This is Money has selected five leading cash Isa products from Trading 212, Hargreaves Lansdown, Tandem Bank, RCI Bank and Moneybox for UK savers.
A cash Isa forms an important part of personal finances by protecting interest earnings from taxation as interest rates move upwards across the savings market. Savers can open an account or transfer existing funds at any time during the year, provided they are not tied to a fixed-term product.
For the 2026/27 financial year running from 6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027, the annual Isa allowance is £20,000. Starting in April 2027, the cash Isa limit will fall to £12,000 for savers under 65 years of age.
Current regulations allow transfers between stocks and shares Isas and cash Isas in either direction. However, transfers from stocks and shares Isas into cash Isas will be barred starting in April 2027.
Tax allowances and savings thresholds
Higher interest rates have pushed more savers into paying tax on their earnings. Basic-rate taxpayers receive a £1,000 annual tax-free savings allowance, while higher-rate taxpayers receive £500. Savers in the 45p tax bracket receive no allowance.
At an interest rate of 5 percent, a basic-rate taxpayer with more than £20,000 in savings will incur tax on their interest. For a higher-rate taxpayer, having more than £10,000 in savings triggers tax charges.
Transferring an existing Isa pot to a new provider can offer higher returns than searching for top rates on new contributions alone. While switching a current tax year cash Isa requires transferring the entire balance, moving previous tax year contributions offers greater flexibility.
Trading 212 easy access cash Isa
Trading 212 offers an easy-access cash Isa paying 4.51 percent interest, which requires a minimum deposit of £1 to open. The rate includes a 12-month fixed bonus of 0.91 percent for new customers using a specific link, after which the underlying rate drops to 3.6 percent.
Existing Trading 212 customers earn 3.6 percent interest paid monthly. The provider accepts transfers, applying the 0.91 percent bonus rate to contributions made during the current tax year, while previous tax year transfers receive the 3.6 percent rate.
The account is flexible, carries no withdrawal limits or interest penalties, and must be opened using the Trading 212 mobile app. Customer deposits are held in partner bank accounts with Barclays, NatWest and JPMorgan, offering Financial Services Compensation Scheme protection up to £120,000 across those providers. Savers can track the distribution of their funds across each bank inside the app.
Hargreaves Lansdown variable rate deal
Hargreaves Lansdown provides an easy-access cash Isa with a variable interest rate of 4.52 percent and a £1 minimum deposit. The account does not feature an introductory bonus rate, but Hargreaves Lansdown can alter the rate at its discretion.
The product is not a flexible Isa and features a specific transfer process. Account holders cannot transfer directly into the cash Isa; they must transfer funds into a Hargreaves Lansdown stocks and shares Isa first, open the cash Isa with £1, and then move the money over. This process cannot be completed if a saver has already used their current year allowance.
Tandem Bank fixed rate cash Isa
Digital challenger provider Tandem Bank offers a one-year fixed-rate cash Isa paying 4.67 percent interest. The account requires a £1 minimum deposit to open and accepts transfers in from other providers.
Tandem Bank operates this product as a flexible Isa. However, withdrawing money early from the fixed product incurs an interest penalty equal to 90 days of earnings.
RCI Bank two year fixed rate
RCI Bank, the banking arm of car maker Renault, pays 4.80 percent interest on its two-year fixed-rate cash Isa. The account requires an initial deposit of £1,000, accepts transfers in, and is not flexible.
Savers seeking a lower initial deposit can access a two-year fixed cash Isa from Tandem Bank at 4.74 percent with a £1 minimum. Coventry BS also offers a two-year fixed-rate cash Isa paying 4.63 percent.
Moneybox cash lifetime Isa
Moneybox provides a cash lifetime Isa paying 4.80 percent interest for savers aged 18 to 39 who are purchasing a first home or saving for retirement. The account requires a £1 minimum deposit and allows annual contributions up to £4,000, which qualify for a 25 percent government bonus.
The Moneybox rate includes a 2 percent fixed bonus for the first year, above an underlying rate of 2.8 percent. The account is available exclusively through the Moneybox app, accepts full transfers in but not partial transfers, and is not flexible.
Selection process and affiliate cashback promotions
The five favourite Isas round-up has featured weekly on This is Money since 2014. Specialist journalists select accounts based on overall terms rather than purely listing top table rates, and ask readers to report any withdrawn deals by emailing [email protected].
Products featured in the selection are chosen independently by journalists, though This is Money earns affiliate commissions when users open accounts through designated links.
Featured financial promotions accompanying the round-up include up to £200 cashback offering 5 percent cashback on investments of at least £100, and a £200 Sipp pension cashback offer for transfers of at least £20,000.
Additional promotions include up to £750 cashback when opening a savings account with at least £10,000, and a welcome bonus of up to £200 when investing £100.
