Best easy-access savings accounts in the UK: rates read 29 October 2026
Eight UK savings accounts compared on the AER each provider published, how much of it is a first-year bonus, and the limits on withdrawals.
Quick answer
On £10,000 left for 12 months, Zopa's Limited Access pot pays the most at 4.56% AER for new customers, but a fourth withdrawal in a year cuts the rate to 2.00%. Chase Saver pays 4.5% with a 12-month boost, for Chase current account holders. Among accounts with unlimited withdrawals, Chip Instant Access pays 3.51% and Kroo 3.00%. Bank Rate was 3.75% when we read them.
Key points
- Zopa Limited Access pays 4.56% AER to new customers, including a 1.06% bonus for 12 months, with three withdrawals a year.
- Chase Saver pays 4.5% AER including a 2.25% boost for 12 months, and needs a Chase current account.
- Chip Easy Access pays 3.81% and Instant Access 3.51%, each including a 12-month boost.
- Most top rates include a first-year bonus; check the rate that applies after 12 months.
- All eight are with UK banks, FSCS-protected up to £120,000 per person, per bank.
- Basic-rate taxpayers can earn £1,000 of interest a year tax-free under the Personal Savings Allowance.
What you would pay
Set your own numbers. The list below is ranked with this same calculator at our reference profile: £10,000 left untouched for 12 months at the published AER, including any first-year bonus.
- Zopa Limited Access pot 4.56%£456.00
- Chase Saver 4.50%£450.00
- Chip Easy Access 3.81%£381.00
- Chip Instant Access 3.51%£351.00
- Kroo current account 3.00%£300.00
- Zopa Access pot 2.95%£295.00
- Monzo Instant Access 2.75%£275.00
- Atom Instant Saver 2.50%£250.00
Regular published prices only. Introductory offers and tax are left out. Figures are arithmetic on the provider’s own numbers, not a recommendation.
The list, in order
Order follows the published method on How we rank. Providers cannot pay for a position.
Zopa Limited Access pot
Up to 4.56% AER for new savings customers, including a 1.06% bonus for 12 months on the first £50,000, then 3.50%.
Suits: savers who rarely need to withdraw. Watch for: a fourth withdrawal in 12 months drops the rate to 2.00% until the pot's anniversary.
- AER
- 4.56% (new customers)
- After 12 months
- 3.50%
- Withdrawals
- 3 a year
- Data as of
- 14 Sep 2026
Chase Saver
4.5% AER for new customers who open within 31 days, made of a 2.25% standard rate plus a 2.25% boost fixed for 12 months, on up to £1 million.
Suits: Chase current account holders. Watch for: you need a Chase current account, and after 12 months the rate falls to the standard 2.25%.
- AER
- 4.5% with boost
- Standard
- 2.25%
- Needs
- Chase current account
- Withdrawals
- Any time
Chip Easy Access
3.81% AER for new customers for 12 months, made of a 3.50% standard rate plus a 0.31% boost.
Suits: savers who withdraw no more than three times a year. Watch for: a fourth withdrawal in a rolling 12 months cuts the rate.
- AER
- 3.81% (12 months)
- After
- 3.50%
- Withdrawals
- 3 penalty-free a year
Chip Instant Access
3.51% AER for new customers for 12 months, made of a 3.00% standard rate plus a 0.51% boost, with no withdrawal limit stated.
Suits: savers who want unlimited access. Watch for: the rate falls to 3.00% after the first year.
- AER
- 3.51% (12 months)
- After
- 3.00%
- Withdrawals
- No limit stated
Kroo current account
3.00% AER on current account balances up to £500,000 for new customers, including a fixed 2.00% bonus for 12 months.
Suits: people who want interest without a separate savings account. Watch for: after the bonus, existing customers earn a rate 1.1% below Bank Rate.
- AER
- 3.00% (incl. 12-month bonus)
- Max balance
- £500,000
- Access
- Current account
Zopa Access pot
2.95% AER variable with unlimited withdrawals.
Suits: savers who need money at short notice. Watch for: a lower rate than Zopa's Limited Access pot.
- AER
- 2.95%
- Withdrawals
- Any time
- Data as of
- 14 Sep 2026
Monzo Instant Access
2.75% AER on Instant Access savings for free-plan customers, rising to 3.00%, 3.25% and 3.50% on the paid Extra, Perks and Max plans.
Suits: Monzo customers who want savings in the same app. Watch for: the higher rates come with a monthly plan fee.
- Free plan
- 2.75% AER
- Paid plans
- 3.00%–3.50%
- Needs
- Monzo account
Atom Instant Saver
2.50% AER variable with unlimited withdrawals, linked to a UK current account in your name.
Suits: savers who want a simple app-only easy-access account. Watch for: a £100,000 maximum across Atom's instant savers.
- AER
- 2.50%
- Effective
- 28 Oct 2026
- Max balance
- £100,000
Figures read from each provider’s own page on 29 October 2026. Interest may be taxable above your Personal Savings Allowance, except in an ISA. Bank of England Bank Rate 3.75% (held 17 Sep 2026). Reference profile: £10,000 left untouched for 12 months at the published AER, including any first-year bonus. Unranked entries publish no price that fits it.
- Moneybox — its savings page refused automated reads on 29 Oct 2026. To be confirmed by hand.
UK easy-access savings rates have moved with Bank Rate, which the Bank of England held at 3.75% on 17 September 2026. The best advertised rates usually include a first-year bonus, and some limit withdrawals.
We ranked accounts by the interest £10,000 would earn over 12 months at each provider's published AER, including any first-year bonus, using rates read from each provider's page on 29 October 2026. Withdrawal limits and conditions are shown next to each rate. See how we rank.
| Account | AER | After 12 months | Withdrawals | Interest on £10,000 for a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zopa Limited Access | 4.56% (new) | 3.50% | 3 a year | £456 |
| Chase Saver | 4.5% (boosted) | 2.25% | Any time | £450 |
| Chip Easy Access | 3.81% | 3.50% | 3 penalty-free | £381 |
| Chip Instant Access | 3.51% | 3.00% | Not limited | £351 |
| Kroo current account | 3.00% | Tracker | Any time | £300 |
| Zopa Access | 2.95% | Same | Any time | £295 |
| Monzo Instant Access | 2.75% (free plan) | Same | Any time | £275 |
| Atom Instant Saver | 2.50% | Same | Unlimited | £250 |
- Zopa Limited Access: the 4.56% includes a 1.06% bonus on the first £50,000 for new customers; a fourth withdrawal in 12 months drops the rate to 2.00%, per Zopa.
- Chase Saver: the 4.5% is for new customers who open within 31 days and includes a 2.25% boost fixed for 12 months. It needs a Chase current account, per Chase.
- Chip: both rates include a 12-month boost; Easy Access allows three penalty-free withdrawals a year.
- Monzo: higher rates of 3.00% to 3.50% come with paid plans.
The FSCS protects up to £120,000 per eligible person, per authorised firm. gov.uk sets the Personal Savings Allowance at £1,000 for basic-rate taxpayers and £500 for higher-rate.
Moneybox could not be read on 29 October 2026. The savings interest calculator works out interest for your balance and term, our guide to APY, AER and APR explains the terms, and the US comparison covers dollar savings.
Keep reading
Best high-yield savings accounts in the US: rates read 29 October 2026
Online savings accounts compared on the APY each bank published, the balance needed to earn it, and the date each rate was set.
Guide · US & UKAPY, AER and APR: how interest rates are quoted in the US and UK
What APY, AER, gross rate and APR mean, how compounding changes the numbers, and how to compare rates on the same basis.
Calculator · UK editionSavings interest calculator
The same calculator on its own page, in pounds.
Questions
What is the best easy-access savings rate?
Of the rates we read on 29 October 2026, Zopa’s Limited Access pot paid the most, at 4.56% AER for new customers, but it allows three withdrawals a year. For unlimited access, Chip Instant Access paid 3.51% for new customers. Rates are variable and the top ones include first-year bonuses.
What happens when the bonus ends?
The rate drops to the standard rate. Zopa Limited Access falls to 3.50%, Chase Saver to 2.25%, Chip Easy Access to 3.50% and Chip Instant Access to 3.00%. The calculator shows interest over longer periods using these post-bonus rates where providers publish them.
Is my savings account protected?
Each account here is with a UK bank or held through partner banks, with eligible savings FSCS-protected up to £120,000 per person, per authorised firm, since 1 December 2025. Brands that share one banking licence share one limit, so check which bank holds your money.
Do I pay tax on savings interest?
Possibly. gov.uk says the Personal Savings Allowance lets basic-rate taxpayers earn up to £1,000 of interest tax-free, higher-rate taxpayers £500, and additional-rate taxpayers nothing. Interest in a cash ISA is tax-free, and gov.uk gives the 2026–27 ISA allowance as £20,000 across all your ISAs.
What is AER?
AER, the annual equivalent rate, shows what the interest would be over a year with compounding, so accounts that pay monthly or yearly can be compared. Gross is the rate before compounding is taken into account. Our guide on APY, AER and APR explains the terms.