Your Bank Has Been Quietly Keeping Your Money. Here Is Exactly How Much And Where It Should Actually Be.
Your Bank Has Been Quietly Keeping Your Money. Here Is Exactly How Much
And Where The Best Rates Actually Are.
Week of 26 May 2026 — Updated every Monday morning by March
March is an information service published by Cedrik Ltd. We are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and we do not give financial advice. Everything on this page is for informational and educational purposes only. Always verify rates and provider details directly with the provider before making any financial decision. You can check any provider on the FCA Financial Services Register at register.fca.org.uk.
Most people in the UK are sitting in savings accounts their bank set up for them years ago. They trusted their bank. They never looked again. And their bank never called to tell them there was something better available.
That is not an accident. That is a business model.
Banks make more money when you stay in a low rate account. They spend millions acquiring new customers with attractive headline rates — and then quietly let those rates drift down for existing loyal customers who never check. The people who shop around earn significantly more. The people who do not fund the difference.
March exists to change that. Every Monday we go through the entire market — high street banks, digital challengers, building societies — and publish the information in one place so you can make your own informed decisions. Here is what the market looks like this week.
FIRST — HOW MUCH IS YOUR BANK ACTUALLY KEEPING FROM YOU?
Before we get to the rates take a look at these numbers. Find your balance in the table below and see what the gap between a typical high street rate and the best available rate looks like in pounds and pence every year.
On £5,000: At a typical high street rate of 1.75% — £87.50 a year in interest At the best available easy access rate of 4.75% — £237.50 a year in interest Annual difference — £150
On £10,000: At 1.75% — £175 a year in interest At 4.75% — £475 a year in interest Annual difference — £300
On £20,000: At 1.75% — £350 a year in interest At 4.75% — £950 a year in interest Annual difference — £600
On £50,000: At 1.75% — £875 a year in interest At 4.75% — £2,375 a year in interest Annual difference — £1,500
These figures are illustrative and based on a simple interest calculation using the rates shown. Actual returns will vary depending on the account, provider and how interest is calculated and compounded.
Want to calculate the figure for your specific balance and current rate? The free March interest calculator lets you do exactly that in 30 seconds.
👉 marchcalculator.carrd.co — free, no email required
THIS WEEK’S BEST RATES
Every rate below has been researched and verified this week using the sources listed at the bottom of this page. All providers featured are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. All accounts carry FSCS protection. You can verify any provider on the FCA Financial Services Register at register.fca.org.uk before opening an account.
Rates change frequently. Always check the current rate directly with the provider before making any decision.
EASY ACCESS — ACCOUNTS WITH NO WITHDRAWAL RESTRICTIONS
These accounts allow you to deposit and withdraw your money at any time without penalty. The interest rate is variable and can change at any time.
Top rate this week: 4.75% AER
Tembo Money — HomeSaver Rate: 4.75% AER variable Minimum deposit: £10 Access: Unlimited withdrawals, app only, via nominated account Bonus included: Yes — the headline rate includes a 1.75% bonus for the first 12 months. The rate changes after the bonus period ends. Full terms at tembomoney.com FSCS protected: Yes — up to £120,000 per person. Tembo Money is not a bank. Your money is held with Tembo’s partner banks including Barclays and Bank of Scotland which are individually FSCS protected. Check tembomoney.com for the full list of partner banks and how funds are distributed. FCA authorised: Yes — FRN 928010. Verify at register.fca.org.uk Full details at: tembomoney.com
Also in this category: Chase — Saver Account Rate: Variable — check current rate at chase.co.uk Minimum deposit: None specified Access: App only, unlimited withdrawals, £25,000 daily external transfer limit on withdrawals Bonus included: Yes — check current bonus terms at chase.co.uk before opening FSCS protected: Yes — up to £120,000 per person FCA authorised: Yes — Chase is a trading name of J.P. Morgan Europe Limited, authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and PRA. Verify at register.fca.org.uk Full details at: chase.co.uk
Also in this category: Spring — Special Edition Easy Saver Rate: 4.30% AER variable Minimum deposit: £10 Access: App only, via nominated account Bonus included: Check current terms before opening FSCS protected: Yes — up to £120,000 per person FCA authorised: Yes — verify at register.fca.org.uk Full details at: Check moneyfactscompare.co.uk for current availability
For context — what some of the major high street banks are currently paying on easy access accounts:
Barclays Everyday Saver — approximately 1.16% AER HSBC Flexible Saver — approximately 1.75% AER Lloyds Easy Saver — approximately 1.40% AER NatWest Instant Saver — approximately 1.75% AER
These are approximate figures based on published rates at time of writing. Always check your current rate directly with your bank.
March notes: The top easy access rate in the market this week is 4.75% AER from Tembo Money. The headline rate includes a 1.75% bonus for the first 12 months — savers may wish to note when the bonus period ends and check what the rate changes to at that point. Tembo Money is app only. Chase is also app only with a £25,000 daily external transfer limit on withdrawals which may be relevant for savers with larger balances.
CASH ISA — TAX FREE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS
A cash ISA is a savings account where all interest earned is free from income tax. Every UK adult aged 18 or over receives a £20,000 ISA allowance at the start of each tax year. Unused allowance cannot be carried forward to the following tax year.
The 2026/27 tax year is the last year the full £20,000 ISA allowance applies for most people — from April 2027 it is due to reduce to £12,000 for most people under 65. Savers may wish to be aware of this when considering their ISA contributions this year.
Whether a cash ISA is appropriate for your circumstances depends on your individual tax position and savings goals. March does not give financial advice. If you are unsure whether a cash ISA is right for you please consult a qualified financial adviser.
Top easy access ISA rate this week: 4.33% AER
Moneybox — Cash ISA Rate: 4.33% AER variable Minimum deposit: £1 Access: Easy access, flexible, penalty free withdrawals Bonus included: Yes — check current bonus terms at moneyboxapp.com before opening FSCS protected: Yes — up to £120,000 per person via FSCS protected partner banks. Check moneyboxapp.com for details of how your funds are held and protected. FCA authorised: Yes — authorised and regulated by the FCA. Verify at register.fca.org.uk Full details at: moneyboxapp.com
One year fixed ISA: 4.66% AER
Vanquis Bank — 1 Year Fixed Rate ISA Rate: 4.66% AER fixed for 12 months Minimum deposit: Check at vanquisbank.co.uk Access: Locked for 12 months. Early withdrawal may incur a penalty. Check full terms before opening. FSCS protected: Yes — up to £120,000 per person FCA authorised: Yes — Vanquis Bank is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and PRA. FRN 221156. Verify at register.fca.org.uk Full details at: vanquisbank.co.uk
Two year fixed ISA: 4.72% AER
Secure Trust Bank — 2 Year Fixed Rate ISA Rate: 4.72% AER fixed for 24 months Minimum deposit: Check at securetrustbank.com Access: Locked for 24 months. Early withdrawal may incur a penalty. Check full terms before opening. FSCS protected: Yes — up to £120,000 per person FCA authorised: Yes — Secure Trust Bank PLC is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and PRA. Listed on the London Stock Exchange. Verify at register.fca.org.uk Full details at: securetrustbank.com
Important: There is a separate unauthorised firm called Secure Trust and Finance which the FCA has issued a warning about. This is entirely separate from Secure Trust Bank PLC — a legitimate fully authorised UK bank established in 1952 and listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2011. Always verify any provider at register.fca.org.uk before opening an account.
Big name easy access ISA: 4.21% AER
Bank of Ireland UK — Easy Access Cash ISA Rate: 4.21% AER variable Minimum deposit: Check at bankofireland.co.uk Access: Easy access FSCS protected: Yes — up to £120,000 per person FCA authorised: Yes — authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and PRA. Verify at register.fca.org.uk Full details at: bankofireland.co.uk
For context — what some of the major high street banks are currently paying on their cash ISAs:
Barclays cash ISA — approximately 1.66% AER Halifax ISA Saver Variable — approximately 1.75% AER NatWest cash ISA — approximately 1.80% AER
Approximate figures — always verify directly with your bank.
March notes: The top easy access ISA rate in the market this week is 4.33% AER from Moneybox. The top one year fixed ISA rate is 4.66% AER from Vanquis Bank. The top two year fixed ISA rate is 4.72% AER from Secure Trust Bank. Savers considering a fixed ISA may wish to note that access to funds is restricted for the full fixed term and early withdrawal may incur a penalty. Always check the full terms and conditions directly with the provider before opening any account.
For context — at 4.33% AER on a £20,000 ISA balance a saver would earn approximately £866 in interest over a year. At a typical high street ISA rate of 1.75% AER on the same balance a saver would earn approximately £350. These figures are illustrative only. Actual returns will vary.
ONE YEAR FIXED RATE BONDS — GUARANTEED RATE FOR 12 MONTHS
A fixed rate bond locks your money away for a set period in exchange for a guaranteed interest rate. You cannot access your funds before the end of the term without a penalty. These accounts are suitable for money you are confident you will not need to access for the full fixed term.
Top one year fixed bond this week: 4.80% AER
AlRayan Bank — Meteor Savings 1 Year Fixed Term Deposit Rate: 4.80% AER on maturity Minimum deposit: £1,000 Access: No access for 12 months. Early withdrawal is not permitted. Only consider opening with money you are confident you will not need for the full term. FSCS protected: Yes — up to £120,000 per person FCA authorised: Yes — AlRayan Bank PLC is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and PRA. Verify at register.fca.org.uk Full details at: meteorsavings.co.uk
Important note: AlRayan Bank operates under Sharia compliant Islamic banking principles. The return is described as an expected profit rate rather than interest — this reflects the ethical principles of Islamic finance rather than any difference in the return received. AlRayan Bank is the oldest and largest Islamic bank in the UK, established in 2004, fully UK authorised and FSCS protected. Savers who prefer a conventional fixed bond may wish to check moneyfactscompare.co.uk for the current leading conventional provider.
For savers who prefer a conventional provider: Check moneyfactscompare.co.uk/savings-accounts/1-year-fixed-rate-bonds for the current leading conventional one year fixed rate. Rates in this category change week to week.
For context — what some of the major high street banks are currently paying on one year fixed bonds:
Barclays one year fixed — approximately 3.90% AER Lloyds one year fixed — approximately 3.85% AER NatWest one year fixed — approximately 3.80% AER
Approximate figures — always verify directly with the provider.
March notes: The top one year fixed bond rate in the market this week is 4.80% AER from AlRayan Bank via the Meteor Savings platform. For context — at 4.80% AER on £10,000 a saver would earn approximately £480 over 12 months. At a typical high street one year fixed rate of 3.85% AER on the same balance a saver would earn approximately £385. These figures are illustrative only. Savers should note that fixed rate bonds do not permit early access to funds and should carefully consider whether a fixed term account is appropriate for their circumstances before opening one.
THIS WEEK’S MARKET CONTEXT
The Bank of England base rate currently sits at 3.75% following a cut in December 2025. Further adjustments to the base rate are possible in 2026. When the base rate changes savings providers typically adjust their variable rates in response — though the timing and extent of any changes varies by provider. Fixed rate accounts are unaffected by base rate changes for the duration of their fixed term.
Savers may wish to consider how potential future base rate changes could affect the accounts they hold or are considering opening. March publishes this information every Monday so savers can stay informed about how the market is moving.
BEFORE YOU CONSIDER SWITCHING — UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS
New to switching savings accounts? Here is a plain English explanation of the key terms and concepts on this page.
AER — Annual Equivalent Rate The standard way savings rates are displayed in the UK. It shows how much interest you will earn over a full year as a percentage of your balance. Always compare accounts using AER — it is the only fair like for like comparison.
FSCS — Financial Services Compensation Scheme Since 1 December 2025 the FSCS protects eligible deposits up to £120,000 per person per authorised UK financial institution — increased from the previous limit of £85,000. For joint accounts the limit is £240,000. The limit applies to the total held with that institution across all accounts — not per account separately. If two banks share a banking licence your combined FSCS protection is £120,000 across both. Always verify at register.fca.org.uk.
Temporary high balances — such as the proceeds of a property sale, an inheritance or a redundancy payment — are protected up to £1.4 million for up to six months. After six months the standard £120,000 limit applies.
Bonus rates A temporarily higher rate offered to attract new customers. After the bonus period — usually 12 months — the rate reverts to a lower level. March always notes when a rate includes a bonus.
Easy access accounts Accounts that allow deposits and withdrawals at any time without penalty. The interest rate is variable and can change at any time.
Fixed rate bonds Accounts where money is locked away for a set period with a guaranteed interest rate. Early withdrawal is typically not permitted or incurs a penalty.
Cash ISAs Savings accounts where all interest earned is free from income tax. Every UK adult receives a £20,000 annual ISA allowance.
Personal Savings Allowance Basic rate taxpayers can earn up to £1,000 in savings interest tax free each year. Higher rate taxpayers receive a £500 allowance. Additional rate taxpayers receive no personal savings allowance.
Whether any of these account types are appropriate for your personal circumstances is a matter for you to consider based on your own situation. March does not give financial advice. If you are unsure about any financial decision please consult a qualified financial adviser.
SOURCES MARCH USES EVERY MONDAY
All rates on this page are sourced and verified weekly using the following:
moneyfactscompare.co.uk — comprehensive UK savings rate database updated hourly thisismoney.co.uk/money/saving — rate tables updated daily moneysavingexpert.com/savings — Martin Lewis’s savings rate tables money.co.uk/savings-accounts — broad market comparison register.fca.org.uk — FCA Financial Services Register
Rates change frequently and without notice. Always verify the current rate and full terms directly with the provider before opening any account. The rates shown on this page were correct at time of publication but may have changed.
SEE YOUR EXACT NUMBER
Want to see how the gap between your current rate and the best available rate translates into pounds for your specific balance? The free March interest calculator shows you in 30 seconds.
No email. No signup. Just the numbers.
WANT THIS IN YOUR INBOX EVERY MONDAY?
This page is free and updated every week. The full March weekly alert goes further.
Every Monday paid subscribers receive:
The full weekly rate alert — every top account across every category with March’s notes on each one including terms, catches and anything savers should be aware of before opening
The switch of the week — a detailed breakdown of one specific account that stands out in the market that week including how to open it and what to consider
Early rate change notifications — when March identifies that a rate in the market is likely to change we let paid subscribers know so they have time to consider their options
The March Space — a private community where subscribers share information about what they are doing with their savings, ask questions and discuss what is happening in the market
All for £4 a month. Cancel at any time. No minimum term.
👉 Subscribe at withmarch.co.uk
This page is updated every Monday morning. All rates shown are correct at time of publication and sourced from the providers listed above. High street bank rates shown are approximate figures based on published information at time of writing and may have changed. Always verify current rates and full terms and conditions directly with the provider before making any financial decision.
March is an information service published by Cedrik Ltd. March is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Nothing published by March constitutes financial advice or a personal recommendation. All information is published for informational and educational purposes only. Readers should consider their own circumstances and if appropriate seek independent financial advice before making any financial decision.
All providers featured on this page are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Banks and building societies are additionally authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority. Readers can verify any provider on the FCA Financial Services Register at register.fca.org.uk. March only features accounts from FCA authorised providers.
FSCS protection covers eligible deposits up to £120,000 per person per authorised UK financial institution as of 1 December 2025. For joint accounts the limit is £240,000. The FSCS limit applies to the total held across all accounts with a single authorised institution. Providers such as Tembo Money and Moneybox are not banks and hold customer funds with FSCS protected partner banks. The structure of FSCS protection for these providers differs from that of a directly authorised bank. Readers should check the specific FSCS arrangements of any account before opening.
March is published by Cedrik Ltd. ICO registration number C1939667. For any queries contact us via our Substack publication at withmarch.co.uk.