Last updated: 28 October 2026. I checked every rate on this list of the best easy access savings accounts on the provider's own website on 28 October 2026.

By Stiv ยท Design, technology and personal finance

Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them.

This is not financial advice, and CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. Every rate here is variable and can change after I checked it, so confirm the rate on the provider's own page before you move any money.

Want the ยฃ50 Chip bonus?

Join Chip with a referral code by 5 November 2026, pay ยฃ1,000 into eligible Chip accounts, such as its Instant Access, Prize Savings or Smart Cash ISA account, keep it there for 90 days, and you get ยฃ50. The code and the full steps are on my Chip referral page.

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Easy access savingsOctober 2026 rates

The top easy access rates, and what each pays once its bonus ends

The best easy access savings accounts this month pay up to 5.00% AER, the Annual Equivalent Rate, which is the rate after a year of interest on interest. But almost every account near the top gets there with a bonus that lasts three, six or twelve months. So I took 20 accounts, from savings apps and challenger banks to the big high street names, and worked out what ยฃ10,000 actually earns in each one over the first year and the year after.

The best easy access savings accounts at a glance

My starting point was the Moneyfacts easy access savings chart, which listed 400 easy access accounts on 28 October 2026, and flagged 33 of them as its Best of Best. After that, I went to each provider's own page for the rate, the bonus and the small print. I also added the savings apps readers ask me about, and the standard easy access account at six of the biggest high street banks.


Section 01 / The bonus problem

Why the top easy access rate is rarely the best one to hold

Generally, the top rates are a small standard rate with a temporary bonus on top.

For example, Tesco Bank shows the extreme case. Its Internet Saver pays 4.24% AER, but 3.19% of that is a bonus fixed for 12 months. In fact, the standard rate underneath is just 1.05%. After a year, ยฃ10,000 earns about ยฃ105 a year instead of ยฃ424, unless you move it.

Similarly, the top 5.00% rate carries a bonus, only a shorter one. LemFi pays 5.00% for six months, then drops to 3.04%, so ยฃ10,000 earns roughly ยฃ402 in the first year. Starling has also cut its offer to 4.00% for six months, then 2.50%, which earns about ยฃ325. Meanwhile, Oxbury's 4.57% has no bonus at all and earns about ยฃ457 over the same year, the most of any account here.

At the other end of the chart, the big high street banks pay far less. For example, ยฃ10,000 in a Lloyds Easy Saver earns about ยฃ75 a year at 0.75%, which is ยฃ382 less than Oxbury.

Bar chart of interest on ยฃ10,000 in 20 easy access accounts, from Oxbury at ยฃ457 down to Lloyds at ยฃ75

What ยฃ10,000 earns in each account over the first 12 months and the 12 months after. Tap the chart to open it full size.

What the ยฃ10,000 figures assume

Of course, these figures assume every rate stays where it was on 28 October 2026, which is unlikely. Every account here is variable, and the Bank of England's next interest rate decision is on 5 November 2026, with Bank Rate at 3.75% until then. Even so, the gap between a bonus rate and the rate underneath it does not move with Bank Rate, so the chart still shows which accounts need watching.

Tesco's 4.24% is a 1.05% account with a 12-month bonus on top.

In practice, a bonus account works well if you will actually move the money when the bonus ends. First, put the end date in your calendar the day you open it. If you would rather not think about it again, the three no-bonus accounts in section 03 are the ones to look at first.


Section 02 / Bonus rates

Easy access accounts with the highest rates right now

Six accounts that lead the table today, each with a date when the rate falls.

Two LemFi app screens on a green ground, one showing international payments and one money transfer

LemFi app screens from its App Store listing.

01 For a six-month boost from ยฃ1

LemFi Instant Access Savings Account

Although LemFi is best known as a money transfer app, its savings account lives inside the same app. To begin with, it pays 5.00% AER for the first six months. After that it drops to a 3.04% rate that tracks Bank Rate. You can also open it with ยฃ1, save up to ยฃ250,000, and withdraw whenever you like with no penalty. Interest is worked out daily and then paid monthly.

However, the six-month window is the shortest of the 5% accounts. The deposits sit with ClearBank Limited, which also holds Chip's savings. Therefore, if you hold both, the ยฃ120,000 FSCS limit covers the two of them together, not each one separately.

5.00% AER variable for 6 months, then 3.04%

See the LemFi savings account

Two Tembo app screens showing savings accounts and a home savings goal on a navy ground

Tembo app screens from its App Store listing. The balances shown are examples.

02 For saving towards a home

Tembo HomeSaver

Tembo pays 4.55% AER on its HomeSaver, which includes a 1.55% introductory bonus for 12 months. After that, the standard rate is 3.00%. Besides that, you can save up to ยฃ20,000, withdraw as often as you like through the app, and anyone in the UK aged 18 or over can open one.

Tembo's headline figure, meanwhile, is 5.55%. That adds a further 1.0% bonus, but Tembo only pays it if you complete a mortgage through Tembo within three years. If you are not buying or remortgaging soon, 4.55% is the rate to compare. Tembo holds the money with a panel of partner banks, each FSCS protected up to ยฃ120,000. Tembo also has a referral offer, though it applies to its Cash ISA and Lifetime ISA rather than the HomeSaver, and my Tembo referral page explains how it works.

4.55% AER variable for 12 months, then 3.00%

See the Tembo HomeSaver

Two Chase app screens showing an easy access saver and separate saver accounts on a blue ground

Chase app screens from its App Store listing. The balances shown are examples.

03 For new Chase customers

Chase saver with a boosted rate

Chase pays 4.50% AER on a boosted saver, made up of its standard 2.25% rate plus a 2.25% boost fixed for 12 months. However, you can only open it in your first 31 days as a new Chase current account customer, and you get one boosted saver each. Once it is open, you can hold up to ยฃ3 million and take money out at any time, with interest paid monthly.

The drop at the end is steep, since 2.25% is the second-lowest standard rate among these bonus accounts, after Tesco's. Chase may also withdraw the offer at any time. Deposits are held by J.P. Morgan Europe Limited, which trades as Chase. If you are opening a Chase current account anyway, my Chase refer a friend page covers the ยฃ50 sign-up bonus.

4.50% AER variable for 12 months, then 2.25%

See the Chase boosted saver

Two OakNorth app screens showing a savings balance and its range of accounts on a dark green ground

OakNorth app screens from its App Store listing. The balances shown are examples.

04 For a tracker rate

OakNorth Easy Access Tracker

OakNorth pays 4.35% AER, including a 1.35% boost for the first three months for anyone new to OakNorth or new to this account. Then it returns to 3.00%, which tracks Bank Rate. You can also open it with ยฃ1 through the OakNorth app.

Three months is the shortest bonus in this list, which is why it earns less over a full year than its headline rate suggests. Its 3.00% standard rate is still higher than Chase's or Starling's, though. Deposits are held by OakNorth Bank plc.

4.35% AER variable for 3 months, then 3.00%

See the OakNorth tracker

Two Tesco Bank app screens showing a money transfer and a blocked card on a blue ground

Tesco Bank app screens from its App Store listing.

05 For a 12-month rate from ยฃ1

Tesco Bank Internet Saver

Tesco Bank's Internet Saver pays 4.24% AER on balances up to ยฃ1 million, with unlimited withdrawals and a ยฃ1 minimum. You do not need a Tesco current account, but you do need a UK current account somewhere. Interest is paid only once a year, though.

Of that 4.24%, though, 3.19% is a bonus for 12 months, while the standard rate is 1.05%. In fact, that is the lowest underlying rate among the bonus accounts by a distance. Your savings are protected through Barclays Bank UK PLC, so the ยฃ120,000 FSCS limit is shared across any Barclays and Tesco Bank savings you hold.

4.24% AER variable for 12 months, then 1.05%

See the Tesco Internet Saver

Two Starling app screens showing Spaces for bills and budgets on a purple ground

Starling app screens from its App Store listing. The balances shown are examples.

06 For Starling current account customers

Starling Easy Saver

Starling's Easy Saver pays 4.00% AER on balances up to ยฃ25,000, including a 1.50% bonus fixed for six months. You need a Starling personal current account to open it. Earlier in October, Starling paid 5.00% to brand new current account customers, but that offer no longer appears on its Easy Saver page.

After the bonus, or on any balance over ยฃ25,000, the rate is 2.50%. Withdrawals are unlimited, there is no minimum deposit, and interest is paid monthly. Deposits are held by Starling Bank Limited.

4.00% AER variable for 6 months on up to ยฃ25,000, then 2.50%

See the Starling Easy Saver

Close to easy access, with a withdrawal limit

Zopa Limited Access pot

Zopa's Limited Access pot pays 4.56% AER variable to new savings customers, which puts it near the top of this list. However, it is not quite easy access. You keep that rate only if you make no more than three withdrawals in 12 months. Make a fourth and the rate drops to 2.00% AER until your next pot anniversary.

Of the 4.56%, 1.06% is a 12-month bonus on the first ยฃ50,000, and money above that earns 3.50%. Existing Zopa savers get 3.50% on the whole balance. If you want unlimited withdrawals, Zopa's Access pot pays 2.95% AER, and I cover it at number 15 below. Deposits are held by Zopa Bank Limited, so the ยฃ120,000 FSCS limit applies. I checked these rates on zopa.com on 28 October 2026.

4.56% AER variable for 12 months (new customers), then 3.50%

See Zopa's savings pots


Section 03 / No bonus

Easy access accounts with no bonus to run out

Three accounts where the rate you open on is the rate you keep, until the provider changes it.

Two Oxbury app screens showing a savings dashboard and login on a dark teal ground

Oxbury app screens from its App Store listing. The balances and rates shown are old examples, not today's rates.

07 For new customers with ยฃ1,000 or more

Oxbury Easy Access Autumn Account (Issue 2)

Oxbury is a UK bank that lends to farming and food businesses. Unlike the accounts above, its Easy Access Autumn Account (Issue 2) pays 4.57% AER (4.48% gross) with no bonus inside it. That is the highest straight rate I found, and the best first-year result on ยฃ10,000 of any account here. Interest is worked out daily and then paid monthly.

Still, it has three limits. It is for new Oxbury customers only, you need at least ยฃ1,000 to earn interest, and it holds a maximum of ยฃ120,000. Withdrawals land the same working day if you ask before 1pm. Oxbury also asks for two devices to register, a phone or tablet plus a separate device with a web browser. Deposits are held by Oxbury Bank plc.

4.57% AER variable, no bonus

See the Oxbury account

Leeds Building Society web page showing the Online Access Saver Issue 24 at 4.20% AER

Leeds Building Society's own easy access page, 12 October 2026.

08 For a building society

Leeds Building Society Online Access Saver

Similarly, Leeds pays 4.20% AER on its Online Access Saver (Issue 24), with unlimited withdrawals and no bonus. You need ยฃ1,000 to open it, you open and run it online, and interest is paid once a year.

Annual interest suits money you are leaving alone, but you will not see any interest land until the anniversary. Deposits are held by Leeds Building Society itself.

4.20% AER variable, no bonus

See the Leeds account

Hampshire Trust Bank web page listing the Easy Access Online Saver Issue 36 at 4.18% AER

Hampshire Trust Bank's own rate page, 12 October 2026.

09 For a ยฃ1 start and no bonus

Hampshire Trust Bank Easy Access Online Saver

Finally, Hampshire Trust Bank pays 4.18% AER on its Easy Access Online Saver (Issue 36). You can start with ยฃ1 and save up to ยฃ250,000, and the gross rate matches the AER because interest is paid once a year. In addition, there is no bonus inside the rate.

It is the lowest of the three no-bonus rates, though it also has the lowest minimum. Deposits are held by Hampshire Trust Bank Plc.

4.18% AER variable, no bonus

See the Hampshire Trust Bank account


Section 04 / Chip

Chip's Instant Access and Prize Savings accounts, and the ยฃ50 bonus

Lower rates than the table above, but a ยฃ50 sign-up bonus this month.

Two Chip app screens showing a savings balance and its FSCS protection message on a green ground

Chip app screens from its App Store listing. The balances shown are examples.

10 For unlimited withdrawals

Chip Instant Access Account

Chip's Instant Access Account pays 3.51% AER for new customers, made up of a 3.00% standard rate plus a 0.51% boost for 12 months. The rate also tracks Bank Rate. Withdrawals are unlimited with no penalty, and interest is paid monthly. I save with Chip myself.

The rate is lower than the accounts above. Unlike them, though, it counts towards Chip's referral offer. Join through a referral code by 5 November 2026, pay in ยฃ1,000, keep at least ยฃ1,000 in for 90 days in a row, and you get ยฃ50. The bonus itself does not earn interest, though. Even so, on ยฃ10,000 the bonus takes the first year to roughly ยฃ401, about level with LemFi.

3.51% AER variable for 12 months, then 3.00%

Get the ยฃ50 Chip bonus

Chip app Prize Savings Account screen showing projected entries and the September 2026 prizes

My Chip Prize Savings Account in September 2026, with the balance and entries lowered for privacy. Tap or click to open it full size.

11 For a monthly prize draw instead of interest

Chip Prize Savings Account

Chip's Prize Savings Account pays no interest. Instead, every ยฃ10 of your average balance over a calendar month is one entry into a monthly draw. In October 2026, Chip is giving away a share of ยฃ100,000 in prizes, with a ยฃ10,000 top prize. You can pay in between ยฃ10 and ยฃ85,000 and withdraw when you like.

Prizes depend on the draw and on luck, so two savers with the same balance can get very different results. Chip's page does not give the odds of winning either. On the other hand, it counts towards the ยฃ50 referral bonus, and winnings are tax-free. My Chip Prize Saver vs Premium Bonds comparison sets it against the NS&I draw, and my Premium Bonds alternatives guide covers the other prize draws open to new savers.

No interest, monthly prize draw

See the Chip Prize Savings Account

In addition, both Chip accounts hold your money with ClearBank Limited and are FSCS protected up to ยฃ120,000 in total, shared with any LemFi savings. Chip's referral terms list every account that counts towards the bonus.


Section 05 / Savings apps

Easy access savings in Sidekick, Moneybox, Emma, Zopa and Prosper

Savings inside apps you may already use, where the rate sometimes depends on what else you hold.

12 For large balances and a ยฃ25 referral

Sidekick Multi Shield

Sidekick is a wealth app that also runs an easy access savings account called Multi Shield. It pays 3.23% AER variable with no bonus inside the rate, and you can start with ยฃ1. In addition, withdrawals are unlimited and arrive the next working day.

The main draw is protection for big sums. Sidekick's partner Bondsmith places your cash with three banks, HSBC Bank plc, Lloyds Bank plc and Santander Financial Services plc, in that order, with up to ยฃ120,000 at each. As a result, one account carries up to ยฃ360,000 of FSCS cover. However, if you already save directly with one of those banks, the ยฃ120,000 limit at that bank is shared, and Lloyds Bank shares its limit with Halifax and Bank of Scotland.

Sidekick also has a referral offer. Open a savings account through a referral code, pay in ยฃ1,000 and hold it for three months, and you and the friend who referred you each get ยฃ25. My Sidekick referral page has the code and the steps.

3.23% AER variable, no bonus

Get the Sidekick referral code

13 For existing Moneybox customers

Moneybox Simple Saver

Moneybox's Simple Saver pays 2.40% AER variable. On top of that, a 1.00% reward rate takes it to 3.40% AER if you also hold a qualifying Moneybox product, such as its Cash ISA, Stocks and Shares ISA, Lifetime ISA or Personal Pension. So the higher rate mostly suits people who already use Moneybox for something else.

The catch is access. You can make one withdrawal per calendar month, paid within a working day, so it is closer to limited access than the accounts above. You can save up to ยฃ120,000, and Moneybox places the money with a panel of partner banks, each FSCS protected up to ยฃ120,000.

If you open an investment account to qualify: capital at risk. The value of investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you invested. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results.

2.40% AER variable, or 3.40% with a qualifying Moneybox account

See the Moneybox Simple Saver

14 For Emma subscribers

Emma Easy Access Pot

Emma started as a budgeting app and now offers savings pots too. Its Easy Access Pot starts at ยฃ1 and pays interest monthly, but the rate depends on your Emma plan. On 28 October 2026, it was 1.91% AER on the free Basic plan, 2.31% on Plus, 3.18% on Pro and 3.44% on Ultimate, all variable.

The plan fee changes the maths, though. Ultimate cost ยฃ124.99 a year on annual billing when I checked, so ยฃ10,000 at 3.44% earns about ยฃ344 but leaves roughly ยฃ219 after the fee. In my view, the paid plans only add up if you want Emma's budgeting tools anyway. Emma spreads your money across HSBC, Santander and Lloyds, with up to ยฃ120,000 of FSCS protection at each.

1.91% to 3.44% AER variable, depending on your Emma plan

See the Emma Easy Access Pot

15 For unlimited withdrawals at Zopa

Zopa Access pot

If Zopa's Limited Access pot feels too restrictive, its Access pot pays 2.95% AER (2.91% gross) variable with no notice and no penalties. You can add or take out money whenever you like. Zopa also offers an Access ISA pot at 3.25% AER if you would rather keep the interest tax-free.

The rate is lower than the challenger banks at the top of this list. Even so, it sits in the same app as Zopa's other pots, which makes it easy to move money between them. Deposits are held by Zopa Bank Limited, so the ยฃ120,000 FSCS limit covers all your Zopa pots together.

2.95% AER variable

See the Zopa Access pot

What about Prosper?

Prosper is an investing and savings app that lets you open accounts from a range of banks in one place. However, when I checked on 28 October 2026, every easy access account listed on Prosper's website was marked as not available to open. Because I could not confirm a current easy access rate from Prosper's own pages, I have left it off the chart rather than guess. Prosper's savings page lists the fixed-term deals it offers now.


Section 06 / High street banks

Easy access savings rates at the big high street banks

The banks most of us already use pay the least for easy access savings.

Plenty of people keep their savings next to their current account, at a bank they have used for years. So I checked the standard easy access account at six of the biggest high street names. On ยฃ10,000, they paid between 0.75% and 2.00% AER on 28 October 2026, compared with 4.57% at Oxbury.

Bank and accountAER on ยฃ10,000Interest on ยฃ10,000 in a yearWorth knowing
Santander Easy Access Saver2.00%About ยฃ200A 12-month term, after which it moves to an Everyday Saver, which paid 0.90% in Santander's August 2026 rate sheet
Nationwide Instant Access Saver1.15%About ยฃ1151.10% below ยฃ10,000 and 1.20% from ยฃ50,000
HSBC Flexible Saver1.05%About ยฃ105The same rate on every balance
Barclays Everyday Saver1.00%About ยฃ100Open to everyone, with unlimited withdrawals
NatWest Flexible Saver1.00%About ยฃ100For NatWest current account customers; 1.35% from ยฃ25,000
Lloyds Easy Saver0.75%About ยฃ750.90% from ยฃ25,000 and 1.00% from ยฃ100,000

Most of these banks do pay more if you accept conditions. For example, Nationwide's Flex Instant Saver pays 2.30% AER to its current account members, and HSBC's Online Bonus Saver pays existing customers 3.35% AER on up to ยฃ50,000 in months with no withdrawal. Similarly, Lloyds' Limited Access Saver pays 3.00% AER if you make two or fewer withdrawals a year, and Barclays' Rainy Day Saver pays 3.96% AER on the first ยฃ5,000 for Blue Rewards and Premier customers. Even so, none of them matches the best challenger banks for money you might need at short notice.

The high street does have real upsides, such as branches, phone support and having everything in one app. Still, in my experience the gap adds up quickly. On ยฃ10,000, the difference between a Lloyds Easy Saver and Oxbury's account is about ยฃ382 a year at today's rates.


Section 07 / Side by side

Best easy access savings accounts compared

AccountAER nowBonus lastsRate afterMinimumWithdrawalsInterest paidDeposits held by
LemFi Instant Access5.00%6 months3.04%ยฃ1UnlimitedMonthlyClearBank
Oxbury Easy Access Autumn (Issue 2)4.57%No bonus4.57%ยฃ1,000Same day before 1pmMonthlyOxbury Bank
Zopa Limited Access pot4.56%12 months3.50%ยฃ13 a year, then 2.00%MonthlyZopa Bank
Tembo HomeSaver4.55%12 months3.00%Not statedUnlimitedNot statedPartner banks
Chase boosted saver4.50%12 months2.25%NoneUnlimitedMonthlyJ.P. Morgan Europe
OakNorth Easy Access Tracker4.35%3 months3.00%ยฃ1UnlimitedMonthlyOakNorth Bank
Tesco Bank Internet Saver4.24%12 months1.05%ยฃ1UnlimitedYearlyBarclays Bank UK
Leeds Online Access Saver4.20%No bonus4.20%ยฃ1,000UnlimitedYearlyLeeds Building Society
Hampshire Trust Bank Easy Access4.18%No bonus4.18%ยฃ1UnlimitedYearlyHampshire Trust Bank
Starling Easy Saver4.00%6 months2.50%NoneUnlimitedMonthlyStarling Bank
Chip Instant Access3.51%12 months3.00%Not statedUnlimitedMonthlyClearBank
Moneybox Simple Saver3.40% with reward, 2.40% withoutNo bonusSameNot statedOne a monthMonthlyPanel of partner banks
Sidekick Multi Shield3.23%No bonus3.23%ยฃ1Unlimited, next working dayNot statedHSBC, Lloyds, Santander Financial Services
Zopa Access pot2.95%No bonus2.95%Not statedUnlimitedNot statedZopa Bank
Emma Easy Access Pot1.91% to 3.44% by planNo bonusSameยฃ1Not statedMonthlyHSBC, Santander, Lloyds
Santander Easy Access Saver2.00%12-month termEveryday Saver rateNot statedInstant accessNot statedSantander UK
Nationwide Instant Access Saver1.15% on ยฃ10,000No bonus1.15%Not statedInstant accessNot statedNationwide Building Society
HSBC Flexible Saver1.05%No bonus1.05%ยฃ1Instant accessNot statedHSBC UK
Barclays Everyday Saver1.00%No bonus1.00%Not statedUnlimitedNot statedBarclays Bank UK
NatWest Flexible Saver1.00% up to ยฃ24,999No bonus1.00%ยฃ1Instant accessMonthlyNatWest
Lloyds Easy Saver0.75% up to ยฃ24,999No bonus0.75%ยฃ1UnlimitedNot statedLloyds Bank

Also, Starling's Easy Saver needs a Starling current account, Chase's 4.50% needs a new Chase current account, and NatWest's Flexible Saver is for NatWest current account customers. Where a cell says not stated, the provider's own page does not give that detail.


Section 08 / Before you move money

Tax, protection and the next rate decision

The ยฃ120,000 protection limit. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme protects eligible deposits up to ยฃ120,000 per eligible person per UK-authorised bank, building society or credit union, a limit in place since 1 December 2025. Importantly, the limit applies to the bank holding your money, not to the brand on the app. So LemFi and Chip share one limit through ClearBank, and Tesco Bank shares one with Barclays. Sidekick and Emma both spread your money across HSBC, Lloyds and Santander, so it is worth checking how that overlaps with any savings you already hold at those banks.

Tax on the interest. Most people can earn some savings interest tax-free under the Personal Savings Allowance. According to GOV.UK, that is ยฃ1,000 a year for basic rate taxpayers, ยฃ500 for higher rate and nothing for additional rate. At 4.57%, about ยฃ21,900 earns ยฃ1,000 a year, so a basic rate taxpayer with more than that saved may start paying tax on the interest. A cash ISA keeps the interest tax-free instead, and my best savings account guide covers cash ISAs, notice accounts, regular savers and fixed bonds alongside easy access.

The next interest rate decision. Bank Rate is 3.75%, and the Bank of England announces its next decision on 5 November 2026. The trackers here, from LemFi, OakNorth and Chip, follow Bank Rate automatically, while the others can change whenever the provider decides. My Bank of England base rate guide explains what a change means for savings. Because of that, I update this list of the best easy access savings accounts every month, and again after any rate decision that moves these accounts.


Easy access savings FAQs

What is the best easy access savings account right now?

On 28 October 2026, the highest rate was 5.00% AER from LemFi, with a six-month bonus. Over a full year on ยฃ10,000, though, Oxbury's 4.57% with no bonus earned the most, just ahead of Tembo's 4.55% and Chase's 4.50%. Every rate is variable.

What does easy access mean on a savings account?

It means you can take money out without giving notice. Some easy access accounts limit how often you can do it, though. For example, the Moneyfacts easy access chart includes double access and triple access accounts that cap how many withdrawals you can make.

What happens when an easy access bonus ends?

The rate falls to the provider's standard rate, and nothing else changes unless you move the money. For example, Tesco Bank's Internet Saver drops from 4.24% to 1.05%, and Chase's boosted saver from 4.50% to 2.25%. Most providers tell you before the bonus ends, but putting the date in your own calendar is safer.

Is my money safe in an easy access savings account?

Eligible deposits are protected up to ยฃ120,000 per eligible person per UK-authorised bank, building society or credit union by the FSCS (since 1 December 2025). Check which bank actually holds your money, because two brands can share one limit.

Can I get a bonus for opening a savings account?

Yes, Chip pays ยฃ50 to new customers who join through a referral code by 5 November 2026, pay in ยฃ1,000 and keep it there for 90 days. The ยฃ1,000 can go into Chip's Instant Access Account, Prize Savings Account or Smart Cash ISA. Its two investment accounts also count, but there your capital is at risk. Sidekick also pays ยฃ25 each to you and the friend who referred you if you open a savings account through a referral code, pay in ยฃ1,000 and hold it for three months.

Which high street bank pays the most on easy access savings?

Of the six I checked on 28 October 2026, Santander's Easy Access Saver paid the most at 2.00% AER for 12 months. Nationwide's Instant Access Saver paid 1.15% on ยฃ10,000, and the Lloyds Easy Saver paid the least at 0.75% on balances under ยฃ25,000. Several of these banks pay more on accounts with withdrawal limits or for their own current account customers.

Are savings in apps like Sidekick, Moneybox and Emma protected?

Yes, as long as the money sits with a UK-authorised bank. These apps place your cash with partner banks, and the FSCS protects eligible deposits up to ยฃ120,000 per eligible person per bank. Sidekick and Emma spread money across three banks, which raises the total cover to ยฃ360,000.

Do I pay tax on easy access savings interest?

Only on interest above your Personal Savings Allowance, which is ยฃ1,000 a year for basic rate taxpayers and ยฃ500 for higher rate taxpayers. Additional rate taxpayers, by contrast, have no allowance.

Savings rates and terms change often, and every rate here is variable. This is not financial advice, and you may want to speak to a qualified financial adviser about your own situation. This article contains affiliate and referral links, which are paid links. If you click one and buy or sign up, I earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. Brands don't choose what I feature or what I say about them.

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