Last reviewed: June 2026
Best easy access savings accounts UK - June 2026
- Best easy access rate: Trading 212 Cash ISA / Chip - 5.10% AER (variable)
- Best established bank rate: Marcus by Goldman Sachs - 4.75% AER (variable, no notice)
- Best high street rate: Nationwide FlexSaver - 4.25% AER
- Easy access accounts pay variable rates, and the Bank of England's Bank Rate (3.75%, held at the 17 September 2026 decision) influences them.
- All accounts listed are FSCS-protected up to £120,000 per FCA-authorised institution.
Rates sourced from provider websites June 2026. Variable rates can change at any time. Not financial advice.
| By Chandraketu Tripathi | Updated April 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Easy access savings accounts let you deposit and withdraw money at any time without penalty - making them ideal for emergency funds and short-term savings. In April 2026, when this guide was first written, the best easy access rates were around 4.5-5% AER, well above the 0.1-0.5% offered by most high street bank savings accounts. Bank Rate was 3.75% at the Bank of England's 17 September 2026 decision. This guide compares the best easy access savings rates available in April 2026. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Key Facts 2026 Best easy access rate April 2026: up to ~4.5-5% AER | BoE Bank Rate: 3.75% (Sept 2026) | High street bank rates: 0.1-1% AER - avoid | FSCS protection: £120,000 per person, per authorised firm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Best Easy Access Savings Accounts UK April 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Easy Access vs Fixed Rate Savings UK - Which to Choose? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
How to Get the Best Easy Access Rate UK | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the best easy access savings account UK 2026? The best easy access savings rates in April 2026 reach approximately 4.75-5% AER from providers including Chip, Cynergy Bank, Plum, and Monument Bank. Rates change frequently as they track the Bank of England base rate. Rates change often, so check the provider's current rate before opening an account. Trading 212 Cash ISA also offers competitive rates within an ISA wrapper for tax-free interest. Is my money safe in an easy access savings account UK? Yes - deposits in UK-authorised banks and building societies are protected up to £120,000 per person, per authorised firm, by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), a limit that rose from £85,000 on 1 December 2025. If the bank fails, eligible deposits are covered up to £120,000. If you have more than £120,000 to save, spread it across multiple FSCS-protected institutions. With fintech apps (Chip, Plum), check the underlying bank that holds your funds - they are FSCS-protected via their partner banks. Will easy access savings rates fall UK? Easy access savings rates track the Bank of England base rate. Bank Rate was 3.75% at the Bank of England's 17 September 2026 decision, and the next decision is due on 5 November 2026. If the base rate falls, easy access savings rates are likely to follow. If you want to lock in current rates, consider a 1-2 year fixed rate bond, which guarantees the rate for the full term regardless of what happens to the base rate. Should I use a Cash ISA or savings account UK? If your total savings interest in a tax year exceeds your Personal Savings Allowance (£1,000 for basic rate taxpayers; £500 for higher rate taxpayers), a Cash ISA is better as interest is tax-free. For most people with savings under £20,000-30,000 at current rates, standard easy access accounts and Cash ISAs offer similar rates, so the ISA wrapper becomes more valuable as your savings grow. Higher rate taxpayers should prioritise ISAs earlier. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Related Guides | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sources: Bank of England, MoneySavingExpert, Moneyfacts, Chip, Cynergy Bank, Shawbrook, Marcus, FSCS, Which?. Always compare. April 2026. |
Update 12 October 2026: Bank Rate and FSCS protection The Bank of England's Bank Rate stands at 3.75%, according to the Bank of England. The rate was held at that level at the June, July and September 2026 meetings, with the latest decision published on 17 September 2026. The next rate decision is due on 5 November 2026. Easy access rates are variable and change often, and rates quoted elsewhere in this guide were collected in spring 2026, so savers should check each provider's current rate before opening an account. On 1 December 2025 the FSCS deposit protection limit rose to 120,000 pounds per eligible person, per authorised firm, from 85,000 pounds, according to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The FSCS also protects temporary high balances of up to 1.4 million pounds for up to six months, according to the FSCS. In the 2026 to 2027 tax year the maximum that can be saved in ISAs is 20,000 pounds, according to GOV.UK. |
