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January 27, 2026   |   Articles

Best ways to collect and spend Nectar points

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If you have a Nectar card, are you making the most of your points?

If you shop at Sainsbury’s, you’ve probably got a Nectar card, and may even collect the points every time you visit without thinking much about it. And if you’ve been collecting points, you’ll need to spend them to get the most out of your rewards. But do you know how to use your Nectar points?

Like the Clubcard scheme and other loyalty schemes, you can rack up points at other retailers, including Argos. When it comes to redeeming points, you can spend them when shopping, exchange them at face value, or even swap them for Avios points.

Here’s how Nectar works and how you can sign up. Plus, I’ve shared tips for both collecting and spending Nectar points.

Some articles on the site contain affiliate links, which provide a small commission to help fund our work. However, they won’t affect the price you pay or our editorial independence. Read more here.

More ways to make the most out of the Nectar loyalty scheme

What is the Nectar loyalty scheme?

Nectar is the loyalty scheme for Sainsbury’s and Argos, where you can earn points on your purchases. It’s actually owned by Sainsbury’s, but points can be collected and redeemed with other brands. As a member of Nectar, you can also access discounts on specific items when shopping, similar to Tesco’s Clubcard Prices.

How Nectar points work

One Nectar point is worth 0.5p, meaning if you earn 1 point from a purchase it’s the equivalent of 0.5% cashback. 100 points are therefore 50p, 200 points equal £1 and so on.

The value of loyalty card points offered by different schemes varies quite a bit, with Nectar points equating to half the value of Tesco Clubcard points. However, when redeeming Nectar points at other participating retailers, you could get more value out of them, so it’s worth keeping an eye out for the latest deals.

Nectar points value conversion

  • 1 Nectar point = 0.5p (or half a penny)
  • 2 Nectar points = 1p
  • 100 Nectar points = 50p
  • 200 Nectar points = £1
  • 500 Nectar points = £2.50
  • 1,000 Nectar points = £5
  • 2,500 Nectar points = £12.50
  • 5,000 Nectar points = £25

How to collect Nectar points

You earn points when you shop at participating retailers or fill up your car at participating petrol stations and scan your Nectar card. Bonus points can be earned at specific retailers or through special deals and promotions — we tend to share these promotions on our loyalty scheme deals page when there are good ones available.

To collect Nectar points when shopping in stores, you’ll need to either have a physical plastic Nectar card or a digital one stored on the Nectar app. When shopping online, you’ll need to either connect your Nectar card to the relevant account or shop via the Nectar website.

You can also earn when spending via Nectar credit cards, or by converting Avios points into Nectar points.

How to spend Nectar points

Your options for using Nectar points are more limited than with other reward schemes. You can use them in-store and online, such as at Sainsbury’s, to donate to charity, or spend them with a handful of partners.

To redeem your points, you’ll need to scan your card or the app in-store, while you can select to use them online. With some partners, you’ll need to convert your points into vouchers first. You can also choose to swap them for Avios points.

How to sign up to the Nectar scheme

The Nectar loyalty scheme is free to join. You can get a Nectar card online, via the app, or by picking up a form in a Sainsbury’s store.

Once you’ve got set up, a physical card will be posted out, though you’ll have a digital card to use via the app straight away.

8 places to collect Nectar points

1. Sainsbury’s

Earn points as you spend

You’ll get one point for every £1 spent at Sainsbury’s. 500 points are worth £2.50, so this works out at 0.5% cashback.

Scan your Nectar card at the till to get your points, and keep an eye on the app or digital account for special offers which boost the number of points you’ll get.

You might also get vouchers for extra points at the till, sometimes doubling or tripling points on your next transaction; it’s just a matter of remembering to bring them to your next shop. If you wanted to, you could even buy a single, cheap item at the start of your shop to use any vouchers printed out on the rest of your shopping.

Get bonus points via weekly offers

As well as generic offers, you’ll also get ones tailored to your shopping habits. These change every Friday.

You have to save the offers to your account, though there’s a handy “save all offers” button. And of course you still have to scan your card at the till.

Nectar Prices

Nectar Prices are discounts for Nectar holders, similar to Tesco Clubcard prices. To get these, you just shop as normal, looking out for the Nectar price on the shelves. At checkout, you need to make sure you remember to scan your Nectar card, and the discount will be applied.

Your Nectar Prices

This sounds like it could be the same as Nectar Prices above, but Your Nectar Prices are specific to you. These come through weekly and will be based on your shopping history, potentially saving you money on things you’ll actually buy. There are only a few offers each week, but it’s worth having a peek when you get the notification.

2. Argos

You can also earn points at Argos. It’s one point per £1 spent, although it’s occasionally doubled. You’ll need to link your Nectar and Argos accounts before you can earn points.

3. ESSO

Esso replaced BP on Nectar back in 2019. You can earn 1 point per litre of fuel, or swipe in-store to get two points per £1 spent on other things, so roughly 1% back in points. When you get to 300 points it gets you 5p off every litre of fuel.

4. Avios

You can convert 400 Avios points to 400 Nectar points, which is handy if you’ve got a surplus of Avios points that you won’t use. You can also swap them back the other way (you’ll only get 250 points though). This is also a way to boost the value of Amex Reward points. Find out everything you need to know in our step-by-step guide to convert Avios to Nectar points and vice versa.

5. Via Nectar credit cards

If you shop at stores that are part of the Nectar scheme often, it might be worth getting a Nectar credit card.

The American Express Nectar credit card is your best bet and will earn you up to two points for every £1 spent, worth 1%. There’s also a bonus worth £100 when you first sign up and spend £2,000.

If you’re thinking of getting a Nectar credit card, check out our best cashback and reward credit card promotions to see if there are better options for you.

6. Via Amex membership rewards

You can convert American Express Rewards points to Nectar points at a value of one to one, meaning one Amex point would be worth 0.5p. This could be a good use for large Amex welcome bonuses, which can be worth between £100 and £500, depending on the card.

7. Via utilities & insurance

You can earn bonus points for signing up for other Sainsbury’s Bank products such as home insurance, as well as Sainsbury’s Energy. Though they could be worth it, these offers shouldn’t be a reason to choose Sainsbury’s over other providers as they could work out more expensive than options you find via a full comparison.

8. At other retailers

You’ll see many other brands listed on the Nectar website, such as Expedia and Very. To earn points via these retailers you have to click through via the Nectar portal. Most of the time you’ll get two points per £1 spend, so the equivalent of 1% cashback, but they can be more or less. There are often points boosting offers to look out for.

Participating Nectar retailers include:

  • ASOS
  • Just Eat
  • Expedia
  • Groupon
  • Europcar
  • Very
  • Dominos
  • Wayfair

These extra places to earn points might sound appealing, but I would avoid using them since you can usually beat these rates by clicking through a cashback site instead for a better bonus.

Where to spend Nectar points

Sainsbury’s shops

To use your points in Sainsbury’s stores you must have used your Nectar card in that specific store in the last year. You can also use them online on the Sainsbury’s website.

They can also be used on petrol but you have to pay in the kiosk, not at the pump.

Argos

You can use multiples of 500 points at Argos, each worth £2.50. To spend them in an Argos store, simply scan your card. To spend online, you must have connected your card to your Argos account.

Converting to Avios points

We think that most people are better off using cashback credit cards and air mile reward credit cards. You’ve got the flexibility to use your earnings how you want, and not be restricted to certain flights.

However, if you are an Avios fan, then you can boost your points by converting 400 Nectar points to 250 Avios.

Donate to charity

Nectar Donate allows you to give your points to charities using Crowdfunder. The points are worth the same as usual, so 1,000 points will be a £5 donation. There’s a minimum of 200 points, and it must be in multiples of 200.

Other ways to redeem Nectar points

Nectar offers just a fraction of the partners you get with Tesco Clubcard, and fewer opportunities to boost the value. Some retailers let you swipe your card or link your card to use points. Others require you to exchange the points for a voucher or code via the Nectar website.

Spending your points isn’t particularly flexible or as straightforward as you might think. To recap, 500 points are usually worth £2.50. You also have to spend Nectar points in chunks (usually 500 points or 1,000 points) rather than choose how many you’d like to use. 

For example, you can exchange 2,000 points for £10 off purchases at Eurostar. Other poor options include swapping for movie rentals at Sky Store since you can get far cheaper rentals elsewhere. There are much cheaper ways to rent movies out there, so don’t rely on Nectar to save you lots of cash.

Nectar points special offers

Occasionally, there are offers that increase your points at Sainsbury’s and other Nectar partners, both to earn extra points and sometimes (though more rarely) to use them.

You can usually find any points offers in the Nectar app and website, so it pays to check every now and again, before your weekly shop, or when you’re looking to save a little extra.

When we spot any really good Nectar points deals, we’ll share them on our loyalty scheme offers page.

How to check your Nectar points balance

Not sure how many Nectar points you have? The Nectar app and website both contain your current points total, as well as a record of where and when you earned your points.

How to lock your Nectar points

One downside of Nectar in the past was that anyone who found or stole your card could use your points. This was particularly bad news for those who had earned tens of thousands of points using credit card welcome offers. Earlier this year, Nectar introduced a feature that lets you lock your points to ensure they can’t be used without your authorisation.

To lock your Nectar points, you’ll need the latest version of the app.

  • Log in and you’ll see your points total near the top of the app screen, and below that a line telling you whether the points are locked or unlocked
  • Tap this to bring up a locked/unlocked switch
  • Toggle between these for when you want to use your points
  • It should unlock immediately, but it’s worth doing it a little before you want to spend the points to be safe, rather than wait until you’re at the checkout

This feature will only work for the main account holder, not additional cardholders.

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January 26, 2026   |   Articles

Credit scores and reports explained

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“Credit score” is a phrase you might occasionally hear or think about. Maybe even worry about. But do you understand it?

I’ve known about credit scores since I was a teen, but it wasn’t until much, much later I realised how odd that made me. Far more people only really encounter them when they are unexpectedly refused something – and it could be anything from a mortgage to a sofa on credit. Then they try to get smart, fast.

Fortunately, credit scores follow some simple rules, and it’s free to check yours – and even correct any errors that may have crept in – which means you should never face an unexpected rejection.

Here’s my Be Clever Basics guide.

Some articles on the site contain affiliate links, which provide a small commission to help fund our work. However, they won’t affect the price you pay or our editorial independence. Read more here.

Credit score vs credit report

Before we talk about your credit score, we need to talk about how it is different to your credit report. These terms are often used interchangeably, but they aren’t the same thing.

What is a credit score?

A credit score, or credit rating as it is sometimes called, is based on this information in your credit report. It’s basically a number that reflects how good or bad your credit report is. You actually have three of these, one for each of the credit reference agencies in the UK, and all will be slightly different.

What is a credit report?

A credit report, or credit file, is basically a record of your financial history. Any account that’s required a credit check will be on there as well as any money you owe. It also shows how long you’ve had the account and your payment history, including missed or late payments.

Other elements in your report include details of any bankruptcy, county court judgments and other debt solutions.

You’ll also see your address history and records of any financial connections you have, such as joint accounts and joint mortgages.

Why lenders check your credit report

Your credit report is one of the leading factors that influence lenders when they’re deciding whether to offer you a product or loan.

Using the details on the report they’ll work out whether you’re likely to be a good or bad customer for them. That’s not just about how likely it is you’ll be able to afford the borrowing, but also how likely it is they’ll make money from you.

The data in the file can also affect how much you’ll be lent, the length of a deal (e.g. 0% balance transfer cards) or the interest rate offered.

Your credit report is also frequently used to verify your identity, so can be accessed by employers and landlords as well as lenders.

When lenders search your credit report

Your report isn’t just searched when you apply for “serious” financial products like mortgages, loans and credit cards. Everyday consumer contracts are subject to searches too. 

That’s because you’re essentially asking for credit when you open a new bank account, get a contract mobile phone and switch your utilities.

Even paying your home or car insurance by Direct Debit requires a credit check (it’s usually cheaper to pay these in a lump sum if you can).

Hard checks vs soft checks

Any application for credit will be subject to something called a “hard” search. This will then appear on your report for other lenders to see, whether you’re successful or not. They’ll stay there for 12 months.

However, if your report is looked at by comparison sites or to assess eligibility, this is actually a “soft” check, and though you can see it on your file, lenders can’t.

This distinction can be really important, especially to reduce the chances you’ll get rejected for a new credit card.

Do credit scores matter?

Well, yes and no. Though the score reflects your report, lenders will add in extra information they have on you to decide whether to lend to you. You are also allowed to put notes on your own credit file to explain things, and lenders have to take these into account when making a decision.

You’ll have put information on the application form and if you’re an existing customer they might have their own file on you. Plus, an investigation by Money Saving Expert a few years ago found that lenders are using Open Banking data too.

So this means the score won’t reflect everything the lender is taking to account. That can lead to rejection even if you have an excellent score or acceptance with an average score.

But they aren’t pointless. Credit scores are still great indicators of how healthy your credit report is.

The higher your credit score, the more likely it is you’ll get accepted for credit products, or get a better deal such as lower interest payments.

And a low score will indicate a bad credit report, which could mean you get rejected or get offered less money than you need.

So, checking your score will help you decide whether you need to do anything to improve your report. And when those actions make a difference you’ll see that reflected in an increased score, telling you that you’re on the right path.

Who decides your credit score?

The three credit reference agencies are Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.

Lenders choose which one to use when making a decision whether to offer you a product.

They all hold slightly different data on you in their credit reports, and then work your score out slightly differently. They even have completely different scales. So you can’t really compare one with another.

It’s worth noting that when you apply for credit, you generally won’t know which of the three credit reference companies will be used. This basically means all three credit reports are as important as each other. The good news is they all keep track of the same things, more or less, so a good score with one will generally translate across the others.

However, it’s worth checking all three – especially in the face of an unexpected refusal – as there could be a problem with one. For example, how your address is formatted can change between reports – and this could lead to problems if it doesn’t match the payment address you’ve entered when applying for a product.

Checking your credit score

You can check all three scores and reports for free via these websites:

You have a right to see your report under the UK’s data laws, so can ask for a statutory report from all of them for free if you don’t want to sign up to any ongoing service.

Andy’s written in more detail about these different credit score sites and how to check them in this article.

Your credit score is most important when you’re going to apply for a product where your report will be checked. If you know this is coming up, then you should check for any errors or potential problems before applying.

It’s also worth looking at least once a year, if not more often, just to make sure there’s nothing fraudulent going on.

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January 26, 2026   |   Articles

The best ways to use and earn Tesco Clubcard points

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You can get up to double value of your points

If you shop at Tesco, you probably already have a Tesco Clubcard. But how do you spend the points to get the best value?

What are Tesco Clubcard points worth?

You’ll get one Clubcard point for every £1 you spend at Tesco.

If you spend them in-store on your groceries, 100 Clubcard points are worth £1, so that means they have a base value of 1p each. And if you’ve got 1,000 points then that’s worth £10. And so on.

  • 1 Clubcard point = 1p
  • 2 Clubcard points = 2p
  • 100 Clubcard points = £1
  • 200 Clubcard points = £2
  • 500 Clubcard points = £5
  • 1,000 Clubcard points = £10
  • 2,500 Clubcard points = £25
  • 5,000 Clubcard points = £50

This means earning Clubcard points is the equivalent of getting 1% back on your shopping at Tesco.

But they can worth more through Reward Partners (previously called Clubcard Boost). Here you swap your Clubcard points for vouchers to spend elsewhere.

There used to be variable boosts. Some doubled your points, some tripled and some even quadrupled. However, this changed in June 2023 so points are now doubled when swapped with reward partners.

How does Clubcard compare to other loyalty schemes?

How to get a Clubcard

Tesco Clubcard is a free reward scheme. You can sign up on the Clubcard website or download the Tesco app.

How to use Tesco Clubcard points

You can’t spend Clubcard points until they have been converted into Clubcard vouchers. And to do this you need a minimum of 150 Clubcard points (the equivalent of £1.50). Points will only be swapped in multiples of 50.

You used to get sent these in the post with your Clubcard statement, which is sent every three months in February, May, August and November.

However this moved online for most customers in 2022. If you’ve used Tesco online you’ll get your statement and vouchers via email, unless you actively tell Tesco you still want them in the post.

A better way to convert points to vouchers is via the Faster Vouchers process as you don’t have to wait for the statement. You’ll only get a digital voucher via this method. Again you’ll need at least 150 points to convert them.

Whether paper or digital vouchers you can spend them in any Tesco store or on the Tesco online as part or full payment towards your shopping.

If you swap them with a Reward Partner you need to do this via the Clubcard website. These boosts will often have minimum levels (e.g. 50 points), and you can only swap increments of that amount (e.g. if you have 120 points you can only use 100 points).

How long do Clubcard vouchers last

When you’re issued a Tesco Clubcard voucher it’s valid for 2 years. Faster vouchers last 21 months from when they are exchanged.

You can check if you’ve any vouchers and their expiration dates in your Clubcard account.

Clubcard deals and promotions

There are a few ways to use your Clubcard to save more money at Tesco.

Tesco Clubcard coupons

Some customers have access to personalised coupons via the Tesco app. These coupons are tailored to your shopping, so hopefully that means you’ll see discounts for products you buy. They won’t all be money off, some could be extra Clubcard points. If you do get the vouchers, you’ll find them via the Clubcard tab, in a section called coupons.

Tesco Clubcard Plus

This premium service costs £7.99 a month, and benefits include 10% off two shops every month. It looks like a good scheme for regular Tesco shoppers. Here’s a full review of Clubcard Plus, including details on how to get it.

Tesco Clubcard Prices

Tesco lets you use your Clubcard to access lower prices for selected groceries in-store and online. You don’t need any points on your Clubcard – you just need to have one.

See the latest Clubcard Prices deals at Tesco

The best ways to spend Tesco Clubcard vouchers

There are actually hundreds of options, so we’ve scanned through them to find the best uses of your Clubcard points.

Charities

New to Clubcard is the choice to donate your points to food poverty charities Fareshare and The Trussell Trust. You can also give to the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research and Diabetes UK.

Sadly Tesco doesn’t boost these donations as they do with other offers, which I think is a shame. Still if you have at least 50p in vouchers you can swap them.

Disney +

You can swap £15 worth of points for a three month standard Disney+ subscription or £9 worth of points for a three month standard with ads subscription. Both new and existing Disney+ users can take advantage.

Sometimes the offer is temporarily improved, for example, six months for the same price. Here are other ways to save on Disney+.

Days out

Fancy paying less when going to the zoo? A theme park? Museum? All these are available at a discount.

A lot of the “days out” used to be quadruple points and have been reduced to double – but they still represent decent value. It’s worth checking to see there isn’t a better offer out there, though one saving which is hard to beat is using your points for double credit towards an English Heritage or RHS membership.

It’s worth checking out other ways to save on days out if you go out a lot, as some discounts might be greater.

Cinema tickets

You can use your points to get cut-price cinema tickets, again at double value. So 50p in vouchers will get you £1 to spend. It’s only for Cineworld or Picturehouse.

You can also use your points towards the Cineworld Unlimited pass.

Check out our list of other cinema discounts and deals

Theatre tickets

You can sometimes get theatre tickets. The 2x value applies to vouchers to use on the booking page of the show.

Check out our list of other theatre ticket offers

Railcards

If you regularly travel by train then a railcard can save you money every time you travel, and one of the cheapest ways to get one is by using your Clubcard points.

You can trade £2.50 in vouchers to get £5 credit towards your railcard. It works for most types of railcard.

Bonus airline points

If you already save airline points, this is a great way to get more. You can convert your Clubcard points (with a minimum value of £1.50) to Virgin points at twice their value, that is 1 Clubcard point is worth 2 Virgin points.

There are often bonus offers when you sign up to auto-exchange your Clubcard points to Virgin points for the first time, so it’s a good idea to wait for one of those before setting up the auto-exchange.

Magazine subscriptions

You can convert a minimum of 50p in Clubcard vouchers to get a £1 voucher to go towards a subscription.

So if you wanted to sign up to a year of Empire completely (at a cost of £69.99) via Clubcard points you would need £34 in points, and top it up by another £1.99 from your bank account.

Of course you can get other subscriber deals elsewhere which give good discounts. A quick search for Empire shows you can pay £55, so the Clubcard deal really saves you just £21.

It’s a similar story for other magazines available via Clubcard, including Good Housekeeping, Elle, Garden Answers, Golf and Esquire.

This isn’t the best way to save on magazines though – you can get them for free! Read about our hack to get free digital magazines 

Tesco Mobile bills

You can use your points to reduce the cost of your mobile bill. It’s only 1:1 rather than double, so you may as well use your points in-store.

At Tesco

There was a time, not too long ago, that you’d be a fool not to swap Clubcard points with a reward partner. But in the last few years the best offers have disappeared.

There are still lots of options, but whether they’re worth it comes down to two factors. One: Do you want or need what you’re swapping for? Two: Can you get that partner offer discounted elsewhere?

If it’s no for the first, or yes for the second, then you’re most probably better off using the points at Tesco – at least you’ll actually need food and drink!

Clubcard deals to avoid

Though you can save money by boosting your points in these areas, I think you can get similar savings elsewhere – meaning you should boost your points on the more valuable discounts listed above.

Restaurants

Even when these were 4x value, we advised that you could spend your points better elsewhere than at the chain restaurants included in Clubcard Boost. And now they are double instead, the deal is worse.

That’s because you can get decent discounts for the likes of Pizza Express and Bella Italia elsewhere. A simple google often brings up voucher codes for 40% off or two for one. Plus you can save at more places more often with a Tastecard trial.

So let’s say you’ve gone to Pizza Express and the final bill came to £30, it would have cost you £15 via Clubcard vouchers, or £15 via Tastecard or another voucher.

You may be able to double up these discounts though there’s no guarantee.

List of Tesco Clubcard restaurants:

  • Ask Italian
  • Bella Italia
  • Brew Dog Bars
  • Cafe Rouge
  • Chef & Brewer
  • Hungry Horse pubs
  • Pizza Express
  • Prezzo
  • Zizzi

Hotels

It’s similar with converting your Clubcard vouchers to spend on hotels. Though you can get double value on points to spend at Hotels.com and one or two other brands, you’re locked into booking direct with those websites, which might not offer the best rates available. We think you’re better off searching for the lowest prices elsewhere, and then using your points at one of the options above.

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January 19, 2026   |   ArticlesReview

NatWest 5.25% Digital Regular Saver review – is it worth it?

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NatWest is reducing the rate on this savings. Is it still worth it?

This monthly saver from NatWest (and also RBS) has had one of the highest interest rates since it launched in 2020 – but with a catch. The Digital Regular Saver is designed for those starting off their savings journey, and as such there’s quite a small monthly limit you can put away. Just £150.

And as rates begin to drop elsewhere, NatWest have followed suit and cut the rate here too Here’s what you need to know and whether it’s worth it.

How much can you save in the NatWest or RBS Digital Regular Saver?

Since late 2022, the maximum you can earn interest on will be £5,000. This is a big jump from the previous maximum of £1,000.

But it’s not as simple as adding all that cash to the account in one go. You can save between £1 and £150 a month into the account (at launch it was just £50).

If you keep the interest in the account, it’ll take two years and seven months of saving the full £150 to reach a balance of £5,000 (including the accumulated interest payments).

For those already with £1,000 saved in the account, it’ll be just over two years until you reach £5,000 (again including interest paid each month).

Unlike other regular savers accounts it won’t close after 12 months so you’ll continue to earn interest on your savings beyond this. You can also keep adding money once you get to the £5,000 cap, but I wouldn’t bother.

Another difference to normal regular savers is that you can take the money out whenever you want, not just when it matures. But taking £150 out doesn’t mean you can put extra back in. That £150 monthly deposit limit stays at £150 regardless.

The only way to add more than the £150 each month, and get to that £5,000 sooner, is to use a round-up function on your debit card.

How much money can you earn?

In January 2026, the rate fell to 5.25%, following a cut in May 2025 to 5.5% AER. This was a fall from a rate of 6.17% that was set in February 2023.

If you save the full £150 a month for the first year that’ll net you £51 in interest. Keep going until you reach £5,000 (deposits and interest) and the total interest will have been around £335.

However any new deposits will earn far less. Money saved beyond £5,000 will only earn 1%. This can easily be beaten elsewhere. Confusingly if you do have more than £5,000 in the account it’ll show the combined interest rate on the app as your earning rate. Don’t worry about this – you’re still getting the full whack on the initial balance up to £5,000.

It’s worth remembering the interest rate is variable. So though it’s changing to 5.25%, that could change again at any time.

The best savings accounts

Check out our list of the highest paying regular, easy-access, fixed and ethical savings accounts

Who can get this account?

You can only open one of these regular savers if you have a NatWest or RBS current account. There are free ones, or you can look at the NatWest or RBS Rewards account.

How many accounts can you have?

There’s only one per person, which means you can’t get another, even as a joint account.

However the same account is offered by both NatWest and RBS, and you can open up an extra current account and then digital regular saver at the other bank to get two.

Account summary

NatWest / RBS Digital Regular Saver (5.5%)

Account nameDigital Regular Saver
Interest rate 5.25% AER
Max monthly deposit£150
Min monthly deposit£1
Max amount earn interest on£5,000
Account closesNo
WithdrawalsEasy access with no penalty
RequirementsMust have a NatWest or RBS current account
Must have a standing order of at least £1 every month from your Natwest current account
More on the account at NatWest

How to open an account

If you have an account you need to go to your online banking or app to open the saver. I did this via my app and it took just three minutes. There’s an “Apply” button on the bottom right, and then tap the savings option. It’s all self-explanatory from there.

You need to set up a standing order of between £1 and £150 from your NatWest account, though you can cancel this once you reach £5,000.

Should you open a NatWest Digital Regular Saver?

Andy’s Analysis

Even with the rate cut, it’s still a decent paying account. And the likelihood is that other rates will fall too in the coming months.

However, I’d focus first on the fixed rate regular savers from First Direct and Club Lloyds as they’ll guarantee you a higher rate (for now – it very possible they’ll drop soon too). The problem is these all require a current account with those banks, and opening these will entail a credit check. That’s not an issue for most, but it’s something to be aware off.

If you don’t fancy that, and already have a NatWest or RBS current account then absolutely, I’d go for this Digital Regular saver instead (or as well).

Though there are similar paying regular savers, the big difference here is you will continue to earn interest on this one after 12 months. So in time it could be a better earner. Ideally you’d do both this and a strong competitor.

Of course, let’s not forget if you have a larger lump sum it’s better to prioritise opening up one of the best paying savings accounts.

Latest bank switch offers (A-Z)

As of 06/05/2026

Click links for further details and analysis

The best bank switch bonuses

Check out our list of all the bank switch offers you can get when opening a new current account

the best bank switch offers on a blue background
January 14, 2026   |   Articles

How do 0% purchase cards work?

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We explain how to get the most out of them.

The right credit card can let you spread the cost of a big purchase, or a string of smaller ones, interest free over months or potentially even years. Just make sure you follow our three rules to make the most of them.

Some articles on the site contain affiliate links, which provide a small commission to help fund our work. However, they won’t affect the price you pay or our editorial independence. Read more here.

What is a 0% purchase card?

A 0% purchase card lets you spend money on it for a set period before any interest is added to your balance.

The set period runs from a few months to potentially years – with the longest 0% purchase card on the market at the time of writing being 25 months.

That means if you need to buy something big, or have a string of expenses coming up, you can spread the cost over a long time without being charged interest.

I used one after moving into my current flat, as I knew I needed to buy a lot of furniture and other essentials in a short time and this let me spread that cost out.

Crucially, you will still need to make payments and will be sent a bill every month – it’s not free money after all – but there won’t be any interest added to your bill while you’re in the introductory period.

How 0% purchase cards work

You apply for an interest-free credit card the same way you do a standard credit card. That means you’ll need to be over the age of 18 and pass a credit check.

You won’t be told your credit limit until you’re accepted, with this often determined by a combination of your credit report and income, after that the card will be posted to you along with the PIN for it. Once you activate the card, you’re free to start spending on it.

After this, the cost of any purchases get added to your credit card balance. No interest is charged on this balance until after the end of the 0% period.

Once a month, you’ll receive a bill from your card provider, which you’ll need to pay to avoid penalties. However, everything you pay will go towards clearing that balance, rather than paying any interest.

You can choose how much the payment is as long as it’s more than the minimum amount – which is normally a small percentage of the overall amount.

What happens when the 0% purchase period expires

The month after your introductory period ends, interest is charged on whatever balance is left on the card.

This will be at the card provider’s standard rate – typically about 25% APR at the moment, but some cards can charge significantly more.

Any new purchases or payments made on the card also will have interest charged at them at the same interest rate.

What are the risks of 0% purchase cards?

The first thing to say is that any application for credit leaves a mark on your credit report. 

It’s not a huge factor, but it could affect your eligibility for other products, so it’s best not to apply for new cards ahead of taking out something like a mortgage.

Applying for several products in a short time, for example if you are rejected by one provider and re-apply to another or apply for several things at once, is also seen as a worrying sign by lenders. 

It can look like you’re desperate for money, and so put them off from wanting to deal with you.

Once you have the card, you need to make sure you aren’t late or miss any of the monthly payments. A missed payment not only risks you having your 0% period invalidated, it also leaves a mark on your credit report that lingers for years.

Not every purchase will be interest-free, either. Taking money out of the cash point, for example, will have interest charged on it immediately. Make sure you read the terms and conditions of the card to check what’s excluded.

Finally, you need to have a plan for when the 0% period expires. Ideally, you’d have cleared the balance by then, but if you haven’t, you’ll be left with an expensive debt.

If you don’t have the money on hand to clear the balance, you could try a transfer to another card – which could reset your 0% period – but be careful about fees associated with these.

What else should I consider instead of a 0% purchase card?

There are a fair few other options if you’re looking to spread the cost of payments without being charged interest.

The first is to save up for it first, instead of paying for it afterwards. Of course, you might not always have the time to do this.

The second option is a money transfer card. These send money directly to your bank account for you to use however you like. That money is added to the credit card’s balance, and frequently come with a 0% introductory period similar to purchase cards.

The big difference is that you’ll need to ask for the full amount at once, and you’ll be charged a fee of about 4% of the total amount when you make the transfer.

Finally, some banks still offer 0% overdrafts – although these are either limited in time to about 12 months, or for smaller amounts of £500 or less.

The three rules for using a 0% purchase card

Overall, 0% purchase cards can be a fantastic option to spread the cost of something expensive.

But to get the most out of them, you need to make sure you:

  1. Check your eligibility BEFORE applying 
  2. Set up an affordable standing order and stick to it
  3. Make a plan for when the 0% period expires

Read more about credit cards

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Episodes every Monday.

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January 14, 2026   |   Deals

Beauty & health deals

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From freebies to money off, here are some great deals on health and beauty

From free trips to the gym to money off skincare and beauty products, here are some of the best health and beauty offers available at the moment.

Some articles on the site contain affiliate links, which provide a small commission to help fund our work. However, they won’t affect the price you pay or our editorial independence. Read more here.

Nuffield: free 7 day pass

You can get a free seven-day pass at Nuffield gyms. It’s available at selected gyms only, and to get it, you need to sign up via the website and enter your postcode to choose a gym. You’ll be asked for some basic details and will be able to choose a date for the seven days to begin.

Get a free seven-day pass

Everyone Active: free day pass

You can get a free day pass at Everyone Active gyms

This gets you free use of the gym, pool and fitness classes at your local Everyone Active leisure centre for one day. You can’t use it at Coral Reef Waterworld or Moorways Water Park.

To get it, you just need to sign up for it on the website, then download the app and show the pass when you visit.

Get a free one-day pass

The Gym Group: free day pass via Lidl Plus

Until the end of January, you can get a day pass at The Gym Group via the Lidl Plus app. You just need to go to your Lidl app and scroll down to ‘Partner offers’ on the home page.

Then you can select ‘redeem this offer’ and reveal a code. Go to The Gym Group website and find the day passes section to redeem your code.

Get a free day pass

Body Shop discounts

£5 Body Shop voucher on your birthday

Love My Body members get sent a £5 voucher on their birthday every year. You can sign up for the scheme (for free) here.

Join the Love My Body club

Grüum beauty deals

Grüum: skincare and/or haircare bundle for £3.95

You can get two or three full-sized products from Grüum (worth up to £43) for just the cost of delivery (£3.95).

There are several bundles to choose between, although some are often out of stock. The options include skin cleansers, shampoo bars, body wash bars and body oils, to name a few.

You have to pay £3.95 for delivery, but for a couple of products, that’s not bad.

Get a skincare bundle for £3.95

Holland & Barrett offers

£3 free spend via Holland & Barrett loyalty scheme

Sign up to the H&B Rewards for Life scheme and you’ll get 300 bonus points straight away – worth £3.

You’ll then earn 4 points for every pound you spend, and vouchers are sent out four times a year (minimum 50 points needed).

Get £3 to spend at H&B

Liberty beauty deals

Liberty: Subscription box offer

You can get an unusual beauty subscription box from Liberty. If you deposit £25 per month into your Liberty “beauty bank” (essentially buying store credit), then you get a “Discovery Box” four times a year for £5 per month, worth a total of £300 per year. 

You’ll still have the credit in your account that you deposited (except the £5 fee for each box), but it can’t be refunded or withdrawn.

What’s in the beauty box?

The box is called The Beauty Drop. You get four per year full of trial-sized products. They’re sent in January, April, July and October and they’ll be worth up to £300 throughout the year. 

Remember that just because Liberty would sell the products for £300, it doesn’t mean they’re worth that for you.

The drawbacks

Your typical bank account has protection – you’re protected by up to £85,000 if your bank goes bust. However, your money in the “beauty bank” at Liberty isn’t protected. This means that if Liberty were to go bust, the money you have in the account likely won’t be refunded to you, much like a gift card.

You could mitigate this by spending the money you deposit as soon as you can and not letting a large balance rack up, but Liberty’s high prices might prevent this. 

Sign up for The Beauty Drop

Boots offers

There are often regular offers and savings at Boots so we’ve set up a page just for those deals.

Lush beauty deals

Lush: £3 Lush Club bonus (ended)

If you join Lush’s UK loyalty club then new or existing account holders can get a £3 welcome voucher if they sign into the latest version of the app before 8 October 2024.

You don’t need to do anything to trigger the coupon, though do check if it’s showing in the banner on the app or in the ‘Rewards’ section of the app.

You’ll be able to use the £3 in-store or on purchases via the app. It’ll last three months from activation.

More on the offer

Space NK offers

Space NK: up to 20% off with £5 charity donation (ended)

This is a decent opportunity to stock up on beauty essentials (and luxuries) as you can get up to 20% off at Space NK until 2 June 2025

You must donate £5 to the charity Switchboard LGBT+ via Space NK’s link, and then you’ll get a unique code to use.

This includes rarely discounted brands such as Diptyque – only a handful of items are excluded, which you can see here. You can’t use the deal on gift cards or sale items either.

It ends 11.45pm on 2 June 2025

Shop at Space NK

Health deals

Vision Express: free eye test with £50 spend (expired)

Download the Lidl Plus app, and in the partner offers section you’ll find you can claim a free eye test (worth £30) and get 30% off frames, as long as you spend £50 on prescription glasses at Vision Express.

Ends 10 October 2025.

More on the offer

M&S deals

Beauty: £330 beauty advent calendar for £60 (ended)

You can get a £330 M&S beauty advent calendar for £60 when you spend £35 on full-price clothing, homeware or beauty.

The Beauty Advent Calendar 2025 includes a selection of 25 products, including some full-size products across bath and body, skincare, haircare and make-up.

Now, just because M&S say it’s worth £330 it doesn’t mean it actually is. You can see the entire contents here, so use that to work out whether it’s not just worth paying £60 for.

And of course, try to buy something you actually need to want for the initial £35 spend. Sale and clearance items are excluded from this qualifying spend.

Save on the M&S Beauty Advent Calendar
January 5, 2026   |   Best Buy

The best cashback or reward debit and credit cards

Written by

Earn as much as 5% back when you spend from the likes of American Express, Chase and Barclaycard.

You can earn cashback or rewards via both debit and credit cards. In most instances the best option is the one that pays the best rate.

If you’re worried about managing a credit card it makes sense to use a debit card more. However, credit cards do have extra perks like added consumer protection or for deposits when hiring a car.

Cashback can be spent as you wish, while rewards normally need to be transferred into vouchers and spent at specific retailers.

We’ve outlined the best options so you can earn as you spend.

Some articles on the site contain affiliate links, which provide a small commission to help fund our work. However, they won’t affect the price you pay or our editorial independence. Read more here.

Best cashback debit cards

The highest ongoing rate on debit cards is via the PayPal+ scheme, where there’s 1% up for grabs at home and abroad. It’s easy to use and there are ways to increase the value of the points you earn.

Trading 212 offers a lower rate of 0.5% but it’s often boosted to a higher 1.5% if you auto-invest. You’ll also earn the cashback on overseas spending. It has a cap of £15 a month.

PayPal+
1% cashback
Boosted to 1.5% if reach Gold or Black tiers
No fee
Fee-free abroad and earn cashback
> PayPal+ card review
Trading 212
0.5% cashback
Boosted to 1.5% if you auto-invest until 28 Feb 2026
Max £15 cashback a month
Cashback payable daily
£5 for physical card
Fee-free abroad and earn cashback
> Trading 212 card review
> Customer reviews of T212 on Smart Money People

Other cards

Chase offers 1% back on groceries and some travel costs, though you’re capped at £15 a month in cashback.

We’ve not listed cards which offer money back from time to time on a changing list of retailers. This includes Monzo, Halifax and Santander. These are worth a look but are really just pot luck as to whether something is available when you want to buy something.

Occasionally there’ll be a short lived cashback offer on other cards, and we list them on our banking deals page.

Best cashback and reward credit cards

There are different types of cashback credit card, so we’ve split this section into:

  • Best American Express cashback cards
  • Best Visa or Mastercard cashback cards
  • Best supermarket or retailer cashback cards
  • Best airline rewards cards

Andy’s cashback credit card rules

A really important rule if you are using a cashback credit card.

Always pay off the balance in full every month

There’s no point using a cashback credit card if you’re going to get charged interest on your purchase. So make sure you set up a Direct Debit to clear the full balance.

If you can’t afford to do that, then a credit card probably isn’t your best option except for emergencies. I’ve written more about clearing credit card debts, so do read that.

It’s also worth doing an eligibility check before you apply if you can. This gives you a sense of whether you’ll be accepted, though not a guarantee.

Read more about these credit card rules.

Best American Express cashback and reward credit cards

The three Amex credit cards I’d look at for everyday earning are the Cashback, Nectar or Preferred Rewards Gold card.

Amex Cashback Amex NectarAmex Preferred Rewards Gold
0.75% on first £10,000 a year
then 1.25% 		2 Nectar points per £1 (equivalent to 1%)1 point per £1 (equivalent to 0.5%)

Bonus points for every £5,000 spend (boosts equivalent rate to up to 0.75%)
5% welcome bonus (up to £150) in first three months20,000 welcome bonus if you spend £2,000 in two months (worth £100)20,000 standard welcome bonus if you spend £3,000 in two three months (worth £10)

Often boosted to up to 40,000 points (£175)
Cashback payable at end of yearPoints redeemable instantlyPoints redeemable instantly
£25 a year feeFree in first year

£30 a year afterwards		Free in first year

£195 a year afterwards
Also £10 back at Deliveroo each month, 4 free Priority Passes
Bonus £25 via referral (typical)Bonus £20 via referral (typical)Bonus £70 via referral (typical)
> Amex Gold credit card review
> Customer reviews of Amex over on Smart Money People> Customer reviews of Amex over on Smart Money People> Customer reviews of Amex over on Smart Money People
> Check your eligibility for an American Express credit card> Check your eligibility for an American Express credit card> Check your eligibility for an American Express credit card

Our analysis

The highest paying of all credit and debit cards without restrictions is the American Express Nectar, which earns you the equivalent of 1% back. Of course you are earning Nectar points, but as long as you sometimes shop at Sainsbury’s or Argos that shouldn’t be an issue. It’s free in the first year.

If you want pure cash, then go for the American Express Cashback card. You will pay £25 a year for this, but you can wipe that out in the first year by applying via a referral link You’ll be earning 0.75% on spending up to £10,000, and then a higher 1.25% if you go beyond this. This resets every 12 months.

There is a free but lower paying (at 0.5% on first £10,000, then 1%) version called American Express Everyday Cashback. However you must spend at least £3,000 a year to get any cashback on that.

Alternatively you could look at the American Express Preferred Rewards Gold credit card. You’ll only earn one Amex point (worth 0.5% if you swap it to a gift card), though it’s boosted for every £2,500 you spend above £5,000, pushing potential earnings to 0.75%. This card is initially free, but very expensive from the second year onwards, so it’s certainly only for one year. I’d also wait for when the welcome bonus is increased.

Other Amex cards

The focus of this guide is ongoing earning from spending, whether as cashback or Amex Reward points, however we’ve a longer guide to all American Express cards, their features and their welcome bonuses, including the Platinum card.

Extra Amex offers

Check out this article with details of boosted referral bonuses and other extra offers with your American Express card.

Best Visa and Mastercard cashback and reward credit cards

If you want a back up credit card that’s not American Express, then the following are worth a look. They’re also all fee-free for spending overseas, which is something the Amex cards don’t offer.

Lloyds UltraBarclaycard RewardsSantander Edge NatWest Travel Reward
1% for first year, 0.25% after0.25%

1%1% on UK travel spending (including trains, planes, car rentals, hotels, buses & more)

0.1% elsewhere
Max £10 cashback a month
Cashback paid each JanuaryCashback paid monthlyCashback paid monthlyCashback paid after 35 days
No feeNo fee£4 monthly feeNo fee
Fee-free abroadFee-free abroadFee-free abroadFee-free abroad
VisaVisaMastercardMastercard
> Lloyds Ultra credit card review> Santander Edge credit card review
> Customer reviews of Barclaycard credit cards over on Smart Money People> Customer reviews of Santander credit cards over on Smart Money People> Customer reviews of NatWest credit cards over on Smart Money People
> Check eligibility for the Barclaycard Rewards credit card> Check eligibility for a Santander credit card> Check eligibility for a NatWest credit card

Our analysis

The new Lloyds Ultra card is a top paying 1% card for 12 months, and then a lower but hard to beat 0.25% afterwards for a non-Amex card. It’s also fee free to use abroad.

Alternatively, the Barclaycard Rewards pays a solid 0.25% cashback on spending at home or abroad, and is fee free.

The Santander Edge credit card can pay more at 1%, though since there’s a £4 monthly fee and you’re capped at £10, you’ll only earn a maximum of 0.6% back. Spend less or more than £1,000 and that effective rate drops.

I’ve included the NatWest Travel Reward credit card, but it’s only advantage over other cards is you can earn 1% back on holiday planning at home, such as hotels and flights – though you’d get the same with the Amex Nectar as long as the retailer accepts it.

Other cards

  • NatWest Reward: 1% at supermarkets, 0.25% elsewhere (£24 annual fee unless a NatWest customer) Also available from RBS
  • Virgin Money Everyday Cashback: 0.25% capped at £15 a month. Fee-free abroad

Best supermarket and retailer specific cashback and reward credit cards

These cards will earn you a decent rate at core UK retailers and supermarkets like Amazon and John Lewis. You’ll also earn on spending elsewhere, but those rates can usually be beaten by other cards listed above.

Amazon Barclaycard RewardsJohn Lewis PartnershipM&S Bank Rewards
1% at Amazon (2% on big sales)

0.5% elsewhere for the first 12 months, then 0.25%
5 points per £4 spent at John Lewis or Waitrose (equivalent of 1.25%)

1 point per £10 spent elsewhere (equivalent of 0.1%)		1 points per £1 at M&S (equivalent of 1%)

1 points per £5 at elsewhere (equivalent of 0.2%)
£20 welcome credit (sometimes boosted)Regular welcome offersRegular welcome offers
Max £15 cashback a month
Redeem credit in multiples of £5Redeem vouchers in multiples of £5Vouchers paid quarterly
No feeNo feeNo fee
> Amazon Barclaycard Rewards review
> Customer reviews of Amex over on Smart Money People> Customer reviews of John Lewis credit cards over on Smart Money People> Customer reviews of M&S Bank over on Smart Money People
> Check your eligibility for an Amazon credit card> Check your eligibility for a John Lewis credit card> Check your eligibility for a Marks and Spencer Bank credit card

Other cards

  • Asda Money: 0.75% back at Asda, 0.2% elsewhere

Best airline reward credit cards

Fee-free versions of the following cards are available, though you’ll earn far fewer points all round.

British Airways American Express Premium PlusBarclaycard Avios PlusVirgin Atlantic Reward+
1.5 Avios per £1 spent1.5 Avios per £1 spent1.5 point per £1 spent
30,000 bonus welcome Avios if you spend £3,000 in three months

Often boosted to 60,000 points		25,000 bonus welcome Avios if you spend £3,000 in three months18,000 bonus points with first spend
Spend £15,000 to get a companion voucherSpend £10,000 to get a cabin upgrade voucherSpend £10,000 to get a companion or cabin upgrade voucher
£300 a year£20 a month£160 a year
> Barclaycard Avios review
> Customer reviews of Amex over on Smart Money People> Customer reviews of Barclaycard credit cards over on Smart Money People> Customer reviews of Virgin Money cards over on Smart Money People
> Check your eligibility for an American Express credit card> Check your eligibility for a Barclaycard credit card> Check your eligibility for a Virgin Money credit card

Our analysis

As well as earning points as you spend, the draw with these cards are welcome offers and 2-4-1 vouchers. However the latter can require huge amounts of spending – and then even more to get enough points to use alongside the vouchers, especially on non-economy seats.

Unless you are going to be spending a lot, or want to save long term for a dream trip, I prefer using cashback card and having the flexibility to shop around for deals on flights.

You can also earn points on some American Express cards, such as the Nectar, Reward, Gold and Platinum that can covert to many different airline schemes.

The best credit card deals

Check out my list of the best credit card offers and promotions

Read next

January 1, 2026   |   Deals

Cashback site welcome bonus offers

Written by

Get new member bonuses of up to £47.50 combined

If you want to boost your savings when shopping online, there’s a simple way to make money – cashback.

If you’re new to cashback sites, you can nab sign-up offers giving you close to £50 in free cash when you first buy something.

Some articles on the site contain affiliate links, which provide a small commission to help fund our work. However, they won’t affect the price you pay or our editorial independence. Read more here.

How cashback sites afford to give you money

Retailers often pay a commission to websites that help them make a sale. Cashback sites simply pay you a cut of this money if you shop with them.

How to get even more money from the cashback sites

Since there are a few of these sites, they’re all competing for you to shop via them – which means they all give incentives to get you to sign up.

So even if you’ve already registered with one, you can sign up with another and shop away.

They all have different custom cashback rates at different shops, so it’s worth signing up for them all and shopping around for the one which will give you the most money.

Right now you could earn a free £30 for doing your shopping as normal, and get further cashback on top. Here are the best ones:

New customer offers

TopCashback: £20 bonus when you spend £10

You can get an exclusive £20 new member bonus. You need to spend £10 via one of the retailers listed on TCB to get this bonus (excluding takeaways). You must go via this link or the button below.

Read the full terms and conditions when you click through. Ends 31 March 2026.

Sign up to TopCashback for a £20 bonus

Quidco: £18 bonus when you spend £10

The best deal is for subscribers to our free newsletter who get access to an exclusive £18 first-time bonus when they spend £10. You’ll also get the cashback offered by the retailer on top.

Once you sign up, you’ll need to click on the sign-up confirmation email that will be sent immediately. If you don’t see it, please check your spam folders as it could be there, and then add our email address to your safe senders list.

Then look for a special email that will be sent to you with the exclusive Quidco sign-up link. Make sure to read the terms and conditions on Quidco’s website before making your first purchase to ensure it tracks.

This offer is due to end 31 March 2026, but will hopefully be extended.

Sign up for our newsletter

JamDoughnut: get £4 for signing up

We’ve managed to snag a cheeky boosted welcome offer for Be Clever With Your Cash readers. You can get £4 extra cashback – double the standard welcome bonus.

It’ll be paid as two sets of 200 points when you make your first purchase.

The first 200 points you get are standard for first-time users of JamDoughnut, while the extra 200 points are for coming through our link. The first 200 points will be instant, while the second ones will take a few days to be added by the JamDoughnut team.

You might be prompted to enter a code. You don’t need to do this as the link will track. But if you want to, then add BCWYC.

Sign up for JamDoughnut
Read our review of JamDoughnut

Cheddar: £2 for signing up

You can get £2 when you sign up for cashback app Cheddar using the referral code CLEVER2 and buy your first prepaid card. You’ll also get boosted cashback rates for two weeks.

You have to make the purchase within 14 days of signing up using the invite code to get it.

Read our review of Cheddar
Sign up for Cheddar

Airtime: £2 when you sign up

Another decent cashback site is the app Airtime. New member bonuses are much smaller. You’ll get £2 for signing up with code FGUHNUQH when you spend £5 within seven days. Sometimes these are boosted.

Get the Airtime welcome promo code

Quidco: £10 back when you spend £5

If you’d rather not get our newsletter then you can get £10 back with a £5 spend via the sign-up link below.

Sign up to Quidco and get a £10 welcome bonus

Existing customer bonuses

From time to time both Quidco and TopCashback offer an extra bonus. You need to activate these deals and they generally only run for a short period of time – often just one day.

Airtime tends to have promo codes you need to enter on the app to get the extra offer.

The best are generic promos which you can gain with any spending. Sometimes they might be for specific retailers or types of service (eg travel or broadband). I’ll share any decent ones I spot here.

Things to watch out for

Cashback is never guaranteed. If your purchase doesn’t track (i.e. there isn’t a record of you buying the item via the cashback site) you won’t get the money.

Here’s how to increase your chances you will get the money:

  • Read the (short) terms and conditions for the sign-up deals, and also the individual shop promotions.
  • Be careful using voucher codes. If they aren’t listed on the cashback page they might stop you getting cashback.
  • Make sure you don’t already have a browser window open for the retailer.

Read next

December 29, 2025   |   ArticlesBest Buy

Best Current Accounts 2026

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These banks accounts are my top picks for the year

I’ve got 25 different personal current accounts right now. Yes, that’s far too many for most people, but trying them all out really helps me recommend to you the good from the bad.

You could just switch your existing account to get a better deal, or you could open a handful to take advantage of the different offers. Personally I’d look to have at least two accounts just in case of tech failures stopping you from getting access to your cash.

But there are other reasons to look around, from improved banking experiences to rewards to cashback to interest on savings.

To help you decide I’ve shared below my top picks of the best current accounts (you can also check out a full list of the latest offers).

Some articles on the site contain affiliate links, which provide a small commission to help fund our work. However, they won’t affect the price you pay or our editorial independence. Read more here.

Best dummy current account for switching

If you’re looking to take advantage of switching deals, it’s often worth setting up a dummy account you’ll use purely for this purpose.

Winner: Chase

A couple of reasons why Chase wins here. First, there’s no hard credit check when you first apply. Second, once you have one account, you can set up nine more in the app – and it’s these ones you’ll want to use to switch away.

Just be sure not to switch away your only Chase account as that’ll close your whole account down and you won’t be able to reopen it. Here’s more on how to use Chase for switching.

Best bank account app

Banking apps are improving all the time and the best have features such as freezing your card if it’s lost and features to help you save.

Winner: Starling

Recent improvements to the Monzo and Revolut apps made this a close call this year. Chase is decent too. But Starling still edges ahead. All of these digital only banks have features to help you track spending and manage your card, but I think not only does Starling do it best, it does a little more on top.

You can use it on both app and desktop, you can pay in cheques with your phone, you can deposit cash at Post Offices and more.

Runner up: Monzo and Chase

It’s worth taking a look at these other digital banks as often it’s personal preference which makes one stand out over the other. You might prefer them to Starling.

Runner up: Natwest

If you’re after a high street bank then the app I like the best is from Natwest (or RBS which is basically the same). You can do most things you need to do, and it’s clearly set out. A nice extra is you can use it to take cash out at Natwest or Tesco ATMs if you don’t have your card.

Featured switching deal

Santander £180 switch offer + £30 Amazon gift card

Customer rating 3.8/5
  • Switch bonus
    £180 + £30 Amazon gift card
  • Offer ends
    Unknown
  • FSCS Protected? Yes
  • Switch 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
  • £30 Amazon gift card requirements You need to make five debit card transactions within 30 days of opening the account to get the £30 Amazon gift card
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Best bank account for spending

Thanks to changes to Chase’s cashback last year, there are no longer any accounts which I’d recommend to use for your spending. Instead you’re better off using a cashback credit card, or the debit card from PayPal.

However, there is a runner up.

Runner up: Monzo

Though many banks offer additional cashback offers linked to specific retailers, Monzo has the easiest one to view and manage. Here’s our review of the feature.

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Best bank account for your bills

Winner: Santander Edge

Santander will give you money back each month on direct debits for your bills – but sadly the top paying Santander 123 is no longer open to new customers (if you’ve already got it, then keep using it).

Instead you can choose between the Edge, Edge Up and Edge Explorer accounts, and it’s the first one that will probably earn you more cashback each year.

All three give 1% back on household bills such as Council Tax, energy and broadband, though the Edge costs £3 a month vs the Edge Up’s £5 monthly fee. That extra £24 a year for the Edge Up really cuts into your returns. The Edge Explore costs £17 but includes extra insurances, so it could be worth a look.

Though the earnings aren’t as much as they once were, this cashback via the Edge is better than nothing, and you’ll also get access to the 6% paying Edge Saver.

Runner up: Biscuit by Zopa

You can also get cashback on some bills via Zopa. It’s capped at £30 a year, the equivalent of £2.50 a month, but it covers any direct debit, so you could well use this as well as the Edge to pick up bills that are missed off.

Runner up: Monzo/Starling

If you’re more worried about budgeting than cashback then both Starling and Monzo will let you segregate money into separate pots and then assign one to pay bills direct from it.

Best bank accounts with rewards

Some accounts will pay you each month, either in cash to your account or with a freebie. You often have to pay a monthly fee and meet other criteria.

Winner: Club Lloyds

Sadly the Halifax Reward account was gutted in September and no longer gives £5 a month.

So my top pick for 2026 is the account from Club Lloyds. You can choose either 6 cinema tickets or a year of Disney+ with Ads – but once you’ve set up standing orders you can just leave the account alone. A couple could benefit from three accounts – one personal account each and a joint one too.

As long as you deposit £2,000 a month into the account you avoid the monthly fee. This is easy to do. There’s more in my full Club Lloyds review.

Runner up: Monzo Perks

This account from Monzo offers much more, but you have to pay £7 a month to access the perks. That can be great value if you need what you get. This includes:

  • a Vue cinema ticket every month
  • a Greggs treat every week
  • an annual railcard
  • Uber One membership

You also get extra Monzo budgeting features which I think are great. More in our Monzo Perks review.

The best bank switch bonuses

Check out our list of all the bank switch offers you can get when opening a new current account

the best bank switch offers on a blue background

Best packaged bank account

From inclusive insurance and breakdown cover to extras, sometimes it’s worth paying a fee each month for a packaged account.

Winner: Santander Edge Explorer

This account is the Edge, which I already like, plus some extras. It costs £17, £14 more than the Edge, but is cheaper than most other packaged accounts. And in return, you’ll get travel, breakdown and phone cover, 1% cashback on some debit card spending, 1% cashback on bills and access to the 6% Edge Saver. Here’s my full Santander Edge Explorer review.

Runner up: Virgin Money Club M

This account goes up from £12.50 a month to £14 from 1 February 2026, but it’s still one of the cheapest packaged options. You’ll get worldwide family travel insurance and phone cover, as well as UK and European breakdown cover for the account holders (so it’s worth opening it as a joint account). That’s decent value if you need two or three of those policies. Here’s our full Virgin Money Club M review.

Best bank account for savings

Current accounts often give you access to higher rates than elsewhere, though with limits. Here’s our guide to the best savings accounts.

Winner: First Direct

For ongoing savings the highest paying account is a regular saver that’s only open to First Direct current account holders. It pays 7% AER – and that’s fixed for 12 months. You can only add up to £300 a month into this regular saver. Read more about other regular savers here.

Winner: Santander Edge

The highest interest rate on larger balances at the moment is from Santander. As long as you have the Edge current account you can open the Edge Saver. This offers 6% on up to £4,000 – though that previously mentioned £3 a month fee needs to be factored in if it’s not covered by cashback. The rate also drops by 2.5% after a year.

The best savings accounts

Check out our list of the highest paying regular, easy-access, fixed and ethical savings accounts

Best bank account with an overdraft

If you use an overdraft you’re probably paying around 40% in interest – far more than it’d cost to borrow elsewhere. So they’re best avoided. But if you are overdrawn then it makes sense to reduce that cost ASAP.

Winner: First Direct

You can currently get a £250 0% buffer from First Direct. That’s not amazing, but it can be useful if you occasionally go a little below zero.

Runner up: Monzo/Starling

If you really need to use an overdraft then you might be able to get as low as 15% of 19% with these digital banks.

Best ethical bank account

Winner: Triodos

This account tops the charts on Ethical Consumer’s list of ethical current accounts and it’s hard to beat. However it does come with a £3 a month fee and the app is limited. Here’s my full review.

Runner Up: Nationwide, Starling or Co-op

These banks also score well. As it’s a building society, Nationwide is committed to putting the bulk of its lending towards mortgages so it can’t invest heavily in non-ethical practices. It also has positive policies in place to avoid this.

Starling has the edge over its challenger bank rival Monzo, while Co-op is the top-ranked from the other high-street banks.

Best “I only want one” bank

If you don’t want to have multiple accounts, and really want everything in one place, then these banks combine multiple extras.

App and perks: Monzo Perks

As long as you would spend £84 a year the perks included, the extra budgeting features on an already excellent app make Monzo Perks on of my top account for 2026. The only let down is on savings rates and there are never any switching deals.

Cashback and savings interest: Santander Edge or Edge Explorer

As long as you pay bills, you may as well get cashback on these. On top there’s access to the 6% paying Edge Saver account. The app is average though. If you need travel insurance and breakdown cover, the Edge Explorer is a good upgrade.

Interest and freebies: Club Lloyds

It’s too early to say whether First Direct Perks will be worth it in the long time, so I also think Club Lloyds is also worth a shot. The app is pretty good, and the six cinema tickets or year of Disney+ with Ads is potentially worth £60 a year and there’s a decent (though not best buy) monthly saver at 6.25%.

Ethics and loyalty: Nationwide

Finally, if you want your bank to be doing some good AND get something in return, Nationwide is well worth a shout thanks to the annual Fairer Share payment. It’s not guaranteed for 2026 but it should be worth £100 and offer access to a decent 18 month fixed saver.

Read next: other bank reviews