Our savings picks: This is Money’s five favourite best buy cash Isas
Every little helps: Savings rates might be low but at least an Isa means interest is tax-free
Our assistant editor Lee Boyce picks his five favourite cash Isas for savers in 2020 – essential reading to help you choose a top savings account for your money.
This top Isa round-up has keeping our readers updated on the best savings deals since 2014 – and is kept up-to-date throughout the year – bookmark it for the very latest developments.
How an Isa works and why you should have one
Each year in April, savers are given a fresh Isa allowance that qualifies for tax-free interest.
For the 2019-20 financial year, which began on 6 April 2019, the limit is £20,000.
You can transfer Isa money whichever way you wish between an investment account to savings account, whereas previously you could only shift it from saving to investments.
Although cash Isas don’t currently offer fantastic rates, it is still worthwhile opening one to shield money away from the taxman.
Isa rules state you can only contribute to one Isa per tax year.
You can also transfer an old Isa for better returns. Here’s a quick guide to Isa saving.
It is possible to switch your current year’s cash Isa if you move the entire amount, but it is far simpler to get your choice right in the first place.
Rates are low and that makes the best Isa more important
Banks and building societies should be apologising to savers for the slim pickings on offer here.
Savings rates really are dire at the moment and unfortunately, institutions are doing little to shelter savers from the assault of the low interest rate environment.
The cut to 0.25 per cent for the base rate, launch of a new funding scheme to pump cheap money to banks, and expansion of quantitative easing, has made things even worse.
Many now ask themselves why bother?
Yet when rates are low it becomes even more important to make sure you are getting as much as you can from your savings.
We also think an Isa is still worth having, despite the new tax-free savings interest allowance of £1,000 a year for basic rate taxpayers and £500 for higher rate taxpayers.
It’s tough to get that much interest now, but one day rates will rise.
Money sheltered in an Isa will deliver a tax-free income, even above that £1,000 level and if you are building up a long-term pot, you may one day be very grateful for that.
And who knows if the personal savings allowance will be around forever – it is much more likely to disappear than the Isa wrapper.
You may also want to look into stocks and shares version of an Isa – how to choose the best (and cheapest) DIY investing Isa.
HOW WE PICK OUR FAVOURITE FIVE ISAS
Lee Boyce: This is Money’s savings expert
Our five favourite Isas round-up is a permanent feature of This is Money.
It comes complete with an explanation detailing why we’re happy to pick each account.
This page will be kept updated as and when new deals pop up or old ones get scrapped.
Our team work tirelessly to stay on top of the latest rate changes, but banks and building societies can pull deals without telling us.
If you spot a deal here that is not longer available please email us at [email protected]
Remember, you can open an Isa or transfer (provided you’re not tied to a fixed-term) at any time during the year.
Note that we don’t just copy the best rates from the savings tables – we scour the market for all-around winners.
This is a taster of the top deals. For the best rates, visit our savings rates tables, which are comprehensive and independently compiled.
Our five favourite Isas:
Leeds BS, easy-access, 1.3% [full details]
– Facts: £1,000 to open
– Transfers in: Yes
– This is Money says: This account is now to top paying easy-access rate without a bonus. It comes from Leeds Building Society and has Financial Services Compensation Scheme protection, but can only be opened and run online. If you live in Wales, you can obtain a superior 1.35 per cent easy-access rate with Swansea Building Society.
OakNorth Bank, one-year fix, 1.41% [full details]
– Facts: £1 to open
– Transfers in: Yes
– This is Money says: This London-based bank will be an unfamiliar name to most. It has FSCS protection and can only be opened and run online or via its app. Loughborough Building Society and Cynergy Bank offer 12 month bonds with paying a slightly inferior 1.4 per cent rate.
Coventry BS, two-year fix, 1.5% [full details]
– Facts: £1 to open
– Transfers in: Yes
– This is Money says: Coventry Building Society tops the two year charts alongside Al-Rayan Bank and OakNorth. This account can be opened in branch, online, on the telephone or by post.
Yorkshire BS, easy-access*, 1.3% [full details]
– Facts: £100 to open
– Transfers in: Yes
– This is Money says: This account from Yorkshire Building Society equals the top deal from Leeds Building Society (mentioned above). However, money can only be accessed on one designated day per year. You can open an account online, in branch or by post.
Coventry BS, five-year fix, 1.75% [full details]
– Facts: £1 to open
– Transfers in: Yes
– This is Money says: This is the best rate you can get on an Isa – but it requires fixing for five years. This account can be opened in branch, online, on the telephone or by post.
THIS IS MONEY’S FIVE OF THE BEST SAVINGS DEALS