Cash ISAs: The Best Currently Available List

flaneurs_lobster

So you want an online Cash ISA with a provider with minimal online security?

Is a code sent by SMS to a mobile phone too difficult? You might find some (eg BoS) who allow login with a user id and a password only, but just for a week following an SMS code exchange.

Care about interest rate? Flexibility? Duration?

Andy261

Haven’t searched all the posts but can’t see a lot of love for Principality Building society. Always found them very quick to respond to queries whether online or on the telephone. Excellent interest rates but never seen to be in MSE best buy lists, why? Currently instant access 4.5% with 12 month bonus or 4.5% fixed. 

rallycurve

Andy261 said:

Haven’t searched all the posts but can’t see a lot of love for Principality Building society. Always found them very quick to respond to queries whether online or on the telephone. Excellent interest rates but never seen to be in MSE best buy lists, why? Currently instant access 4.5% with 12 month bonus or 4.5% fixed. 

I am very happy with Principality tbf but I do not think they support electronic ISA transfers? That extra faff might put some people off 

refluxer

Andy261 said:

Haven’t searched all the posts but can’t see a lot of love for Principality Building society. Always found them very quick to respond to queries whether online or on the telephone. Excellent interest rates but never seen to be in MSE best buy lists, why? Currently instant access 4.5% with 12 month bonus or 4.5% fixed. 

I've had a number of cash ISAs and Regular Savers with the Principality and they're fine. Their banking site is a little basic, but it's functional and their customer service (on the odd occasion where I've needed to use it) is great. One downside to their ISAs used to be that they don't do (or didn't do) electronic transfers (so transfers in and out take a few weeks rather than a few days) but a recent post on this forum suggested that this may have changed since I last held an ISA with them.

If they're not appearing in the 'best buy' lists, then it's normally because their rates aren't high enough. Either that or the comparison site isn't as up to date as it should be (Moneyfactscompare is usually a better option for up-to-date listings). With app-based ISA providers offering easy access rates of 5%+ at the moment, it's not too surprising to see that Principality account being pushed down the easy access list, plus withdrawals are limited with that account which won't make it a suitable easy access account for some and could explain why they aren't appearing on the top 'well-known name accounts' table here on MSE.

rallycurve

refluxer said:

One downside to their ISAs used to be that they don't do (or didn't do) electronic transfers (so transfers in and out take a few weeks rather than a few days) but a recent post on this forum suggested that this may have changed since I last held an ISA with them.

Is this so? Could anyone confirm from their experience?
Their guidance for transfers in indicates posting a form via snailmail: https://principality.co.uk/home/savings/isa-transfer

And I do not see Principality in the available lists from other banks (although this could well be outdated):
https://www.shawbrook.co.uk/savings/help/all-about-isas/#electronic-isa-transfers
https://www.cynergybank.co.uk/personal/isa-transfers
https://www.nationwide.co.uk/savings/help/transfer-isa/

refluxer

rallycurve said:

refluxer said:

One downside to their ISAs used to be that they don't do (or didn't do) electronic transfers (so transfers in and out take a few weeks rather than a few days) but a recent post on this forum suggested that this may have changed since I last held an ISA with them.

Is this so? Could anyone confirm from their experience?
Their guidance for transfers in indicates posting a form via snailmail: https://principality.co.uk/home/savings/isa-transfer

And I do not see Principality in the available lists from other banks (although this could well be outdated):
https://www.shawbrook.co.uk/savings/help/all-about-isas/#electronic-isa-transfers
https://www.cynergybank.co.uk/personal/isa-transfers
https://www.nationwide.co.uk/savings/help/transfer-isa/

I don't know for sure but it was mentioned in a recent post on this forum. They definitely didn't when I held ISAs with them a few years ago.

Edit - here's the comment from this same thread a few weeks ago, A partial transfer request to Skipton only took 2 days to process which would indeed seem to point towards an electronic transfer...  https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81330430/#Comment_81330430

Nick_C

Principality implemented electronic ISA transfers in November last year.

Ozzig

Yellowman said:

flaneurs_lobster said:

Yellowman said:

northernstar007 said:

Yellowman said:

northernstar007 said:

Leeds building society Online Access Cash ISA increased to 4.41%

What is the logon procedure?

Operating the account:

• The account can only be operated online via our website at www.leedsbuildingsociety.co.uk

Is the logon one step or multi-step?

You started a thread about the Post Office Online Cash ISA asking the same question. You got no replies there and I suspect you'll get none here since your question doesn't really make sense.

Try reframing the question. What are you actually asking?
Are you only considering savings accounts which have 2FA? Or not?
Is there some kind of accessibility issue that stops you using a particular login method?

I am looking for an online provider for an elderly relative who finds multi-step login procedures on a mobile phone confusing.

Something like a 5 or 6 digit passnumber would be ideal.

It is taking far too long to get telephone responses to enquiries at this time.

Oxbury and OakNorth phone apps are biometrics, open app, scan thumb, job done.

Don't recall either being particularly complicated to get them installed and logged in to then enable biometrics.

rallycurve

Nick_C said:

Principality implemented electronic ISA transfers in November last year.

Thanks for this. Is there anything in their website or somewhere mentioning this?

Because their online guidance for transfers in still says you have to post a form or visit a branch. And providers who only accept electronic transfers in won't let you select Principality to transfer from.

I wonder if this is all still in the process of being updated. Or maybe they do send the money electronically but the transfer application has to still be done by post? It seems confusing

pecunianonolet

Just contacted Zopa about 2 questions regarding their ISA:

1. Do they allow transfer in from Moneybox, Trading212 and Virgin Money. 
2. I asked if I earn interest from the very same day they receive the funds, so I have no gap between providers

First chat agent couldn't be bothered to scroll up to read my questions and asked me what I need help with. When I pointed this out he just transferred me to somebody else without any comment. Second agent asked what I need help with again and was again not bothered so had to copy paste the same questions again. Now got an answer that Moneybox and Trading212 transfer in requests are not accepted and only Virgin and that a transfer in can take up to 15 days. 

I tried to provide more detail and clarity of what I meant by my second question and before I even finished typing the chat was ended and I was asked for my rating. Gave 0 = Terrible. Reason. Agent didn't answer my question.

A sum close to the FSCS limit was ready to get moved there for the 3 month 5.01% offering but I really have to think twice now.