Savings Accounts

There are two tables: the first table only shows accounts that meet our strict criteria:

  • High interest rate - to maximise your return
  • Instant or near-instant access - to pay credit card bill promptly.
  • No penalty or limit for withdrawals
  • The account can be managed by internet or phone.
  • If a maximum holding amount exists, it is at least £30,000
  • Introductory rates are ignored
  • Minimum interest rate of 5.50% AER

The second shows accounts that have restrictions. e.g. the rate may be an introductory rate or there may be limitations on the withdrawals. The minimum interest rate in this table is 5.75% AER

Company Account AER Min Max Notes
Market Harborough BSOnthedot 23.50%£1£150k Late Jan - currently unavailable. Down from 4.15 12/1/9
Yorkshire BSInternet Saver3.25%£1£1m Down from 3.75% 1/2/09
The AAInternet Saver 13.07%£1£5m Interest must be paid into another account. Down from 3.59 1/2/9
AKBankEasy access3.00%£1£ Rate down from 4.0 on 23/01/09 Phone only
ICICIHISave2.95%£1£ Down from 3.55 early Feb 09
Northern Rocke-Saver2.90%£1£250K Down from 3.65 15/1/09
Newcastle BSNet Savings 72.84%£250£250k Down from 3.34 early Feb 09
Intelligent FinanceiSaver2.75%£1£ Reduced from 3.25 on 1/2/09
Principality BSeSaver2.55%£1£1m Down from 3.07% 1/2/09. Initial deposit by cheque
TescoInternet Saver2.50%£1£100k 12 month bonus removed. Down from 3.6 5/2/9
Anglo Irish BankEasy Access 32.50%£500£ Down from 4.55 on 9/01/09
Birmingham & MidshiresDirect Internet Savings2.40%£1£2m Down from 3.15% 16/01/09
Birmingham & Midshirese-Saver (2)2.35%£1£5m Reduced from 3.38 on 2/2/09
Birmingham & MidshiresEasy Internet Savings2.25%£1£2m Down from 2.75 1/2/09
BMW FinanceeSaver2.25%£1£1m Down from 3.25% early Jan 09
SainsburyInternet Saver1.75%£1£ Down from 2.25 9/01/09
Capital OneBase Beater1.55%£1£ Down from 2.05 % 2/2/9. Base rate guarantee to July 2010
Accounts which meet most criteria but have restrictions
Company Account AER Min Max Notes / Restrictions
ICICIHiSave Fixed Rate Account4.30%£1000£ Fixed rate 4.3% for 12 months or 3.25% for 6 months. No withdrawals
Citibank (Egg)Egg internet3.50%£1£100k Incl 2% variable bonus for first 12 months. Nex cust only
ING DirectSavings3.50%£1£1m Rate effective 15/1/09. Inc 1.46% bonus for 1 year
Bradford & BingleyeSavings (6)3.10%£1K£2M Includes 12 month bonus of 1%. Rate down from 3.6 1/2/9
AbbeyInstant access Saver 23.00%£1000£2m Down from 3.5 Feb 09. Includes 1% bonus for 12 months. Phn & branch
Capital OneBonus Saver 32.55%£500£1m 0.8% bonus for 12 months. New customers only. Down from 3.05 Feb 09
Anglo Irish Bank7 day notice issue 32.55%£500£ Down from 4.65% 9/01/09
Alliance & LeicestereSaver Issue 32.50%£1£500K No interest in month of withdrawal (except Feb). Down from 4 2/2/9
Post OfficeInstant Saver2.25%£500£1m Includes 1.5% bonus for 1 year. Max 6 free withdrawals. Down from 2.75 late Jan
The AATelephone Access 12.06%£500£500k 0.2% bonus for 6 months. Rate down from 2.57 1/2/9
BarclayseSavings Reward1.76%£1£2m Incl 0.75% intro for 12 months. Interest reduced in month of withdrawal. Down Fe


Table | Savings Accounts |

What about cash mini-ISAs?

A cash mini-ISA is a special savings account in which the Government allows you to save up to £3600 per annum without paying tax on the interest earned. This means that a Stoozer could use it for the first £3600 of their Stooz money in any one year, thus earning interest without tax.

However, once you have paid £3600 into the account, you can not pay any more into the account in the same tax year ... even if you have withdrawn the original money paid in, so only use an ISA for your Stooz Pot if you are not already planning to use one for your normal savings. Besides, most Stoozers would hope to be able to build a stooz pot well in excess of £3,600! ISAs sometimes have interest rates a little higher than normal savings accounts, but we have excluded them from our tables because of the low maximum investment.

If you think that we have missed any useful stoozing accounts, why not tell us in the forums. Click HERE For details on the current Bank of England Base Rates