How Excelergy Savings works

Every account is taken from information the provider publishes itself, on its own savings pages or rate sheets. Each account has a source link so you can check the original.

We do not buy data from a rates aggregator and we do not accept payment from providers to be listed.

We re-check every provider once a week, on Monday mornings. The footer of the rates page shows the date the rates were last checked.

Savings rates change often, and the best accounts are sometimes withdrawn within days. Always confirm on the provider's own website before you open an account.

A selection of UK banks, building societies and app-based banks that publish their savings rates online.

This is not the whole market. Smaller banks and building societies, and accounts only available through savings platforms, are not included.

Some accounts are only for existing customers, for example people who already have the provider's current account, or members of a building society. These show who can apply under the account name. Choose Open to anyone to hide them.

AER (annual equivalent rate) shows what you would earn in a year if interest were paid and added once a year. It lets you compare accounts that pay interest monthly with ones that pay yearly. The "gross" rate is the rate before tax and before compounding; for monthly interest it is slightly lower than the AER.

Easy access: take money out when you like. Some limit how many withdrawals you can make a year before the rate drops. The rate is variable and can change at any time.

Notice: you have to tell the provider a set number of days before you withdraw (for example 95 days). Usually a little more than easy access. The rate is variable.

Fixed rate (bonds): the rate is fixed for a set term, but you normally cannot take money out until the end. Fixed cash ISAs may let you leave early with a penalty, often a number of days' interest.

Regular saver: you pay in a set amount each month, up to a limit, usually for a year. The headline rates are high, but because the money goes in gradually you earn roughly half the headline rate on the total you put in over the year.

Some easy access accounts include a bonus for the first months, for example "includes 1.00% bonus for 12 months". When the bonus ends the rate drops, so set a reminder to check and move your money.

Sharia-compliant banks do not pay interest. They pay a share of the profit made from your money, quoted as an "expected profit rate". It works much like interest for comparison, and is covered by the same FSCS protection.

Most people get a Personal Savings Allowance: up to £1,000 of interest a year tax free if you are a basic rate taxpayer, £500 if you are a higher rate taxpayer, and none if you pay additional rate. Interest above that is taxed at your income tax rate.

If your other income is low you may also get the starting rate for savings: up to £5,000 of interest tax free, reduced by £1 for every £1 of other income above your Personal Allowance. Someone with no other income can usually earn £18,570 of interest a year without paying tax.

Banks pay interest without taking tax off. If you owe tax, HMRC usually collects it through your tax code or Self Assessment.

Interest in a cash ISA is tax free and does not use up your Personal Savings Allowance. In the 2026/27 tax year you can pay up to £20,000 of new money into ISAs in total, across cash, stocks and shares and other ISA types.

The government has announced that from 6 April 2027 the amount under-65s can put into cash ISAs each year will fall to £12,000, with the overall £20,000 limit staying the same. Check GOV.UK for the current rules.

Moving an existing ISA to a new provider does not count towards the limit, but always use the new provider's transfer service rather than withdrawing the money yourself, or it loses its tax-free status.

Not always. If your interest stays within your Personal Savings Allowance you pay no tax either way, so a higher-paying ordinary account can earn you more. ISAs matter most for higher earners, larger balances, and when rates are high. The rates page shows interest after tax for your band so you can compare.

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme protects savings with UK-authorised banks and building societies up to £120,000 per person, per authorised institution, if the provider fails.

Some brands share one banking licence, so money held with each of them counts towards a single £120,000 limit. If you have large savings, check which brands share a licence on the FSCS website before splitting your money.

No. Excelergy Savings lists accounts that providers advertise and works out the interest. It does not recommend any provider or account, and it does not know your circumstances. "Top rate" only means the highest AER in that list. For advice about your situation, speak to a regulated financial adviser.

Please tell us using the feedback button, and include the provider and account name. We will check the source and correct it.