Best UK Savings Accounts 2026
UK base rate is still above 4%, and the best savings accounts pay 5%+. But rates vary wildly by provider — we've ranked the top FSCS-protected accounts by real AER for 2026.
Our top picks
- #1
Top easy-access saver
Best overall5.15% AERMin: £1Instant accessPros
- Market-leading rate
- Unlimited withdrawals
- Fund from any UK bank
Cons
- Rate includes 12-month bonus
Best for: Emergency funds and short-term savings you might need to touch. - #2
Best 6-month fixed bond
Best short fix5.00% AERMin: £1,0006 monthsPros
- Locks a rate for a house deposit or planned spend
- FSCS-protected
Cons
- No access during the term
Best for: Money earmarked for a specific 6-month goal. - #3
Best 1-year fixed bond
Best 1-year fix4.90% AERMin: £50012 monthsPros
- Rate certainty for a full year
- Higher than most easy-access after bonus expires
Cons
- Money locked for 12 months
Best for: Savers building predictable returns on cash they don't need until 2027. - #4
Best regular saver
Highest headline rate7.00% AERMin: £25/month12 monthsPros
- Top of the entire savings market
- Great for consistent monthly saving
Cons
- Deposit cap (usually £250–£300/mo)
- Effective return roughly half the AER on total
Best for: Monthly savers who can commit £100–£300 a month for a year. - #5
Best notice account
Middle ground5.05% AERMin: £10,00095-day noticePros
- Higher rate than most easy-access
- Access with 95 days' notice
Cons
- Slower than easy-access if you need funds urgently
Best for: Savers who want a rate premium without a full fixed-term lock.
How to choose
Ladder your fixed bonds
Split lump sums across 6/12/24-month bonds so one matures each year. You get most of the fixed-rate premium without locking everything for two years.
Stack a regular saver on top
The best regular savers pay 6–7% AER — the highest rates in the market. Feed the max monthly amount from an easy-access account for a blended return most banks can't match.
Mind the £1,000 PSA
Basic-rate taxpayers only get £1,000 tax-free interest outside an ISA. At 5%, that's a £20,000 balance. Above it, use a Cash ISA instead — same rates, no tax.
FSCS £85,000 limit
£85,000 per person per banking licence. Some brands share a licence (Halifax + Bank of Scotland). Spread larger sums across genuinely different providers.
FAQs
- Which UK savings account has the highest interest?
- Regular savers currently top the market at 6–7% AER, but they cap monthly deposits. For lump sums, the best easy-access accounts pay ~5.15% AER.
- Is Marcus/Chase/Zopa safe?
- Yes — all three are FSCS-protected up to £85,000. Marcus is backed by Goldman Sachs, Chase by JP Morgan.
- How is savings interest taxed?
- Basic-rate: £1,000 tax-free (Personal Savings Allowance), rest taxed at 20%. Higher-rate: £500 PSA, rest at 40%. Additional-rate: no PSA. ISAs sidestep all of this.