Banking Archives - COOLCURATION

April 19, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Monzo Savings Pots Explained: Rates, FSCS Protection and How to Start (2026)

Last updated: 10 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Monzo savings pots are one of the most useful features in UK banking, and most people still are not using them properly. If you have got a Monzo account and your spare cash is just sitting in the main balance earning nothing, you are leaving money on the table. Monzo savings pots take about 30 seconds to set up and start earning interest immediately. No paperwork. No separate app. Just tap, move money in, and watch it grow.

We have got about six pots running at any given time. Bills pot, holiday pot, emergency fund, a couple of savings pots earning interest, and one labelled "don't touch" that we absolutely do touch. It is one of those features that, once you start using it, you wonder how you ever managed without it.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Savings rates are variable and change frequently, so always verify current rates directly with providers. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Not on Monzo yet?

Sign up through our referral link and a random reward of £5 to £50 arrives once you make your first card payment.

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Best Banking App UK 2026: Which One Should You Use?

Last updated: 10 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This article is for information only and does not constitute financial advice. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. Always check the latest details directly with each provider before opening an account or making any financial decision. If you are unsure, consider speaking to an independent financial adviser.

This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

Finding the best banking app UK in 2026 is genuinely difficult. Every challenger bank promises slick budgeting tools, market-leading rates and cashback on everything. Meanwhile, the traditional banks have finally woken up and started building apps that actually work. So which ones are worth your time, and which are all sizzle and no steak?

We use all five of the banks in this guide as part of a multi-account setup that has evolved over several years of hands-on testing. This is not a surface-level comparison based on press releases. It is a practical breakdown of what each app actually does well, where it falls short and how to combine them for maximum benefit.

Monzo vs Chase UK: Which Bank Account Is Better? (2026)

Last updated: 9 June 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate or referral links. If you click through and sign up I may earn a commission or referral bonus at no extra cost to you. It does not affect my editorial view.

After the bigger sign-up bonus?

Chase's refer-a-friend offer pays £50 when you join and deposit £1,000 within 30 days; our referral page walks you through it.

Claim the Chase £50 offer

If you're weighing up Monzo vs Chase in 2026, you're in good company. Both are app-only banks, both are free to open, and both promise to make managing your money less painful. However, once you dig past the slick onboarding screens, the two take noticeably different approaches to savings, cashback and everyday features.

Chase (a trading name of J.P. Morgan Europe Limited) lures new customers with a boosted saver rate and 2% cashback on everyday spending. Monzo, the UK's original fintech darling, counters with powerful budgeting tools, paid plan perks like a free Railcard, and one of the most feature-rich banking apps on the market.

Below, we break down every meaningful difference so you can pick the one that actually fits your life. We also link to both referral offers if you want a bonus for signing up.