The best cash ISAs this week

Unfortunately for savers, the top easy access ISA rate dropped further this week after Principality BS lowered rates.

Trading 212 continues to pay 4.38% AER on its Cash ISA Promo Rate, which includes a 0.53% bonus for 12 months. This bonus rate is available to savers who open an account via Moneyfactscompare.co.uk before 16 September and deposit a minimum of £1. This ISA, which is available online or via mobile app, allows further deposits and withdrawals without restriction. Moreover, as a flexible ISA, savers can replace money they’ve previously withdrawn in the same tax-year without affecting their ISA allowance. Before opening this account, it’s important to check the provider’s partner banks to make sure your money will be covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

The Plum Cash ISA now pays 4.37% AER monthly (including a 12-month bonus of 1.33% AER), thanks to a recent rate increase from Plum. To access this bonus rate (which isn’t available to those transferring in from another ISA), savers need to deposit a minimum of £100 and not make more than three withdrawals per year. Otherwise, the standard rate of 3.04% AER will apply. This account is only available via mobile app.

Savers who won’t need to dip into their savings very often could also consider the Online Single Access ISA (Issue 1) from Harpenden BS that pays 4.31% AER yearly. This online-only account asks for a minimum opening deposit of £1 and, while further deposits are permitted without restriction, a significantly lower rate of 1.60% AER will apply if savers make more than one withdrawal per year. Note that withdrawals must be made via a nominated account.

The best fixed cash ISA rates

There’s no change in the leading one-year fixed ISA rate this week as the HL Active Savings – 1 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA from Chetwood Bank continues to pay 4.32% AER when the account matures on 25 September 2026. This account is available online via the Hargreaves Lansdown Active Savings platform and requires a £1,000 minimum opening deposit. Savers won’t be able to add to their account after this initial deposit and, to access their money before the end of the term, they will need to close their account and incur a 90-day loss of interest penalty.

Continuing to share the lead of our two-year fixed ISA chart is the Cash ISA 2 Year Bond from United Trust Bank that pays 4.22% AER, while its Cash ISA 3 Year Bond still pays the joint market-leading three-year fixed ISA rate of 4.23% AER. Savers can open these accounts online by depositing £5,000 or more and can make further contributions for the next 14 days. Once open, they can manage their account online, by phone or by post and, if they need to withdraw their money before the end of the term, this is permitted subject to a 270-day or 320-day loss of interest penalty. Interest is paid on anniversary (and can be withdrawn at this point). Note that deposits and withdrawals must be made via a nominated account.

Also paying 4.22% AER is the 2 Year Fixed Rate ISA from Vida Savings. This account requires a minimum opening deposit of just £100 and allows further deposits for 21 days after this point. Savers can open this account, which pays interest monthly or on anniversary, online and manage it online or via mobile app. Even though savers can withdraw their money before the end of the two-year term, they will incur a 180-day loss of interest penalty. As with United Trust Bank, all deposits and withdrawals require a nominated account.

After raising rates, Castle Trust Bank also pays the leading three-year fixed ISA rate of 4.23% AER on its Fixed Rate e-Cash ISA. Meanwhile, its five-year Fixed Rate e-Cash ISA pays a market-leading 4.26% AER, which is a sizeable drop from last week. Savers can open these accounts by depositing £1,000 or more, with the option to add to their savings for 14 further days. These ISAs pay interest on maturity and, if savers want to access their money before the end of the term, this is allowed subject to account closure and 270 days’ or 360 days’ loss of interest. While these ISAs are available online and via mobile app, new customers can only open an account online. As a “green” provider, Castle Trust Bank will plant a tree when one of these accounts is opened and funded.

The best notice cash ISA rates

Once again, Harpenden BS offers the leading rate on notice ISAs with a notice period of up to 30 days. Its Online 14 Days' Notice ISA Account (Issue 1), which is only available online, pays 3.79% AER yearly on a minimum opening deposit of £1,000. Savers can add to and withdraw from this ISA without restriction (via a nominated account) but should bear in mind that they will need to wait 14 days before receiving any money they withdraw.

While Aldermore continues to offer the leading rate on ISAs with a notice period of up to 60 days, this is lower than last week after the provider reduced rates. The online-only 60 Day Notice Cash ISA (Issue 8) now pays 4.16% AER monthly or on anniversary on deposits of £1,000 or more and allows savers to add to and withdraw from their account as they choose. A 60-day notice period applies for any withdrawals but, if savers want to access their money sooner, this is allowed subject to a 60-day loss of interest penalty.

Bear in mind that the leading easy access cash ISAs continue to pay higher rates of interest than these top notice ISAs.