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Provider Rate Min/Max Deposit Opening Account Accessing Account Interest Options SG Verdict
 Aldermore - double access
4.90% £1,000 / £1,000,000

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

  • Paid on Anniversary
  • Paid Away or Compounded
  • Paid Monthly
  • Paid Annually

This account is limited to up two withdrawals within an anniversary year.  If three or more withdrawals are made in the year, the rate reduces to 1.50% from the date of the third withdrawal.  The interest rate resets to the higher rate at the next anniversary.

Peterborough based Aldermore launched in 2009 and look after over £13.1bn of deposits.  You can find out more about them here

 Chip - Instant Access
4.84% £1 / £250,000

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

  • Paid Monthly
  • Added to the account

All money deposited in the Chip Instant Access Account is held by the UK authorised bank ClearBank and is eligible for the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)

 HL Active Savings - Ratesetter
5.06% £1 / £85,000

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

  • Added to the account

Active Savings is a savings platform, provided by investment giant Hargreaves Lansdown, which offers savers access to a range of products from its partner banks and building societies.

It is currently offering cashback, based on the value of the deposit made by a new Active Savings customer, until the 31st Janaury 2024.  The cash back amounts by balance are: 

 

£5,000 - £9,999£10
£10,000 - £19,999£20
£20,000 - £29,999£30
£30,000 - £49,999£40
£50,000 - £79,999£50
£80,000+£100
A| Monument Bank
5.03% £25,000 / £400,000

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

  • Paid Monthly
  • Added to the account

Monument Bank launched in December 2021 and plans to target mass affluent individuals via its mobile app.  Consequently, it has a higher minimum balance requirement than other savings providers.

Cahoot
5.12% £1 / £2m

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

  • Paid Away or Compounded
  • Paid Monthly
  • Paid Annually

Cahoot is a division of Santander, which is one of the top seven savings providers, by size, in the UK

Charter Savings Bank
5.07% £5,000 / £1m

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

  • Paid on Anniversary
  • Paid Away or Compounded
  • Paid Monthly
  • Paid Annually

Wolverhampton based Charter Savings launched in 2015.

It is now part of One Savings Bank which looks after a combined £16.6bn across its Charter Savings and Kent Reliance savings brands

Family Building Society - Online saver
5.04% £100 / £250,000

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

  • Paid Annually
  • Paid Compounded
  • Paid on 31st January

Competitive rate from Epsom based Family Building Society with a low minimum balance.

Deposits can be made by debit card or bank transfer but withdrawals are restricted to £25,000 per day.

FCE Bank
4.95% £1 / £2,000,000

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

  • Paid on Anniversary
  • Paid Away or Compounded
  • Paid Monthly
  • Paid Annually

Essex based Ford Money have regularly been in our best buy tables since their launch in April 2017. 

The rate is variable but any changes get notified to savers who benefit from any upward movements automatically.

Harpenden Building Society
4.95% £001 / £250,000

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

  • Paid Annually
  • Paid 31st December
  • Added to the account

Harpenden Building Society looks after £260m of savings and is the 38th largest building society in the UK

Kent Reliance
5.06% £1,000 / £1,000,000

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

  • Paid Away or Compounded
  • Paid Monthly
  • Paid Annually

Kent Reliance are part of One Savings Bank, which is listed on the FTSE 250.

One Savings Bank has recently completed its merger with Charter Court Financial Services and the combined group looks after £16.6bn of savings

Leeds Building Society
5.00% £1,000 / £1m

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

  • Paid Away or Compounded
  • Paid On Maturity

Unlimited withdrawals can be made from this account, which has a fixed maturity date of 5th January 2025, when interest will be paid.

Leeds is the 5th largest building society in the UK and looks after £14.5bn of savings.

Oxbury Bank
4.94% £1,000 / £500,000

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

  • Paid Monthly
  • Paid Compounded

This account has same day access subject to a 1pm cut off period.

Oxbury is a specialist agricultural bank, focused on lending to UK farms.  It got its banking licence in 2020 and launched savings accounts in February 2021.

Savers will need a smartphone to download the Oxbury Banking App as part of the security measures to access their online account

You can find out more abouy them here

Paragon Bank - Double Access
5.16% £1 / £500,000

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

  • Paid on Anniversary
  • Paid Away or Compounded
  • Paid Monthly
  • Paid Annually

The rate on this account drops to 1.50% if three or more withdrawals are made within a 12 month period

Birmingham based Paragon launched in 2014.  You can find out more about them in our banking directory here

Principality Building Society - Double Access
4.85% £1 / £1m

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

  • Paid Annually
  • Added to the account
  • Paid 1st January

Savers can only make two withdrawals per calendar year from this account.  It can be closed at any time but closure counts as a withdrawal.

Principality is the 6th largest building society in the UK, looking after £7.6bn of savings

Scottish Building Society
5.00% £1 / £1m

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

  • Paid Away or Compounded
  • Annual interest paid 31st March

Only four withdrawals are permitted from this account before the account reverts to an Online Saver at a lower rate on the fifth withdrawal.

Scottish Building Society is Scotland's only independent building society and started life in 1848.  They have branches in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Iverness, Troon and Galashiels and look after £380m of savings. 

Accounts are open to UK residents.

Secure Trust Bank
5.00% £1,000 / £85,000

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

  • Paid Away or Compounded
  • Paid Monthly

Birmingham based Secure Trust Bank look after over £2bn of deposits.  They launched their first easy access account in March 2022

Find out more about them here

Shawbrook Bank
5.00% £1,000 / £85,000

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

  • Paid on Anniversary
  • Paid Away or Compounded
  • Paid Monthly
  • Paid Annually

Essex based Shawbrook launched in 2011 and looks after £7.84bn of savings

Find out more about them here

Skipton Building Society - Base rate tracker
5.06% £1 / £1m

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

  • Paid on Anniversary
  • Paid Away or Compounded
  • Paid Monthly
  • Paid Annually

This account tracks the Bank of England Base minus 0.19% for 24 months. If the Bank of England Base Rate changes, the new interest rate on the account will apply without notice, no more than 14 days after the change is effective.

Skipton is the 4th largest building society in the UK and looks after £21bn of deposits.  

Ulster Bank
5.20% £5,000 / No max

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

  • Paid Away or Compounded
  • Paid Annually

Ulster Bank is based in Northern Ireland but this account is open to UK residents too, although only by internet application

Virgin Money
5.07% £1 / £250,000

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

Branch
App
Internet
Post
Telephone

  • Paid Away or Compounded
  • Paid Annually

A very low minimum balance, but does come with limited access as this account is limited to three withdrawals from January to December, with the rate falling to 2.00% if more than three withdrawals are made during the calendar year.

About The Savings Guru

We help savers get the best deal for their money by providing unique insight in to the savings market.  We help prospective banks apply for a banking licence and we help build customer services, products and marketing for them.  We also work with existing banks and building societies to improve their savings propositions.  This  insider view of savings means we are uniquely placed to help savers.

Find out moreMeet the Team

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