savings account?

rageagainstessays

Hi,
As I've mentioned on a previous thread I was considering getting a savings account in addition to the student account that I will open and another current account.
Basically my plan is to have the loan money, money from the parents and family into the student account. However this student account only receives 1% interest on balances up to £500. At the start of the academic year- I will have about £2300 paid in (this will be paid in 3 times the year), and I will be using this at a rate of around £400 p/m (as its basically spending money, accommodation has been taken care of). So this £400 will be paid into the other current account, and I'll leave my student account card at home to prevent me from spending money that I don't have. (well have, but don't want to use).

So basically, as you only get paid interest on the first £500, I'd quite like to earn more interest on the surplus until its required. Also, I hope to be able to pay around £50 p.m. into a savings account- you know 'for a rainy day' or for a day when I seem to have spent to much money and need more.

I can open the account with around £1900- but I need to be able to get at it, when I actually need it, if you know what I mean.

Are there any accounts that pay reasonable interest that I can a reasonable level of interest on (preferably more than the rate of inflation, so my money doesn't lose value) that allows transfers in and out of the account at no charge?

Thanks