The best ISA rates this week 17.12.20

2020 has been a difficult year for ISA savers, with rates falling across the ISA charts throughout the year. Back in January , the top fixed rate ISA rate being offered was 2.03% AER, while a top rate of 1.36% AER was available in the easy access ISA chart and 1.40% AER in the notice ISA chart. This week saw the top fixed ISA rate standing at just 1.25% AER, meanwhile in the easy access ISA chart, the top rate this week was 0.60% AER, and 0.75% AER in the notice ISA chart. Although these rates will be a disappointment to savers, with the possibility of negative interest rates remaining, savers are urged to act quickly to secure the best rates as providers may cut rates further.

Savers should be aware that the rates below are the best rates available at 3.30pm on Thursday 17 December 2020 and, although correct at the time of publishing, they may not be available after this time.

The top rate overall in the fixed rate ISA chart this week once again came from Shawbrook Bank, which offers 1.25% gross on anniversary on its 7 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA Bond Issue 3. To open this ISA, a £1,000 minimum deposit is needed. It accepts transfers in. The ISA must be opened online but can then be managed online and by phone. There is a version of this ISA that pays interest monthly at a slightly lower gross rate of 1.24%.

The best five year fixed ISA rate this week came from UBL UK paying 1.18% gross on maturity on its 5 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA. There are versions of this ISA that pay 1.15% gross on anniversary or quarterly, and 1.14% gross monthly. All versions require a £2,000 minimum deposit to open and accept transfers in from cash ISAs. These ISAs can be opened in branch or by post but must then be managed by post.

Five ISAs offered the top-paying rate in the three year fixed ISA chart this week. Family Building Society pays 0.75% gross yearly on its 3 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA (11), which requires a £1,000 minimum deposit to open. This ISA is only available to existing customers who have had a Family Building Society ISA for at least two months. Transfers in from cash ISAs are accepted. It can be opened in branch or by post and then managed online, in branch, by post and by phone. Ford Money pays 0.75% gross on anniversary or monthly on its Fixed Cash ISA 3 Year, which requires a £500 minimum deposit to open. It accepts transfers in. This ISA can be opened online or by phone and then managed online. This ISA also has the benefit of flexible ISA status, allowing money to be withdrawn and replaced in the same tax year without it counting any further towards your annual ISA allowance. Shawbrook Bank pays 0.75% gross on anniversary or monthly on its 3 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA Bond Issue 24. A £1,000 minimum deposit is needed to open this ISA, which accepts transfers in. It must be opened online but can then be managed online and by phone. UBL UK pays 0.76% gross on maturity on its 3 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA. There are also versions of this ISA that pay 0.75% gross on anniversary, quarterly, or monthly. All versions require a £2,000 minimum deposit to open. Transfers in from cash ISAs are accepted. These ISAs can be opened in branch or by post and then managed by post. West Brom Building Society pays 0.75% gross yearly on its 3 Year Fixed Rate ISA, which requires a £1,000 minimum deposit to open. This ISA accepts transfers in. It must be opened and managed in branch.

Three ISAs pay the top two year fixed ISA rate of 0.80% gross this week. Cambridge Building Society pays 0.80% gross yearly on its Members’ 2 Year Fixed Rate ISA (Issue 3) and requires a £500 minimum deposit to open. This ISA is only available to existing customers who have held a savings or mortgage account with Cambridge Building Society for the last three months. It accepts transfers in until 5.4.21. This ISA can be both opened and managed in branch, by post and by phone. Marsden Building Society pays 0.80% yearly on its Fixed Rate Cash ISA (issue 132), which requires a £5,000 minimum deposit to open. This ISA is only available to existing members and/or those who live within certain postcodes. It accepts transfers in from cash ISAs. This ISA must be opened and managed in branch. Monmouthshire Building Society pays 0.80% gross yearly on its 2 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA – Issue 8. This ISA requires a £3,000 minimum deposit to open and accepts transfers in from cash ISAs. It can only be opened in branch, but can then be managed online, in branch and by post.

Topping the one year fixed rate ISA chart this week was Al Rayan Bank, which pays an expected profit rate of 0.65% gross quarterly on its Fixed Term Deposit Cash ISA. This ISA requires a £1,000 minimum deposit to open. It accepts transfers in for up to 30 days from account opening. This ISA can be opened online, in branch, by phone or via mobile app, and can then be managed online, in branch, by post, by phone and via mobile app.

Three ISAs had the top-paying easy access ISA rate this week. Al Rayan Bank pays an expected profit rate of 0.60% gross monthly on its Instant Access Cash ISA (Issue 2), which requires a £50 minimum deposit to open. It allows unlimited further additions and withdrawals. Transfers in are accepted. This ISA can be both opened and managed online, in branch, by post, by phone and via mobile app.

Earl Shilton Building Society pays 0.60% gross yearly on its Instant Access Cash ISA. This ISA is only available to existing members and/or locals living within certain postcodes. It requires a £10 minimum deposit to open. Further additions and withdrawals are allowed. Transfers in are not accepted. It can be both opened and managed in branch and by post. This ISA also has the benefit of flexible ISA status, allowing money to be withdrawn and replaced in the same tax year without it counting any further towards your annual ISA allowance.

Scottish Building Society pays 0.60% gross yearly on its Loyalty Cash ISA (New Customers), which requires an opening minimum deposit of £1. Further additions and withdrawals are allowed. Transfers in are accepted. This ISA can be both opened and managed in branch and by post.

The top rate in the notice ISA chart this week came from Earl Shilton Building Society, which pays 0.75% gross yearly on its 90 Day Notice Cash ISA. This ISA is only available to existing members and/or locals who live within certain postcodes. It requires a £10 minimum deposit to open. Further additions are allowed. Withdrawals are permitted subject to 90 days’ notice, or if notice is not given, earlier access is allowed on 90 days’ loss of interest. Transfers in are not permitted. This ISA can be both opened and managed in branch and by post. This ISA also has the benefit of flexible ISA status, allowing money to be withdrawn and replaced in the same tax year without it counting any further towards your annual ISA allowance.

The second-best notice ISA rate this week came from Chorley Building Society, which pays 0.60% gross yearly on its 90 Day Cash ISA on an opening minimum deposit of just £1. Further additions are allowed. Withdrawals are permitted subject to 90 days’ notice, or if notice is not given, earlier access is allowed subject to 90 days’ loss of interest. Transfers in are accepted. This ISA can be opened online, in branch or by post and then managed in branch and by post.

Both Aldermore and Marsden Building Society had the third-best notice ISA rate this week. Aldermore pays 0.55% gross on anniversary or monthly on its 30 Day Notice Cash ISA Issue 10. This ISA requires a £1,000 minimum deposit to open and allows further additions. Withdrawals are permitted subject to 30 days’ notice, or if notice is not given, earlier access is allowed subject to 30 days’ loss of interest. The ISA must be opened and managed online. This ISA also has the benefit of flexible ISA status, allowing money to be withdrawn and replaced in the same tax year without it counting any further towards your annual ISA allowance.

Marsden Building Society’s Branch Cash ISA 95 (Issue 2) pays 0.55% gross yearly on deposits of £5,000 or over. A higher rate of 0.65% gross is paid on deposits of £25,000 or more, while a lower rate of 0.45% gross is paid on deposits of £1,000. This ISA allows further additions. Withdrawals are permitted subject to 95 days’ notice, or if notice is not given, earlier access is allowed on closure only and on 95 days’ loss of interest. Cash transfers in are accepted. This ISA must be opened and managed in branch.