The best cash ISAs – January 2025
The best cash ISAs can help you make the most of your tax-free savings. Here are the top easy-access and fixed ISA rates to grow your money
The rates on many of the best cash ISAs have disappeared alongside savings accounts after the Bank of England cut interest rates twice in 2024. So you will need to act fast to get the top rates before they get pulled.
The good news is that some cash ISAs are still returning inflation-busting rates above 4.75%, so it's worth checking if you're making full use of your £20,000 ISA allowance.
A stocks and shares ISA is a good option for long-term savings, but a cash ISA may make good sense for short-term savings.
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To help you, we have rounded up the best cash ISA rates on the market today.
The best cash ISAs: easy access
Easy access cash ISAs do what they say on the tin, letting you access your savings without penalty.
ACCOUNT | AER | MINIMUM INVESTMENT | FLEXIBLE ISA |
Moneybox Cash ISA | 5% | £500 | N |
Plum ISA | 4.93% | £100 | N |
Trading 212 Cash ISA | 4.9% | £1 | Y |
The best cash ISAs: one-year fixed rate
If you’re happy to lock your cash away without any withdrawals for a year, then you're guaranteed that return for one year until your fixed term ends.
Account | AER | Minimum investment | Notes |
Shawbrook Bank 1 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA | 4.53% | £1,000 | Open online |
Virgin Money 1 Year Fixed Rate Cash E-ISA | 4.52% | £1 | Open online |
Charter Savings Bank 1 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA | 4.49% | £5,000 | Open online |
The best cash ISAs: two-year fixed rate
If you have savings you’re happy to lock away for at least two years, you’ll find rates on cash ISAs in the 4% region.
Account | AER | Minimum investment | Notes |
Kent Reliance two year fixed rate cash ISA | 4.42% | £1,000 | Open online or in branch |
Close Brothers 2 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA | 4.39% | £10,000 | Open online |
Shawbrook Bank 2 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA | 4.38% | £1,000 | Open online |
The best cash ISAs: three-year fixed rate
Account | AER | Minimum investment | Notes |
Hodge Bank 3 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA | 4.37% | £1,000 | Open online |
UBL 3 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA | 4.37% | £2,000 | Open online, via post or in branch |
Shawbrook Bank 3 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA | 4.34% | £1,000 | Open online |
What you need to know about the best cash ISAs
When choosing a cash ISA, there are two main factors to look out for: how long you are comfortable locking your cash up for and the interest rate.
- Easy access ISA accounts allow you to withdraw funds without incurring a penalty.
- Fixed-rate cash ISAs offer a fixed rate of return – usually higher the longer you are prepared to lock your money away. But note: if you withdraw money before the end of the term, then you are likely to be penalised, usually with a reduction in the rate of interest.
Generally speaking, the longer you leave the money untouched, the more interest you can earn. Many ISAs are classed as ‘flexible’, meaning you can replace any funds you withdraw in the same tax year without affecting your annual ISA allowance – which is currently £20,000.
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Oojal has a background in consumer journalism and is interested in helping people make the most of their money.Oojal has an MA in international journalism from Cardiff University, and before joining MoneyWeek, she worked for Look After My Bills, a personal finance website, where she covered guides on household bills and money-saving deals.Her bylines can be found on Newsquest, Voice Wales, DIVA and Sony Music, and she has explored subjects ranging from politics and LGBTQIA+ issues to food and entertainment.Outside of work, Oojal enjoys travelling, going to the movies and learning Spanish with a little green owl.
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