This week's top ISAs explained

The best easy access cash ISA rates

Sidekick remains at the top of our easy access ISA chart for another week, continuing to pay 4.66% AER monthly (inclusive of a 1.43% six-month bonus) on its app-only Cash ISA. This headline rate is only available on new deposits and is applicable to balances of up to £20,000. However, a much lower rate of 3.23% AER applies on balances above this. After the account has been funded, savers have unlimited, penalty-free access to their money and, what’s more, as a flexible ISA, they can replace any money withdrawn within the same tax-year without impacting their ISA allowance. Those looking to transfer an existing ISA could benefit from the opportunity to receive a cash bonus of up to £500 for switching to Sidekick’s Cash ISA, but Ts&Cs apply. However, if the account is transferred out before the end of the offer period the bonus will be lost. For more information on how this works and how to qualify, head to the provider’s website.

After a hike, Progressive BS’s 1 Year Double Access Cash ISA Account (Issue 19) and Online 1 Year Double Access Cash ISA (Issue 4) sit in second place on our chart paying a highly attractive flat rate of 4.60% AER yearly. Both can be opened with a small £1 minimum deposit, the former in branch or by post and the latter online. Further additions are allowed without restriction, but savers can only make up to two withdrawals per tax-year (via a nominated account for the online version) and these ISAs will revert into an instant access cash ISA if more are made.

Following an increase, Trading 212’s Cash ISA Promo Rate now features in third place on our chart, paying 4.53% AER monthly (inclusive of a 0.93% 12-month bonus) to new customers who apply via Moneyfactscompare.co.uk by 6 September. When applying, customers might need to enter the promo code “MFC”. Available online or via mobile app with a minimum deposit of £1, this account, which follows flexible ISA rules, allows savers to add to and withdraw from their pots without restriction.

The best fixed cash ISA rates

The leading return on a one-year ISA has increased this week, thanks to a hike from Isbank. The provider’s 1 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA via Meteor Savings pays 4.80% AER on maturity and is accessible online via the Meteor Savings platform with a deposit of £1,000 or more. Savers should consider their opening amount carefully as no further additions are allowed and early access is on closure only subject to no interest being paid.

Savers might be disappointed to see the top two-year ISA rate has dipped slightly this week, with Close Brothers Savings now one of two providers occupying first place. Its 2 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA pays 4.76% AER yearly, meanwhile Close Brothers Savings’ 3 Year and 5 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISAs offering 4.78% AER and 4.85% AER yearly additionally occupy first place on our three- and five-year ISA charts. All ISAs can be opened online with a sizeable minimum deposit of £10,000, after which they accept further contributions for 10 days and can also be managed by post or over the phone. If savers want early access to their money, this is on closure only subject to a respective 150-, 270-, and 365-day loss of interest penalty.

Joining Close Brothers Savings in offering 4.76% AER yearly (until 30 November 2028) on our two-year ISA chart is Hinckley & Rugby BS’s Fixed Rate Cash ISA – until 30 November 2028. Accessible in branch or via post with an opening deposit of £500 or more, once funded there’s the extra option to manage the account over the phone. Further additions aren’t permitted and early access is subject to a 180-day loss of interest penalty.

Also paying the leading rate of 4.85% AER on our five-year ISA chart this week is Leek Building Society. The provider’s 5 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA pays interest on anniversary and can be opened online, in branch or by post with a minimum opening deposit of £1,000 and can be added to for 14 more days. However, early access is on closure only subject to a 365-day loss of interest penalty.

The best notice cash ISA rates

In contrast, there’s been no change to the leading notice ISA rates this week.

Continuing to top the up to 30 day notice ISA sector is Dudley BS’s 30 Day Notice Cash ISA 4 and 30 Day Notice Cash ISA Online Issue 3 paying 3.70% AER yearly on a minimum opening deposit of £100. The former is available in branch or via post while the latter is accessible online (as its name suggests). Savers can add to their pots without restriction, but if they want to withdraw any money, they can either get early access subject to a 30-day loss of interest penalty or wait the 30-day notice period to get their cash penalty-free. Note that transfers in must be from a minimum of £100.

Alternatively, for a longer wait, The Stafford BS tops our up to 60- and up to 90-day notice chart paying a higher 4.00% AER and 4.10% AER yearly, respectively. Similarly, a £100 minimum deposit is needed to open these ISAs online, in branch or by post but  after funding they must be managed in branch or by post only. Further additions can be made as and when savers like, however, only four withdrawals are permitted per society year (which runs between 1 November and 31 October). Early access isn’t allowed, so savers will face a respective 60- and 90-day wait before getting their hands on their withdrawn money.

Note that none of these notice ISAs pay higher rates than the top returns on an easy access ISA.