18 Best savings accounts

Category: Savings
Date: 1/6/2012

Make 2012 the year you get your savings house in order! Review your savings accounts and cash ISAs to make sure you're still getting the most competitive rate.

Best buy tables are a good place to start, but even trawling through these can sometimes be too much. So we've compiled the top accounts from our best buys to give you an overview of the best savings rates available.

Fixed rate bonds

Term	Provider	Notes
1Year	AA Internet 1 Year Fixed Rate Bond 3.60% AER (Fixed for 1 year)	The top 1 year bond in the market No early access allowed Minimum investment of £1 See all best buys
2 Year	Shawbrook Bank 2 Year Fixed Rate Bond Issue 1 4.20% AER (Fixed for 2 years)	Deposit up to £1 million No early access allowed Minimum investment of £5,000 See all best buys
3 Year	Shawbrook Bank 3 Year Fixed Rate Bond Issue 1 4.45% AER (Fixed for 3 years)	Deposit up to £1 million No early access allowed Minimum investment of £5,000 See all best buys
4 Year	Shawbrook Bank 4 Year Fixed Rate Bond Issue 1 4.45% AER (Fixed for 4 years)	Deposit up to £1 million No early access allowed Minimum investment of £5,000 See all best buys
5 Year	Shawbrook Bank 5 Year Fixed Rate Bond Issue 1 4.80% AER (Fixed for 5 years)	Deposit up to £1 million No early access allowed Minimum investment of £5,000 See all best buys

Easy access accounts

Provider	Notes
Nationwide BS MySave Online Plus Issue 4 3.12% AER (includes 1.58% bonus for 12 months)	Deposit up to £3 million Only one free withdrawal each year Minimum deposit £1,000 See all best buys
Santander eSaver Issue 4 3.10% AER (includes variable bonus for 12 months, currently 2.60%)	Monthly interest available Account can only be operated online Minimum deposit £1 See all best buys
ING Direct Savings Account 3.10% AER (includes 2.56% bonus for 12 months)	Deposit up to £250K Account can only be operated online or over the phone Minimum deposit £1 See all best buys
Leeds BS Postal Bonus Saver Issue 2 3.01% AER (includes 1.51% bonus until 31.1.13)	Deposit up to £1 million Account can only be operated by post Minimum deposit £5,000 See all best buys

Fixed rate cash ISAs

Term	Provider	Notes
1Year	Leeds BS 1 Year Fixed Rate ISA Issue 29 3.25% AER (Fixed until 31.1.13)	Withdraw up to 25% of investment penalty free No ISA transfers in allowed Minimum deposit £1 See all best buys
2 Year	BM Savings 2 Year Fixed Rate ISA 3.80% AER (Fixed for 2 years)	ISA transfers in allowed Early access on up to 180 day loss of interest Minimum deposit £500 See all best buys
3 Year	Aldermore 3 Year Fixed Rate ISA 3.80% AER (Fixed for 3 years)	ISA transfers in allowed Early access on 180 day loss of interest Minimum deposit £1,000 See all best buys
4 Year	Halifax ISA Saver Fixed 4.30% AER (Fixed for 4 years)	ISA transfers in allowed Early access on closure only (subject to 320 day loss of interest) Minimum deposit £500 See all best buys
5 Year	Governor Money Bank of Ireland UK - 5 Year Fixed Rate ISA 4.50% AER (Fixed until 30.1.17)	ISA transfers in allowed Early access on closure only (subject to a breakage fee) 0.50% paid until term starts on 30.01.12 See all best buys

Variable rate cash ISAs

Provider	Notes
Newcastle BS Newcastle Bonus ISA (Issue 2) 3.05% AER (includes 0.95% bonus for 12 months)	ISA transfers in allowed 2 withdrawals allowed per year, on third withdrawal account must be closed Minimum deposit £1 See all best buys
AA Internet Access ISA (Issue 2) 3.05% AER (includes 1.35% bonus for 12 months)	No withdrawal restrictions No ISA transfers in allowed Minimum deposit £500 See all best buys
ING Direct Cash ISA 3.00% AER (includes 1.96% bonus for 12 months)	AER guaranteed to be at least 3.00% for 12 months No ISA transfers in allowed Minimum deposit £1 See all best buys
Teachers BS Cash ISA Reward 3.00% AER (includes 1.25% bonus for 12 months)	No withdrawal restrictions No ISA transfers in allowed Minimum deposit £100 See all best buys

What next?

Disclaimer: Information is correct as of the date of publication (shown at the top of this article). Any products featured may be withdrawn by their provider or changed at anytime.