Cash ISAs: The Best Currently Available List

Gambler

hellopaul said:

On the recommendation of Moneysavingexpert, I opened a Trading 212 cash ISA account. OMG - the ID check system they use (Onfido - read reviews here: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/onfido.com ) is SO terrible, buggy and rubbish, that it took DAYS of hassle to get through it - their site just kept crashing and kept asking for the same things over and over again...and just a couple of weeks ago I'd gone through exactly the same process for a solicitor's firm I was using, but with a different ID check company, and it all worked perfectly, so it's not like I'm unfamiliar with the process. I finally managed to jump through the hoops by installing their app, and doing everything a few more times.

So unless you're pretty tech-savvy, and have a LOT of spare time, I'd recommend giving trading 212 a miss.

Interestingly, their app itself seems to have ZERO security on it - it's the only banking app that I can just load up, and it doesn't ask for a password/fingerprint/PIN...NOTHING! So I'll be uninstalling that as soon as I've put some funds in there (I've transferred TWO £10 payments from my current account...neither of which have actually made it there yet - one was a few days ago, and there's no record of the £10 actually leaving my current account, so I guess that one just didn't happen, and I did the other one only half an hour ago...I guess the valves, cogs and levers in ye olde crappe trading 212 system are just warming up). So I have zero faith in this company - does anyone else have any experience of them - is it just an elaborate scam? It certainly feels like one - and not a very convincing one at that! I'll probably just close the account and go elsewhere, which is a shame because that interest rate is tempting...but then again, so were Charles Ponzi's rates.

How did you transfer the £10's?

You need to do it from the APP. If you transfer from your bank it's not instant. I made that mistake on one occasion.

OrangeBlueGreen

Malchester said:

hellopaul said:

On the recommendation of Moneysavingexpert, I opened a Trading 212 cash ISA account. 

Genuine question. Do MSE actually recommend accounts? Or is it just from the comparison list of accounts? I've seen people say on here that MSE recommended an account. I never use MSE account comparison as I find Moneyfactscompare far superior.

I think it's just a figure of speech and ultimately we make our own decisions as to whether we want to open/do X based on the MSE info. I know it's very subjective but I've always thought it's a bit of a blurry line as to what is "We MSE are just saying this is worthy of your consideration" and "you should do this". Whilst we decide ourselves, it definitely influences actions and I can see why some people see it as a recommendation when I personally do not see it as that. I see it more as a "direct your research towards...".

It's a bit like when people talk about MSE advice and it's more of a nuance of "advising to have a look at" rather than "advising to open/do X". I imagine a lot of people take MSE info as an instruction which of course they are free to do. If MSE were a person, I think it would be considered an influencer. You have to be careful as some stuff gets MSE a commission and I personally think it could be a little clearer or made more obvious.

clairec666

Malchester said:

hellopaul said:

On the recommendation of Moneysavingexpert, I opened a Trading 212 cash ISA account. 

Genuine question. Do MSE actually recommend accounts? Or is it just from the comparison list of accounts? I've seen people say on here that MSE recommended an account. I never use MSE account comparison as I find Moneyfactscompare far superior.

Supposedly, MSE don't make recommendations, they just list accounts in order of interest rate and let you make your own choice.

But on their ISA page for example they have a section entitled "Easy-access cash ISAs – what we'd go for", which could definitely be interpreted as a recommendation. And unlike moneyfactscompare they only list a handful of accounts instead of letting you see everything that's available.

hellopaul

Gambler said:

How did you transfer the £10's?

You need to do it from the APP. If you transfer from your bank it's not instant. I made that mistake on one occasion.

Both times I sent the money from my bank's website - I don't trust this app enough to give it permission to help itself to money from my current account. The second £10 did actually appear in my account today!

pecunianonolet

Coventry 5 Access Saver - 1 Yearb at 4.14% to go NLA

It is still on Coventry's website but has disappeared from moneyfacts so I guess it will be gone by tomorrow or even at midnight. Not a leading rate but good for transfers in and out and flexible and rates will drop further so may be a good one to open speculativly.

https://www.coventrybuildingsociety.co.uk/member/product/savings/limited_access/5-access-saver-1-year.html

Ch1ll1Phlakes

pecunianonolet said:

Coventry 5 Access Saver - 1 Yearb at 4.14% to go NLA

It is still on Coventry's website but has disappeared from moneyfacts so I guess it will be gone by tomorrow or even at midnight. Not a leading rate but good for transfers in and out and flexible and rates will drop further so may be a good one to open speculativly.

https://www.coventrybuildingsociety.co.uk/member/product/savings/limited_access/5-access-saver-1-year.html

Just checking but this isn't an ISA?

If you are looking it, it is still showing on Moneyfact but on the standard easy access savings page.

clairec666

Ch1ll1Phlakes said:

pecunianonolet said:

Coventry 5 Access Saver - 1 Yearb at 4.14% to go NLA

It is still on Coventry's website but has disappeared from moneyfacts so I guess it will be gone by tomorrow or even at midnight. Not a leading rate but good for transfers in and out and flexible and rates will drop further so may be a good one to open speculativly.

https://www.coventrybuildingsociety.co.uk/member/product/savings/limited_access/5-access-saver-1-year.html

Just checking but this isn't an ISA?

If you are looking it, it is still showing on Moneyfact but on the standard easy access savings page.

Looks like the 5 access ISA was withdrawn on 23/9 (https://www.coventrybuildingsociety.co.uk/member/savings/closed-accounts.html). The non-ISA version which confusingly is the same interest rate still appears to be available. Easy to get them mixed up.

pecunianonolet

Yes, sorry mixed them up, been a long day...

Ch1ll1Phlakes

pecunianonolet said:

Yes, sorry mixed them up, been a long day...

No problem. Just wanted to check.

soulsaver

slinger2 said:

soulsaver said:

I believe I read somewhere, that a recent rule change means I can withdraw (not transfer) this financial year's contribution from a flexible ISA and subsequently deposit it to other providers ISAs? And not have to repatriate it at all?

Anyone got a link to an official source?

If so, does the receiving ISA also have to be flexible?

The regulations were changed recently: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1998/1870/regulation/5DDB

Compare the 15/7/25 version with the 6/4/24 version and you'll see that paragraph 3 is different. Or see: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2025/733/regulation/5/made

All written is legal language.

The "receiving ISA" doesn't have to be flexible. The ISA you make the withdrawal from needs to be flexible. And of course the replacement needs to be made in the same tax year as the withdrawal.

Found where I saw it: Change to the Flexible ISA Regulation (5DDB) dated 15 July 2025 — MoneySavingExpert Forum