Cash ISAs: The Best Currently Available List

Eirambler

For a long time it felt like there was a lot of scope for improvement in the easy access ISA market, the base rate was at 5% and the top ISA rates were down at around 4.4%. There's definitely less room for rate increases now with a number of providers offering over 5% when the base rate is 5.25%. So we're seeing them just inch past each other now by 0.01%. Coventry went to 5.05, Virgin to 5.06 and now Cynergy to 5.07.

dlevene

Eirambler said:

For a long time it felt like there was a lot of scope for improvement in the easy access ISA market, the base rate was at 5% and the top ISA rates were down at around 4.4%. There's definitely less room for rate increases now with a number of providers offering over 5% when the base rate is 5.25%. So we're seeing them just inch past each other now by 0.01%. Coventry went to 5.05, Virgin to 5.06 and now Cynergy to 5.07.

Yep, gap between top cash ISA and top easy access is also narrowing

pecunianonolet

I just wish a lot more providers would offer flexible ISAs now as well

Yellowman

pecunianonolet said:

I just wish a lot more providers would offer flexible ISAs now as well

I notice that the new Zopa Smart ISA (5.08%) is flexible but does not allow transfers in.

kidwell25

Was trying to open the Castle Trust 1 year fix this morning but I keep hitting a brick wall at the point of verification - I'm not receiving the code regardless of whether I select SMS or email, which I'd think suggests a problem at their end (but of course it's not possible to speak to anyone on a Saturday.) Has anyone succeeded today?

sheslookinhot

Sainsbury pay 4.91% on balances £500+, not 4.16% on balances £500+, as stated on page 1

Rich2808

pecunianonolet said:

I just wish a lot more providers would offer flexible ISAs now as well

Personally I would not open any instant/easy access cash ISA if it wasn't a flexible isa. It just gives you so much flexibility - meaning you can use/withdraw the funds for other purposes as long as you replace them by 5 April

All the market leading ones currently from major players - Coventry, Paragon, Skipton, Virgin etc - are all flexible.

There is a full list here

https://moneytothemasses.com/saving-for-your-future/investing/what-is-a-flexible-isa

pecunianonolet

Rich2808 said:

pecunianonolet said:

I just wish a lot more providers would offer flexible ISAs now as well

Personally I would not open any instant/easy access cash ISA if it wasn't a flexible isa. It just gives you so much flexibility - meaning you can use/withdraw the funds for other purposes as long as you replace them by 5 April

All the market leading ones currently from major players - Coventry, Paragon, Skipton, Virgin etc - are all flexible.

There is a full list here

https://moneytothemasses.com/saving-for-your-future/investing/what-is-a-flexible-isa

Totally agree, I jumped last year on the Virgin Exclusive 4.25% 1y fix in March and in April on the Shawbrook 1y fix for 4.21%, because I wanted to lock in the rate and combine it with the fact I can add anytime. Shawbrook was a mistake from today's perspective.

I am now playing with the thought of opening the Coventry ISA, even if I already subscribed to an ISA with Shawbrook this tax year, just not put any funds into the Coventry. I am not breaking any rules that way but secure the Coventry account and when Virgin matures on 31st March I switch that one to Coventry and end of April I switch Shawbrook to Coventry. 

I have opened various Coventry accounts and they all said minimum is £1 but they still sit there with £0 balance and have not been closed so might get away with the Coventry ISA in the same way and at least have the account open should they withdraw it. Other offers might come up closer to financial year end. 

rallycurve

pecunianonolet said:

Rich2808 said:

pecunianonolet said:

I just wish a lot more providers would offer flexible ISAs now as well

Personally I would not open any instant/easy access cash ISA if it wasn't a flexible isa. It just gives you so much flexibility - meaning you can use/withdraw the funds for other purposes as long as you replace them by 5 April

All the market leading ones currently from major players - Coventry, Paragon, Skipton, Virgin etc - are all flexible.

There is a full list here

https://moneytothemasses.com/saving-for-your-future/investing/what-is-a-flexible-isa

Totally agree, I jumped last year on the Virgin Exclusive 4.25% 1y fix in March and in April on the Shawbrook 1y fix for 4.21%, because I wanted to lock in the rate and combine it with the fact I can add anytime. Shawbrook was a mistake from today's perspective.

That does not have anything to do with flexible ISAs though. You are regretting fixing rather than contributing to a non flexible ISA

Kim_13

pecunianonolet said:

Rich2808 said:

pecunianonolet said:

I just wish a lot more providers would offer flexible ISAs now as well

Personally I would not open any instant/easy access cash ISA if it wasn't a flexible isa. It just gives you so much flexibility - meaning you can use/withdraw the funds for other purposes as long as you replace them by 5 April

All the market leading ones currently from major players - Coventry, Paragon, Skipton, Virgin etc - are all flexible.

There is a full list here

https://moneytothemasses.com/saving-for-your-future/investing/what-is-a-flexible-isa

Totally agree, I jumped last year on the Virgin Exclusive 4.25% 1y fix in March and in April on the Shawbrook 1y fix for 4.21%, because I wanted to lock in the rate and combine it with the fact I can add anytime. Shawbrook was a mistake from today's perspective.

I am now playing with the thought of opening the Coventry ISA, even if I already subscribed to an ISA with Shawbrook this tax year, just not put any funds into the Coventry. I am not breaking any rules that way but secure the Coventry account and when Virgin matures on 31st March I switch that one to Coventry and end of April I switch Shawbrook to Coventry. 

I have opened various Coventry accounts and they all said minimum is £1 but they still sit there with £0 balance and have not been closed so might get away with the Coventry ISA in the same way and at least have the account open should they withdraw it. Other offers might come up closer to financial year end. 

I recently did a partial transfer to secure that account (having transferred a prior year S&S ISA that I’d opened for the cashback into the Skipton base rate tracker.)

Hoping something comes up that makes it worthwhile paying a penalty to exit a 3 yr 4.4% taken in the aftermath of the mini budget.