Savings round up - 24th March
24/03/2026
The war in Iran continues to hugely influence pricing in the savings market. Expectations of a Base Rate of 3.25% at the end of 2026 have swung to one of 4.75% and now down (today) to 4.25%. This has caused a surge in fixed rate pricing although even this doesn't seem to justify the 2 and 3 Year Fixed rates of 4.65% and 4.75% respectively from Market Harborough Building Society. We can't see these lasting more than a few days and, even with the situation in the Middle East, they look unlikley to be beaten this year. The volatility of the situation is highlighted on 2 Year where all this weeks top 10 are priced above last week's best buy rate. Where next? Nobody knows! In the meantime, there's some excellent fixed rates and, if you think the situation in Iran will come to a swift conclusion, there is unlikely to be significantly better for some time. Here's our round up of the leading providers and rates in each category:
There's been very little change in the top 10 this week with the main changes being DF Capital improving their rate and Kent Reliance dropping theirs. Chase continue to provide the best buy at 4.50% - but a huge 2% of this is via a 12 month bonus rate. DF Capital improve the rate on their easy access account paying 4.25%. Cynergy Bank's bonus saver is next paying 4.22% - like Chase, a huge 2% of this is a 12 month bonus. Vida Savings are next paying 4.16% on their Double Access Account, where the rate drops to 2.50% after more than two withdrawals per year. Virgin Money pay 4.16% too and their account is also limited to just two withdrawals per year. Coventry Building Society are next as they launch a 4 Access Saver which pays 4.15% but there is a 50 day interest penalty if savers withdraw more than three times in a year. Shawbrook Bank pay 4.13%, which includes a 2.13% bonus. Cambridge Building Society's Double Access Saver, which is limited to two withdrawals after which a 120 day interest penalty applies, pays 4.10%. Cahoot pay 4.05% and Hodge pay 4.01% to complete the top 10.
Stafford Building Society's 180 Day Notice is still the best buy paying 4.26% - however only two withdrawals are permitted per Society year. Investec pay 4.15% for 95 Day Notice via Raisin. Vida Bank also pay 4.15% via Raisin for the same notice period. Aldermore Bank pay 4.13% on 95 Day Notice via Raisin. OakNorth pay 4.12% on their 95 Day Base Rate tracker which tracks Base Rate plus 0.37% after they reduced their rate slightly. BLME pay 4.11% on 90 Day Notice and Close Brothers pay 4.10% on the same term.
Al Rayan Bank pay a best buy 4.22% via Meteor Savings for 6 Months Fixed. Zopa are the best direct rate paying 4.16% for 6 Months too. Al Rayan pay 4.15% via Raisin with UBL Bank and Habib Zurich paying 4.15% too.
Al Rayan Bank are the new best buy paying 4.25% via Meteor Savings for 9 Months Fixed. Kuwait Finance House are next paying 4.12% for 9 Months Fixed via Raisin. Al Rayan pay 4.10% via Raisin and LHV Bank pay 4.10% which is the best direct rate.
Rates have surged with Union Bank of India now leading the way paying 4.45%. Hodge are next with their 1 Year rate of 4.42%. Castle Trust Bank pay 4.41% and last week's leader, DF Capital Bank, pay an improved rate of 4.40%, which is matched by Close Brothers. MBNA pay 4.36% and Habib Zurich remain at 4.34% and have been matched by Charter Savings Bank. Kent Reliance increase to 4.32% and Chetwood and Zopa do the same but to 4.30%.
Cynergy Bank remain top with both their 15 Month and 18 Month Fixed paying 4.20%. Allica Bank increase their 18 Month Fixed on Hargreaves Lansdown to 4.15%. Union Bank of India pay 4.10% for 18 Months Fixed. Paragon Bank improve their rate to 4.05% via Hargreaves Lansdown to move ahead of Aldermore Bank at 4.02%. Al Rayan Bank pay 4% via Meteor Savings alongside four others.
Market Harborough pay a huge 4.65% although there's a fixed maturity date of 31st July 2028 so it's 2 1/4 years. Charter Savings Bank are next paying 4.45% with Hampshire Trust Bank improving to 4.41%, a rate also matched by OakNorth, Hodge and Close Brothers. Chetwood Bank improve to 4.40% and Atom Bank, Furness Building Society and Kent Reliance all increase to 4.35% as this weeks top 10 rates all beat last weeks best buy.
Market Harborough also lead the way on 3 Year - paying 4.75% - again with a fixed maturity date of 3rd July 2029. Charter Savings Bank improve to 4.45% and Hodge and Close Brothers both increase to 4.41%. Chetwood Bank increase 10 basis points to 4.40%. RCI Bank pay 4.35% via Raisin - a rate matched by Atom Bank and Kent Reliance. Tandem complete the top 10 after improving their rate to 4.30%.
Cynergy Bank remain best buy at 4.25% but Aldermore Bank are just behind at 4.20%. Bank of Ceylon pay 4.06% via Raisin and UBL Bank also pay 4.06% via Raisin and direct. Vanquis Bank are just behind at 4.05%. JN Bank are next at 3.99%.
Hodge and Close Brothers lead the way - both paying 4.51%. Last week's leaders, Chetwood Bank, are next despite improving their rate to 4.50% - which has been matched by DF Capital Bank. Atom Bank also increase their rate - they now pay 4.45%. Furness Building Society increase to 4.40% and Tandem Bank stay at 4.37%. JN Bank remain at 4.31% and Cynergy Bank stay at 4.30%.