Cash ISAs: The Best Currently Available List

sammy_zammy

Middle_of_the_Road said:

Bridlington1 said:

sammy_zammy said:

Sucks to be me jumping on the last 6-month Chip bonus rate at 5.00%! It felt like a better investment until the 3-month rates breached 5.5% 😆 at least it makes for some interesting viewing watching them squabble back and forth knowing I’ve used up all my bonus rates so can’t jump on board.

I assume they’ll drop on the 6th before they get flooded with people trying to save 20k… Any bets on what the peak will be?

Like many I've been watching ISAs upping their rates in recent days and whilst I'm unable to get Chip and Moneybox I am still yet to open an ISA with Plum. I was planning to put some more into ISAs from Sunday anyway so have been waiting for the right moment to pounce knowing that sooner or later they'll pull the bonus.

I don't know quite when the peak shall be but given Plum are offering 5.92% I'd imagine we're not that far off the peak if we're not there already. I'm happy with 5.92% so shall grab it ready for the new tax year on the grounds that I'd be less irritated if I got 5.92% and miss out on, say, 6% next week than I would be if I turned down 5.92% and it get pulled and be debating whether to get hold of, say, 5.4% next week.

Am I correct in stating, there have been a few negative posts mentioning bad experiences with Plum. App difficulties and customer support?

And that the bonus only applies to new money! You can’t transfer out until the 3 months is up either, so you’re very much locked in for that period. For the sake of 3 months of an extremely high rate, I’m not sure that’s a super good deal.

moi

sammy_zammy said:

Middle_of_the_Road said:

Bridlington1 said:

sammy_zammy said:

Sucks to be me jumping on the last 6-month Chip bonus rate at 5.00%! It felt like a better investment until the 3-month rates breached 5.5% 😆 at least it makes for some interesting viewing watching them squabble back and forth knowing I’ve used up all my bonus rates so can’t jump on board.

I assume they’ll drop on the 6th before they get flooded with people trying to save 20k… Any bets on what the peak will be?

Like many I've been watching ISAs upping their rates in recent days and whilst I'm unable to get Chip and Moneybox I am still yet to open an ISA with Plum. I was planning to put some more into ISAs from Sunday anyway so have been waiting for the right moment to pounce knowing that sooner or later they'll pull the bonus.

I don't know quite when the peak shall be but given Plum are offering 5.92% I'd imagine we're not that far off the peak if we're not there already. I'm happy with 5.92% so shall grab it ready for the new tax year on the grounds that I'd be less irritated if I got 5.92% and miss out on, say, 6% next week than I would be if I turned down 5.92% and it get pulled and be debating whether to get hold of, say, 5.4% next week.

Am I correct in stating, there have been a few negative posts mentioning bad experiences with Plum. App difficulties and customer support?

And that the bonus only applies to new money! You can’t transfer out until the 3 months is up either, so you’re very much locked in for that period. For the sake of 3 months of an extremely high rate, I’m not sure that’s a super good deal.

Considering transferring out/closing Plum after 3 months, I noticed this down in the FAQ: "If you cancel your Cash ISA or withdraw mid-month, you'll lose any interest accrued for that particular month." 😯

slinger2

sammy_zammy said:

Middle_of_the_Road said:

Bridlington1 said:

sammy_zammy said:

Sucks to be me jumping on the last 6-month Chip bonus rate at 5.00%! It felt like a better investment until the 3-month rates breached 5.5% 😆 at least it makes for some interesting viewing watching them squabble back and forth knowing I’ve used up all my bonus rates so can’t jump on board.

I assume they’ll drop on the 6th before they get flooded with people trying to save 20k… Any bets on what the peak will be?

Like many I've been watching ISAs upping their rates in recent days and whilst I'm unable to get Chip and Moneybox I am still yet to open an ISA with Plum. I was planning to put some more into ISAs from Sunday anyway so have been waiting for the right moment to pounce knowing that sooner or later they'll pull the bonus.

I don't know quite when the peak shall be but given Plum are offering 5.92% I'd imagine we're not that far off the peak if we're not there already. I'm happy with 5.92% so shall grab it ready for the new tax year on the grounds that I'd be less irritated if I got 5.92% and miss out on, say, 6% next week than I would be if I turned down 5.92% and it get pulled and be debating whether to get hold of, say, 5.4% next week.

Am I correct in stating, there have been a few negative posts mentioning bad experiences with Plum. App difficulties and customer support?

And that the bonus only applies to new money! You can’t transfer out until the 3 months is up either, so you’re very much locked in for that period. For the sake of 3 months of an extremely high rate, I’m not sure that’s a super good deal.

I thought you had to keep it in for 12 months to get any bonus. But perhaps that's changed?

sammy_zammy

slinger2 said:

sammy_zammy said:

Middle_of_the_Road said:

Bridlington1 said:

sammy_zammy said:

Sucks to be me jumping on the last 6-month Chip bonus rate at 5.00%! It felt like a better investment until the 3-month rates breached 5.5% 😆 at least it makes for some interesting viewing watching them squabble back and forth knowing I’ve used up all my bonus rates so can’t jump on board.

I assume they’ll drop on the 6th before they get flooded with people trying to save 20k… Any bets on what the peak will be?

Like many I've been watching ISAs upping their rates in recent days and whilst I'm unable to get Chip and Moneybox I am still yet to open an ISA with Plum. I was planning to put some more into ISAs from Sunday anyway so have been waiting for the right moment to pounce knowing that sooner or later they'll pull the bonus.

I don't know quite when the peak shall be but given Plum are offering 5.92% I'd imagine we're not that far off the peak if we're not there already. I'm happy with 5.92% so shall grab it ready for the new tax year on the grounds that I'd be less irritated if I got 5.92% and miss out on, say, 6% next week than I would be if I turned down 5.92% and it get pulled and be debating whether to get hold of, say, 5.4% next week.

Am I correct in stating, there have been a few negative posts mentioning bad experiences with Plum. App difficulties and customer support?

And that the bonus only applies to new money! You can’t transfer out until the 3 months is up either, so you’re very much locked in for that period. For the sake of 3 months of an extremely high rate, I’m not sure that’s a super good deal.

I thought you had to keep it in for 12 months to get any bonus. But perhaps that's changed?

So did I, but I double checked when typing that comment and it looks like it’s only the 3-month bonus period now.

masonic

slinger2 said:

sammy_zammy said:

Middle_of_the_Road said:

Bridlington1 said:

sammy_zammy said:

Sucks to be me jumping on the last 6-month Chip bonus rate at 5.00%! It felt like a better investment until the 3-month rates breached 5.5% 😆 at least it makes for some interesting viewing watching them squabble back and forth knowing I’ve used up all my bonus rates so can’t jump on board.

I assume they’ll drop on the 6th before they get flooded with people trying to save 20k… Any bets on what the peak will be?

Like many I've been watching ISAs upping their rates in recent days and whilst I'm unable to get Chip and Moneybox I am still yet to open an ISA with Plum. I was planning to put some more into ISAs from Sunday anyway so have been waiting for the right moment to pounce knowing that sooner or later they'll pull the bonus.

I don't know quite when the peak shall be but given Plum are offering 5.92% I'd imagine we're not that far off the peak if we're not there already. I'm happy with 5.92% so shall grab it ready for the new tax year on the grounds that I'd be less irritated if I got 5.92% and miss out on, say, 6% next week than I would be if I turned down 5.92% and it get pulled and be debating whether to get hold of, say, 5.4% next week.

Am I correct in stating, there have been a few negative posts mentioning bad experiences with Plum. App difficulties and customer support?

And that the bonus only applies to new money! You can’t transfer out until the 3 months is up either, so you’re very much locked in for that period. For the sake of 3 months of an extremely high rate, I’m not sure that’s a super good deal.

I thought you had to keep it in for 12 months to get any bonus. But perhaps that's changed?

I believe the bonus interest is paid at the end of the 12 months (Edit: not true of the latest offer). It is unclear what happens if there is no longer an account to receive it.

From MSE's write-up:

Does it support partial transfers out? If not, you'd have to flexibly withdraw down to £100 and keep the money in a taxable account for the remainder of the tax year if wishing to avoid the rate-drop.

slinger2

From https://withplum.com/legal/terms 2.14

"You can make a request to transfer out your ISA with Plum through Plum’s customer support, help@withplum.com. If you close your Cash ISA with Plum and Transfer Out within the 12 month period after opening your Cash ISA account with Plum you will lose your bonus and forfeit any interest earned that month. Only full transfers-out for the current tax year are accepted. Partial transfers-out are accepted for previous tax years."

but maybe this doesn't apply to the new 3 month bonus system.

Eirambler

Is the Zopa 5.01% offer open to all current ISA holders? My wife has an access ISA with Zopa, it was at 4.3% including the 0.5% bonus, it's now at 4.5% including the bonus, but the bonus expires tomorrow, so down to 4% after that.

However she hasn't received any email about the three months 5.01% offer if she transfers in another ISA (she also has a Virgin ISA that needs a new home) and there's no mention of it on the app that we can see.

If she makes the transfer in will she still get the 5.01% for three months automatically?

slinger2

Eirambler said:

Is the Zopa 5.01% offer open to all current ISA holders? My wife has an access ISA with Zopa, it was at 4.3% including the 0.5% bonus, it's now at 4.5% including the bonus, but the bonus expires tomorrow, so down to 4% after that.

However she hasn't received any email about the three months 5.01% offer if she transfers in another ISA (she also has a Virgin ISA that needs a new home) and there's no mention of it on the app that we can see.

If she makes the transfer in will she still get the 5.01% for three months automatically?

The suspicion is that it's being offered to those getting the 0.5% bonus which expires tomorrow.

Should happen automatically: "The minimum amount you can transfer is £500, and the transfer must be completed before 1st June 2025 to qualify for the bonus rate."

Bridlington1

masonic said:

slinger2 said:

sammy_zammy said:

Middle_of_the_Road said:

Bridlington1 said:

sammy_zammy said:

Sucks to be me jumping on the last 6-month Chip bonus rate at 5.00%! It felt like a better investment until the 3-month rates breached 5.5% 😆 at least it makes for some interesting viewing watching them squabble back and forth knowing I’ve used up all my bonus rates so can’t jump on board.

I assume they’ll drop on the 6th before they get flooded with people trying to save 20k… Any bets on what the peak will be?

Like many I've been watching ISAs upping their rates in recent days and whilst I'm unable to get Chip and Moneybox I am still yet to open an ISA with Plum. I was planning to put some more into ISAs from Sunday anyway so have been waiting for the right moment to pounce knowing that sooner or later they'll pull the bonus.

I don't know quite when the peak shall be but given Plum are offering 5.92% I'd imagine we're not that far off the peak if we're not there already. I'm happy with 5.92% so shall grab it ready for the new tax year on the grounds that I'd be less irritated if I got 5.92% and miss out on, say, 6% next week than I would be if I turned down 5.92% and it get pulled and be debating whether to get hold of, say, 5.4% next week.

Am I correct in stating, there have been a few negative posts mentioning bad experiences with Plum. App difficulties and customer support?

And that the bonus only applies to new money! You can’t transfer out until the 3 months is up either, so you’re very much locked in for that period. For the sake of 3 months of an extremely high rate, I’m not sure that’s a super good deal.

I thought you had to keep it in for 12 months to get any bonus. But perhaps that's changed?

I believe the bonus interest is paid at the end of the 12 months. It is unclear what happens if there is no longer an account to receive it.

From MSE's write-up:

Does it support partial transfers out? If not, you'd have to flexibly withdraw down to £100 and keep the money in a taxable account for the remainder of the tax year if wishing to avoid the rate-drop.

This is what I'd been thinking along the lines of. My interpretation of the terms was that a partial transfer out wouldn't count as a withdrawal or as a cancellation and thus if you made a partial transfer out but kept £100 in the account you could still get the bonus and earn interest on the funds in the account up until the partial transfer out took place.

slinger2 said:

From https://withplum.com/legal/terms 2.14

"You can make a request to transfer out your ISA with Plum through Plum’s customer support, help@withplum.com. If you close your Cash ISA with Plum and Transfer Out within the 12 month period after opening your Cash ISA account with Plum you will lose your bonus and forfeit any interest earned that month. Only full transfers-out for the current tax year are accepted. Partial transfers-out are accepted for previous tax years."

but maybe this doesn't apply to the new 3 month bonus system.

Many thanks for drawing this to my attention, I'd somehow managed to miss the point in bold, which could've been quite a costly blunder had you not pointed this out so thanks again.

For this reason I'll refrain from going with the Plum ISA as I'd be funding it during the 2025-6 tax year.

masonic

It looks like the above is actually incorrect and the 3 month bonus is paid at the end of month 3: https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81386204/#Comment_81386204