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Best Monthly Interest Savings Accounts

There are a number of savings accounts that pay monthly interest, including easy access accounts, notice accounts and fixed rate bonds. Monthly interest accounts could be appealing to savers who want their savings interest to supplement their income. 

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How does a monthly interest savings account work?

A monthly interest savings account works like any standard savings account, except it pays interest on a monthly basis. Other savings accounts may pay interest quarterly, yearly, on anniversary or on maturity of a fixed term, for example.

Some providers allow you to choose how you have interest paid while others will only pay interest in one way.

With a monthly interest account, the provider pays the interest due on a specified day each month. They may pay it back into your savings account (which means you can earn interest on top of the interest you’ve earned, known as compounding) or you may be able to have it paid into an account of your choice.

For example...

Let’s say you deposited a £10,000 lump sum into a monthly interest account paying a 5.00% gross interest.

As this rate calculates your earnings for the year, dividing it by 12 shows your monthly interest which in this case would be 0.417%.

Therefore, you’d earn £41.70 in interest for the first month (10,000 times 0.417%).

However, thanks to the effects of compounding, the next month you’d be adding the 0.417% to the previous month’s interest (£41.70+0.417%), so your earnings would increase to £41.87 and would continue growing exponentially each month, assuming you left the interest in the account.

For this reason, you’ll often see interest quoted as the Annual Equivalent Rate (AER), which takes monthly compounding into account and shows your true earnings over one year. In this case the AER would be about 5.12%.

What savings accounts pay monthly interest?

A range of savings accounts can pay interest monthly, including easy access accounts, notice accounts and fixed bonds.

However, not all providers give you the option of having interest paid monthly.

You can view the savings accounts that can pay interest monthly on the chart above.

It’s worth noting that Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) can also pay interest monthly.

 

Why save into a monthly interest account?

The choice to receive interest monthly will largely come down to your financial situation and how you plan to use your savings. It’s therefore a good idea to consider the pros and cons.

Pros and cons of monthly interest accounts

  • You can use the interest you earn to supplement your income each month.
  • If you choose to have interest compounded (instead of paid out into another account), you will earn interest on the interest already paid. This could significantly boost your savings over time.
  • If you have a fixed bond, having interest paid monthly into a nominated account means you don’t need to wait a year or until the end of the fixed term to receive this money.
  • If you choose to have interest paid into another account, instead of compounded, you will earn less interest than if it was paid back into the savings account.
  • The top rates may not necessarily come from accounts that pay interest monthly.

Monthly vs annual interest

The only difference between monthly and annual interest savings accounts is that the former pays interest each month while the latter pays it each year.

Neither option is necessarily better than the other. The way you choose to have interest paid is up to you and your individual requirements.

If you want the interest paid back into your savings account, it shouldn’t make much difference whether the provider pays interest monthly or annually as both options will pay interest on top of the interest you’ve already earned. This is known as compounding interest.

However, if you have interest paid into a nominated account each month, such as your current account, you won’t earn interest on this sum. As a result, you would earn less interest than if the savings provider paid interest yearly.

When looking at monthly interest savings accounts, you may notice that the gross rate is slightly lower than the AER. This is because the AER assumes that interest is compounded (paid back into the savings account), whereas the gross interest rate does not.

The AER helps you to compare accounts that pay interest in different ways on a like-for-like basis.

 

How to choose the best monthly interest account

As with all types of savings, choosing the best UK savings accounts with monthly interest largely comes down to your individual preferences.


These could include:


The interest rate – While it’s best not to choose an account based on the interest rate alone, this is a vital factor as it ultimately decides how much you’ll earn on your deposit. It’s therefore worth keeping an eye on the latest rates to ensure you see competitive returns.

How often you need to access your cash – If you plan to regularly dip into your pot, easy access accounts typically permit unlimited contributions and withdrawals.

How long you plan to save for – If you have longer-term savings goals, you could consider a fixed bond to lock in rates.

What is required to open the account – While some accounts can be opened from as little as £1, others could require upwards of £10,000. It’s also worth considering the method in which the account can be opened. If you prefer more conventional means of banking, for instance, make sure to exclude accounts that operate exclusively online.

The provider’s reputation – While it can be tempting to go with a bank or building society you recognise, keep in mind some of the best rates can be found with more unfamiliar brands. Challenger banks, for example, can offer higher returns as they often have lower running costs than traditional providers and offer enticing rates to attract business.

If any penalties apply – Some accounts may limit the number of withdrawals you can make in a certain period before incurring a penalty, which can be a problem if you need regular access. Similarly, you could be penalised when attempting to withdraw funds early from fixed bonds or notice accounts, so it’s always important to check the account details beforehand.

 

Our chart above shows you the latest rates available as well as account details, helping you make informed monthly savings account comparisons. Using our ‘Full Search’ filter, you can tailor your search to better help you decide which account is right for you.

Monthly interest accounts FAQs

Yes, in some cases it is possible to change the interest frequency on your savings account. However, you’ll need to check with your provider to see if your account includes this feature.

Are monthly interest accounts worth it?

Monthly interest accounts may be right for you if you plan to use your earnings to supplement your income, or if you just simply want to see the benefits of saving without waiting for a yearly interest payment.

However, keep in mind that if you withdraw interest each month, you’ll miss out on the effects of compounding, which could see you earn less than if you left returns in the account.

What is compound interest?

Compound interest is when you earn interest on the interest you’ve already earned. For example, if interest is paid back into your savings account each month, you will earn interest on this as well as on your original deposit.

Do monthly interest accounts charge fees?

Traditional savings accounts, including those offering interest monthly, don’t typically charge any fees as standard.

However, some providers may charge a fee for extra features or apply a penalty for accessing funds before the end of a fixed term or notice period.

Furthermore, some savings accounts are only available if you have a linked current account with a provider, which itself may charge a monthly fee.

Is there a minimum balance required to earn interest?

Most savings accounts require a minimum deposit to open before you can start receiving returns, but this isn’t tied to interest.

This being said, some accounts can pay different rates depending on the value of your pot and can sometimes require a minimum balance to maintain its headline rate.

How can I calculate monthly interest on savings?

To estimate the amount you could earn in interest each month, divide the annual gross rate by 12. You can then multiply this amount by your balance to see the monthly interest. If you don’t want to do the maths yourself, there are several online calculators that can help you to see how much interest you could receive on your savings. Bear in mind that any deposits, withdrawals, rate changes and the effect of compounding will affect the interest you earn.

What is the savings interest tax-free allowance for different taxpayers?

For the 2024/25 tax-year, basic-rate taxpayers can earn up to £1,000 in interest each year before paying income tax thanks to the Personal Savings Allowance (PSA). Meanwhile, for higher-rate and additional-rate taxpayers this limit falls to £500 and £0 respectively. Our guide explains more about how your savings are taxed.

Receiving interest monthly could make it easier to track your annual interest earnings to ensure you don’t breach your PSA, however, those with larger deposits may wish to consider a monthly paying ISA instead.

 

Will I still get interest if I take money out of my savings account?

Assuming you leave some money in the account, you will continue to earn interest on the remaining balance.

If interest is calculated daily, for example, your interest would be re-calculated the day after you withdraw the funds and factored into your monthly returns.

However, bear in mind that removing interest each month will limit the effects of compounding, meaning you’ll earn less over time than if you kept any interest invested.

With monthly paying accounts, you can typically decide to have interest paid to an account of your choosing or added to your existing balance to keep growing your savings through compounding interest.

If you choose the first option, your interest should be automatically deposited into the nominated account each month, but it’s worth checking with your provider.

Can two people open a monthly interest savings account together?

Yes, some monthly interest savings accounts can be opened as a joint account, making it easier to save towards a shared savings goal.

How do I find the best monthly interest rates?

Our chart above can help you find the best rates available on the market. You can filter results by rate order to see which accounts are currently offering the top returns.

If the AER is the same across the monthly and annual paying accounts, then there is no difference in the amount of interest you will earn. This is because AER takes into account the effect of monthly compounding interest.

This being said, if you wish to use your interest earnings to supplement your income, or simply want to see more immediate returns on your investment, then you may find monthly paying accounts more suitable.

Can I have more than one savings account that pays monthly interest?

Yes, there’s no limit on the amount of savings accounts you can hold at once, including those that pay interest monthly.

In fact, depending on your situation, having more than one account could make it easier to track different savings goals.

How do I get the most interest from a savings account that pays monthly?

Alongside choosing an account with a competitive rate, keeping any interest invested is one of the best ways to get the most interest from your savings account.

As previously mentioned, with compounding, interest is paid on any previous earnings as well as the original deposit. Therefore, keeping interest in the account each month will accelerate the growth of your savings.

What kind of return can I expect from a monthly interest savings account with a big deposit?

No matter how large your deposit is, your returns ultimately depend on the interest rate offered by the account. It’s therefore important to shop around for the highest paying monthly savings accounts to ensure you get the best possible returns on your investment.

For example, paying £50,000 into an account offering 3.00% AER would see you earn £125 after one month. However, depositing the same amount into an account paying a higher 5.00% AER would boost your returns to £208.50 in the same period.

What is the maximum amount I can deposit in a monthly interest savings account?

The maximum amount you can deposit into a monthly interest savings account varies depending on the provider.

You can find out more about an account’s maximum investment by selecting ‘view further details’ on each listing on our chart.

 

Is my money safe in a monthly interest account?

Your money is as safe in a monthly interest account as in any other savings account. Under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), up to £85,000 that you have saved with each provider (or multiple providers that share a banking licence) is protected.

How does the interest on a monthly interest savings account affect my tax return?

You’ll need to register for a self-assessment tax return if your income from savings or investments is over £10,000.

If you’re at risk of exceeding your limit, you may find it easier to track your interest earnings with more frequent payouts compared to having interest paid annually, however, it’s worth seeking professional advice.

Rory McGrellis Staff Photo

Rory McGrellis

Content Writer

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