FSCS 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: 9 September 2026. I re-checked every Monzo savings pots rate against Monzo's own pages on 9 September 2026.

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Monzo savings pots are one of the most useful things in UK banking. Yet plenty of people with a Monzo account still leave spare cash in the main balance, earning nothing. A pot takes about thirty seconds to set up. Better still, it starts earning the same day. No paperwork, no second app, no waiting.

I keep six or seven pots running at any one time. Bills, holiday, an emergency fund, two savings pots earning interest. Plus one labelled "don't touch" that I absolutely do touch. Below is what each type pays, what the higher rates cost, and where the money actually sits.

This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Savings rates are variable and change often. Always check the current rate in the Monzo app or at monzo.com first. 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 my referral link. A random reward starting at £5 arrives once you make your first card payment.

Join Monzo with a bonus

Published by Stiv in Banking, Personal finance, Saving

Tags: cash ISA, FSCS, Instant Access, interest rates, monzo, Monzo Perks, personal finance, savings accounts, Savings pots, Select Access

April 11, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

Chip Prize Saver vs Premium Bonds UK 2026: Which Is Actually Better?

Last updated: 10 September 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

Over 22 million people in the UK hold Premium Bonds, which makes them the nation's most popular savings product. Yet most holders have never weighed up Chip Prize Saver vs Premium Bonds side by side, and the numbers reward a closer look. Around 62% of Premium Bonds holders have never won a single prize, according to AJ Bell. The prize fund rate sits at 4.35% from the September 2026 draw, with each £1 bond facing odds of 21,000 to 1. NS&I has moved both twice this year. The rate ran at 3.30% with odds of 23,000 to 1 from April, went to 3.80% and 22,000 to 1 in July, then landed where it is now when NS&I announced the change on 18 August 2026.

Meanwhile, Chip's Prize Savings Account offers an alternative: a prize-draw savings account with a £10,000 grand prize every month and no interest at all. Both are a gamble on the return, not on the capital. You can hold either for a year, win nothing, and watch inflation eat the value of the money. We are not saying Premium Bonds are bad. Indeed, they are backed by the Treasury and pay tax-free prizes, which is a real advantage. However, if you have not compared them to anything in years, this is worth ten minutes of your time.

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.

Want to try the Chip Prize Saver?

Our Chip referral page carries the current new-customer bonus and the sign-up steps, kept up to date.

Open Chip via our referral

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. It is not a recommendation to open, close, or switch any savings or investment product. Always do your own research or consider a qualified financial adviser before making financial decisions. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. Tax treatment depends on individual circumstances and may change. All product details were verified at the time of writing but may change, so always check the provider's website for current terms.

Published by Stiv in Apps, Finance, Money, Money saving, Saving, UK Made

Tags: Chip, Chip Prize Saver, FSCS, NS&I, Premium Bonds, prize draw savings, savings, savings comparison, tax-free savings, UK savings

April 5, 2026 — Comments are off for this post.

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

Last updated: 22 August 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.

Published by Stiv in Banking, Comparison, Comparisons, Personal finance, Services

Tags: banking app UK, best banking app, challenger bank, chase, digital banking, FSCS, Lloyds, mobile banking, monzo, personal finance, UK current account, Zopa Biscuit

October 16, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Biscuit Bank Account Review 2026: Is It Worth It?

Last updated: 6 September 2026

By Stiv · Design, technology and personal finance

This is an opinion piece. Views expressed are the author's own and do not constitute professional advice.

Cool Factor: 3/5

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.

Thinking of opening Biscuit?

The refer-a-friend bonus is live again at £20, and our Zopa Biscuit referral page carries the steps and the current terms.

Open a Zopa Biscuit account

This Biscuit bank account review takes a look at Zopa's free current account after months of real-world use. Zopa rebuilt it during 2026, so it now pays 1% AER (variable) as standard and lets you pick one benefit on top: 2.75% AER (variable) interest, 3% cashback on eating out, or 3% cashback on bills. There is a free Caffè Nero drink every month as well. But does it actually deliver? We break down what works, what falls short and whether it deserves a spot on your phone in 2026.

Published by Stiv in Android apps, Apple apps, Apps, Finance, Personal finance, Reviews

Tags: biscuit bank account, biscuit bank account review, biscuit bank account review 2025, cashback account, coolcuration, current account, digital banking, fintech, FSCS, high interest savings, mobile banking, personal finance, referral bonus, regular saver, uk banking, uk money apps, zopa, zopa bank, zopa bank review

September 3, 2025 — Comments are off for this post.

Best Savings Account UK 2026: Every Rate Checked

Last updated: 10 September 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.

This guide is for information only and does not constitute financial advice. CoolCuration is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority.

UK SavingsSeptember 2026 Edit

Every rate here was read off the bank’s own page tonight

Picking the best savings account UK savers can open comes down to one question: how soon do you need the money back? Get that right and the rate follows. So I checked every figure below directly on each provider’s own website on 6 September 2026, rather than lifting it from a comparison table.

The Bank of England base rate sits at 3.75%, held at the most recent decision. Easy access tops out near 5%, one and two year bonds sit just under 5%, and the best regular savers still pay 8%. Below you will find easy access, notice accounts, regular savers, fixed bonds, cash ISAs and NS&I, each with the deposit-taker named.

Want the £20 Zopa Biscuit bonus?

Zopa’s referral offer is live again, and the current terms and the exact steps sit on our referral page.

Get the £20 Zopa Biscuit bonus

Published by Stiv in Finance, Investing, Personal finance, Saving, Services