,999.99 | £450 |
| £100,000 to £124,999.99 | £600 |
| £125,000 to £149,999.99 | £750 |
| £150,000 to £174,999.99 | £900 |
| £175,000 to £199,999.99 | £1,050 |
| £200,000+ | £1,200 |
Money added to an ISA can be withdrawn early for an interest penalty, but to get the bonus it needs to stay in the account until 1 September 2026 at least.
The bonus will be paid into your current account, so make sure you keep this until at least 30 September 2026.
Can you earn extra on your savings?
Check out our list of the best savings special offers
Top savings accounts for March 2026
Remember, these are the accounts at the top of the tables. We’ve more options in our best savings accounts page, which is updated every day by the team.
Current account linked easy access saver picks as of 2/3/26
- Santander Edge Saver (6% AER variable, includes 2.5% bonus for 12 months) – max £4,000
- Nationwide (5% AER variable for 12 months) – max £1,500 – new customers only
- Chase Saver (4.5% AER variable, includes 2% bonus for 12 months) – new customers only
Easy & limited access picks as of 2/3/26
- Cahoot Sunny Day Saver (5% AER variable) – max £3,000, 12 months only (+ £25 via TopCashback)
- Tembo (4.55% AER variable) – includes 12 month bonus
- Coventry Building Society (4.25% AER variable) – triple access (also via post/phone)
- Chip Instant Access (4.2% AER variable) – new customer rate only
- Manchester Building Society (4.15% AER variable)
Notice accounts picks as of 2/3/26
- 3 months notice – OakNorth (4.23% AER variable): 95-days notice
- 4 months notice- LHV via Raisin (4.15% AER variable): 125-days notice
- 6 months notice – Stafford Building Society (4.26% AER variable): 180-days notice
Fixed savings accounts picks as of 2/3/26
- 6 months – IAl Rayan via Meteor (4.22% expected return fixed)
- 9 months – Rova (4.2% AER fixed)
- 12 months – Rova (4.25% AER fixed)
- 12 months – UBL (4.21% AER fixed) (also via post)
- 18 months – Cynergy (4.2% AER fixed)
- 18 months – Mansfield Building Society (4.07% AER fixed) (also via post)
- 2 year – Al Rayan via Meteor (4.2% expected return fixed)
- 2 year – Furness Building Society (4.07% AER fixed) (also via post and phone)
- 3 year – Al Rayan via Meteor (4.22% expected return fixed)
- 3 year – UBL (4.15% AER fixed) (also via post)
- 4 year – Cynergy (4.25% AER fixed)
- 4 year – UBL (4.06% AER fixed) (also via post)
- 5 year – Chetwood Bank (4.36% AER fixed)
- 5 year – Furness Building Society (4.2% AER fixed) (also via post and phone)
Regular Saver accounts (exisiting customer) picks as of 2/3/26
- First Direct Regular Saver (7% AER fixed): max £300 a month
- Co-operative Bank Regular Saver (7% variable): max £250 a month
- Nationwide or Virgin Money (6.5% AER variable): max £250 a month
- Club Lloyds Monthly Saver (6.25% AER fixed): max £400 a month (also via phone)
Regular Saver accounts (for all) picks as of 2/3/26
- Principality Building Society (7.5% AER fixed for six months): max £200 a month
- Monmouthshire Building Society (6% AER variable): max £500 a month
- Scottish Building Society (6% AER variable): max £250 a month (also via post)
The best monthly savings accounts
Check out our list of the highest paying regular or monthly savings accounts.
The best Easy Access Cash ISA savings accounts
Check out our list of the highest paying easy access Cash ISAs
