Cash ISAs

Compare cash ISAs

Opening an ISA means you can earn tax free interest on your money, so if you have money to save then an ISA can be a great option. You can save up to £5,640 in the 2012/13 tax year in a cash ISA.

If you've already got an existing cash ISA, you can still make the most of the great interest rates shown below. You can move the money you saved in a previous tax year to many of the accounts below.

Choosing Your Cash ISA

With so many cash ISAs available, it's important to compare accounts to make sure you get the best deal.

If you have £1 to save or £1000, can lock your cash away or need instant access, Confused.com can help you find the right ISA.

Compare cash ISAs

Ranked in order of Interest (AER)


  • Minimum
    opening balance
  • Interest rate
    (AER)
  • Manage your
    account
  • Interest
    paid
  • Transfers in
    accepted?
  • Unlimited free
    withdrawals?

Alternative Cash ISAs


ISA FAQs

  • How do I put my money into my cash ISA?
    Answer: When you open the account, you may be asked by the provider whether you want to make an opening deposit. Some ISAs will also allow you to make additional or monthly deposits.
  • When is the deadline for putting money into a cash ISA?
    Answer: You have until 5th April 2013 to use all of your £5,640 allowance. After this point you lose any allowance you haven't used as you can't roll it over.
  • How many ISAs can I have?
    Answer: You can open only one cash ISA with one bank each tax year, but you can have different cash ISAs from different banks from previous years. Some banks will also let you transfer in previous years’ balances.

Understanding Savings Accounts

Help & Tips

What is a cash ISA?

An ISA is a bank account that allows you to save a certain amount each year without having to pay tax on either the balance or the interest. Currently you can save up to £5,640 in a cash ISA, and that allowance increases every year by the rate of inflation.

You get a new allowance each tax year, which runs from the 5th of April every year, and, if you don’t use it, you lose it! Some ISA providers will let you withdraw the cash, but it’s important to remember that, once you’ve withdrawn it, you can’t put it back if it would mean you’ve saved more than your allowance for that tax year.

What about previous years' ISAs?

Because you can pay into only one ISA each year, you might end up with several different accounts. This isn’t a problem except that providers can often change the rate of interest so you’re not earning as much on the balance as you were when you opened the account.

Some providers will let you transfer in balances from previous years. The important thing to remember is to never withdraw money from a cash ISA- it will lose its tax-free status if you do. You can arrange a direct transfer into a new ISA through your provider which won’t affect your current year’s allowance or the tax-free status of your existing savings.