Cash ISAs: The Best Currently Available List

surreysaver

DragonQ said:

If I put £15k into a flexible cash ISA in FY 24/25, then transfer that entirely to a S&S ISA, I assume I can still put up to £5k into a second flexible cash ISA with a different provider in FY 24/25?

Doesn't have to be flexible, neither. 

surreysaver

poppystar said:

Family Building Society Market Tracker ISA 4.55%

Virgin Defined Access Cash E-ISA 4.51%

- can’t see either of these in the list yet

Family BS sounds interesting, flexible as well. I wonder if that ISA will be available in the new tax year!
A nice localish building society to save me traipsing to Grantham or somewhere else up north!

gt94sss2

DragonQ said:

gt94sss2 said:

Lightyear are now offering a flexible Cash ISA. It currently pays 4.75% and the rate tracks the base rate. 

https://lightyear.com/en-gb/cash-isa

Any info on this? I'm looking for a cash ISA that:

• is flexible
• has no withdrawal or minimum balance limits
• has no restrictions for transferring out
• allows instant withdrawals

Trading212 ticks the first 3 boxes but not the last. Basically I need to replace my Chip cash ISA because they literally don't let you have one ever again once you transfer out (and I want to move some cash to S&S).

In my experience, withdrawals from T212 are near instant, even though they quote up to 3 days.

poppystar

surreysaver said:

poppystar said:

Family Building Society Market Tracker ISA 4.55%

Virgin Defined Access Cash E-ISA 4.51%

- can’t see either of these in the list yet

Family BS sounds interesting, flexible as well. I wonder if that ISA will be available in the new tax year!
A nice localish building society to save me traipsing to Grantham or somewhere else up north!

I’m probably going with Virgin for the remainder of this year’s allowance because while both accept transfers in the FBS doesn’t let you do this via your online account. FBS seem to offer accounts for a short while and then withdraw and replace, hopefully there will be something similar next year.

DragonQ

gt94sss2 said:

In my experience, withdrawals from T212 are near instant, even though they quote up to 3 days.

Unfortunately I've also seen testimonials from people saying it always takes 3 days, so not exactly reliable.

wmb194

DragonQ said:

gt94sss2 said:

In my experience, withdrawals from T212 are near instant, even though they quote up to 3 days.

Unfortunately I've also seen testimonials from people saying it always takes 3 days, so not exactly reliable.

I’ve experienced both, instant and a couple of days. They were instant when the withdrawal was to a card I’d use for a debit card deposit.

Stompa

DragonQ said:

gt94sss2 said:

Lightyear are now offering a flexible Cash ISA. It currently pays 4.75% and the rate tracks the base rate. 

https://lightyear.com/en-gb/cash-isa

Any info on this? I'm looking for a cash ISA that:

• is flexible
• has no withdrawal or minimum balance limits
• has no restrictions for transferring out
• allows instant withdrawals

Trading212 ticks the first 3 boxes but not the last. Basically I need to replace my Chip cash ISA because they literally don't let you have one ever again once you transfer out (and I want to move some cash to S&S).

EDIT: Bah, looks like they don't offer instant withdrawals either:

Once requested, withdrawals may take up to 2 business days to be sent out to your requested bank account. Once sent out, the money will typically land in your account in an hour or two.

I think Zopa is my best option currently. 4.55% (with the 1st year bonus) and ticks all 4 of my boxes, according to their website anyway!

AIUI Zopa does have some restrictions on transferring out, in that you have to transfer out the full balance, partial transfers out are not allowed.

https://www.zopa.com/help/article/can-i-transfer-my-smart-isa-to-another-provider

Nick_C

I'm currently with Principality, getting 4.6%.  This will drop to 3.6% on 21 March when the bonus expires.  I hope there will be better accounts offered as we get close to the end of the tax year, but would welcome advice now.

I move money in and out of my ISA two or three times a week.  

I schedule future withdrawals regularly.

I want a product that I can transfer easily to other providers should the need arise.

As far as I can see, none of the top paying accounts satisfy these requirements?

Ford Money might be an option, although I don't know if you can schedule withdrawals with them?

I'm hoping Principality, Skipton, or YBS come up with something competitive in March.

(All my spare cash sits in my ISA, and I use it to feed Chase which in turn feeds my Regular Savers.)  

1spiral

Nick_C said:

I'm currently with Principality, getting 4.6%.  This will drop to 3.6% on 21 March when the bonus expires.

Principality currently have a 5 access ISA paying 4.7% that you could move across to now providing there are no strings attached to your current ISA.

Nick_C

1spiral said:

Nick_C said:

I'm currently with Principality, getting 4.6%.  This will drop to 3.6% on 21 March when the bonus expires.

Principality currently have a 5 access ISA paying 4.7% that you could move across to now providing there are no strings attached to your current ISA.

Thanks.  That wouldn't replace the account I currently have because I move money in and out of my ISA two or three times a week.  

Also, you can only pay your ISA Allowance into one Principality cash ISA in the current tax year.