With the current tax year soon coming to an end, now is the time to make the most of your annual ISA allowance. We all get an allowance of up to £20,000 and any interest you earn on ISAs is tax free. This allowance will reset on 6 April, so anything you do not use by 5 April, you lose.
You can get different types of ISAs but it all comes down to how long you want to save for. All ISAs allow you to save tax-free just like regular savings accounts.
When deciding which cash ISA is best for you, there are three important factors to consider:
- How long to save for
- The interest rate
- Could a best savings account be a better option?
Think about how easily you want to access your money. ISAs vary from easy access which has no penalty fee on withdrawals, and then there's one to three fixed ISAs where your money is locked in for that period, so there will be a penalty fee on withdrawals. The longer the term of your ISA, the better the return.
Always take into account your financial position as this will help you decide how long you want to lock your money in for. Think about emergency money that you may need to access too.
We have put together the top cash ISAs with the best interest rates. The rates listed have been curated from the latest data provided by Defaqto.
Best easy access cash ISA rates
If you think you might need to access your money at any given time within 12 months, then an easy access account is best for you. The rates are lower, but you have more flexibility. This is what’s on offer right now.
| Provider | Rate (AER) | Min deposit | Unlimited withdrawals | Flexible | Transfers allowed | How to open |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cynergy Bank Online ISA | 3.35% | £1 | Yes | No | Yes (Only at time of opening account) | Online |
| Leeds Building Society Easy Access ISA | 3.30% | £1,000 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Online |
| Shawbrook Bank Easy Access Cash ISA | 3.27% | £1,000 | Yes | No | Yes | Online |
| Charter Savings Bank Easy Access Cash ISA | 3.25% | £5,000 | Yes | Yes | Row 3 - Cell 5 | Online |
| Marcus by Goldman Sachs Cash ISA | 3.20% | £1 | Yes | No | No | Online |
| Santander eISA | 3.20% | £500 | Yes | No | Yes | Online, in branch or over the phone |
Best one-year fixed cash ISA rates
These are the current top fixed rate cash ISAs for one year. If you take your money out before the 12-month period, then you will be subject to a penalty.
Some may also require you to have a current account or a large minimum deposit to benefit from the linked cash ISA rate.
| Provider | Rate (AER) | Min deposit | Transfers allowed | How to open |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charter Savings Bank 1 Year Fixed ISA | 4.20% | £5,000 | Yes (Only at the time of opening account) | Online |
| Gatehouse Bank 1 Year Fixed Term Woodland Cash ISA | 4.20% | £1,000 | Yes (Within 30 days of opening account) | Online |
| Cynergy Bank 1 Year Fixed ISA | 4.19% | £500 | Yes | Online |
| Shawbrook 1 Year Fixed ISA | 4.17% | £1,000 | Yes | Online |
| Close Brother Savings 1 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA | 4.17% | £10,000 | Yes | Online or by post |
Best two-year fixed cash ISA rates
If you can lock away for a bit longer, you can earn a bit more interest. These are currently the best rates for two year fixes.
| Provider | Rate (AER) | Min deposit | Transfers allowed | How to open |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Castle Trust Bank 2 Year Fixed Cash ISA | 4.30% | £1,000 | Yes | Online |
| Close Brothers Savings 2 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA | 4.30% | £10,000 | Yes | Online or by post |
| Shawbrook 2 Year Fixed ISA | 4.28% | £1,000 | Yes | Online |
| Leeds Building Society 2 Year Fixed ISA | 4.26% | £100 | Yes | Online, by post or in branch |
| Nationwide Building Society 2 year fixed ISA | 4.25% | £1 | Yes | Online, by post or in branch |
Best three-year fixed cash ISA rates
If you are saving for something at least three years into the future, then you can get slightly more by fixing your cash ISA for three years. Again, be sure you don’t need the cash sooner to avoid penalty charges.
| Provider | Rate (AER) | Min deposit | Transfers allowed | How to open |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virgin Money 3 Year Fixed Cash ISA | 4.26% | £1 | Yes | Online |
| Leeds Building Society 3 Year Fixed ISA | 4.20% | £100 | Yes | Online, by post or in branch |
| Gatehouse Bank 3 Year Fixed Term Woodland Cash ISA | 4.20% | £1,000 | Yes | Online |
What is the ISA allowance?
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You can put up to £20,000 in a cash ISA for this tax year and anyone over the age of 16 years is entitled to open an account (check specific ISA accounts as some are restricted to 18 years). You can move your cash ISA into a stocks and shares ISA at a later stage if you want to potentially get better returns.
It’s a good idea to use as much of your ISA allowance as you can as the tax year runs from 6 April to 5 April. Therefore any allowance in your ISA that you don’t use is lost each year.
Do I need a cash ISA?
All basic rate taxpayers can earn up to £1,000 interest in savings before it's taxed (higher taxpayers £500). Fewer than one in 20 people get close to the limit - so for most of us there's not much practical cash ISA benefit.
Instead the interest rate is what counts, and cash ISAs typically pay less than normal savings. It’s a good idea to take a look at our best savings accounts before making a decision.
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