The best cash ISAs this week

The market-leading rate paid by an easy access ISA plummeted by 0.30 percentage points over the past week, much to the dismay of savers. It can now be found from Principality BS with its Online Bonus 5 Access ISA (Issue 5) offering 4.40% AER yearly (inclusive of a 1.70% bonus for 12 months). This account can be opened and managed online with a £1 minimum deposit; as its name suggests, it permits five withdrawals per tax-year via a nominated account. Furthermore, as a flexible ISA, you can replace any withdrawn funds without it counting towards your annual ISA allowance but bear in mind any further additions must also take place using a nominated account.

That being said, the Cash ISA Promo Rate from Trading 212 may better suit savers who regularly dip into their pot as it allows an unlimited number of penalty-free withdrawals. Despite a recent rate reduction, it pays a highly competitive 4.38% AER monthly - inclusive of a 0.53% bonus which applicants via Moneyfactscompare.co.uk will receive when opening the account online or by mobile app with a £1 minimum deposit by 8 September 2025. It can then be managed via the same means and also follows flexible ISA rules. But, 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).

Alternatively, Vida Savings’ Defined Access ISA Issue 2 offers the same rate either monthly or on anniversary and may appeal to those looking for returns that aren’t bolstered by an introductory bonus. After opening online with a slightly larger £500 minimum deposit, this account can additionally be managed via mobile app. While further contributions are accepted using a nominated account (and are subject to flexible ISA rules), note a lower rate of 2.50% AER applies if you make more than four withdrawals per year.

Otherwise, the next best rate can be found from app-based savings provider, Plum, with its Plum Cash ISA paying 4.35% AER monthly. Although this account can be opened with a single pound deposit, its headline rate is inclusive of a 1.31% AER 12-month bonus which only applies to balances of £100 or more. Any time the funds in your account fall below this threshold, or if you exceed three penalty-free withdrawals within a year, you’ll receive a lower rate of 3.04% AER. Likewise, you’ll forfeit the introductory bonus and receive the same rate if you transfer in an existing ISA.

The best fixed cash ISA rates

Those worried about whether variable rates will fall further and who don’t mind having limited access to their cash could consider a fixed ISA. Chetwood Bank continues to offer the best rate for a one-year fixed ISA with its HL Active Savings – 1 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA paying 4.32% AER when it matures on 11 September 2026. A £1,000 minimum deposit is needed to open and manage this account online via the Hargreaves Lansdown Active Savings platform. However, this amount should be considered carefully as further additions are prohibited, and early access is only available upon account closure subject to 90 days’ loss of interest.

Meanwhile, the 2 Year Fixed Rate ISA from Vida Savings continues to offer the best two-year fixed ISA rate at 4.22% AER. After opening online with a £100 minimum deposit, it can additionally be managed via mobile app and pays interest either monthly or on anniversary. Any further contributions are accepted for 21 days, while early access is only available subject to 180 days’ loss of interest. Both transactions require the use of a nominated account.

The same rate is also available from United Trust Bank’s Cash ISA 2 Year Bond after it raised returns on selected products. This similarly saw its Cash ISA 3 Year Bond increased to offer the market-leading three-year fixed ISA rate of 4.23% AER. Both accounts pay interest on anniversary after opening online with a more substantial £5,000 minimum deposit – further additions to which are permitted using a nominated account for 14 days. While early access (also via a nominated account) is subject to 270 and 320 days’ loss of interest, respectively, these accounts offer the opportunity to withdraw accrued interest annually on anniversary.

Elsewhere, the 5 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA Bond Issue 62 from Shawbrook Bank continues to offer the most competitive five-year fixed ISA rate and may appeal to those wanting to secure guaranteed returns for longer. It pays 4.25% AER either monthly or on anniversary after opening online with a £1,000 minimum deposit. The account can then additionally be managed over the phone and, unusually, accepts further contributions without restriction. As for early access, this is permitted subject to a 360-day loss of interest penalty.

The best notice cash ISA rates

Despite offering variable rates that are subject to change at short notice, top returns on notice ISAs held steady for another consecutive week. Harpenden BS’s Online 14 Days’ ISA Account (Issue 1) continues to pay 4.04% AER yearly and thereby leads our chart for accounts that require up to 30 days’ notice before making a withdrawal. It can be opened and managed online with a £1,000 minimum deposit – further additions to which are permitted without restriction. But, as there’s no option for earlier access, you’ll need to serve the full 14-day notice period before getting hands on your cash.

Similarly, the Notice 60 Cash ISA from The Stafford BS continues to offer the best rate for an up to 60-day notice account at 4.35% AER. A smaller deposit of £100 is needed to open this account online, in branch or by post. You can then continue to manage it either in branch or by post and make further additions without restriction. However, keep in mind only four withdrawals are permitted per year which are all subject to serving the full 60 days’ notice (as earlier access is prohibited).