High interest current accounts

The Personal Savings Allowance (PSA), introduced by the government in 2016, lets you earn a certain amount of interest on your savings without having to pay tax:

• If you’re a basic rate taxpayer (20%), you can earn up up to £1,000 in interest, per year, tax-free
• If you’re a higer rate taxpayer (40%), you can earn up to £500 in interest, per year, tax-free

It’s very unlikely you’ll earn this much interest in a year, so the majority of savers won’t have to pay tax on their savings.

Most accounts pay interest each month as long as you stay in credit. Others may pay interest once a year.

If your bank is UK-based, your money will be protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). Savings up to £85,000 per person, per bank, and up to £170,000 for joint accounts will be automatically compensated by the FSCS if the bank goes bust.

Most high interest current accounts are also available as joint accounts. Check with the provider first, as one of you might have to be an existing customer before you can open a joint account in both names.

Some providers will let you open an account in your name, then open another account with someone else in both your names. This means you’ll enjoy interest on two accounts, rather than one.

It depends on the conditions of the account. When you apply for a high interest current account the provider will run a credit check. If you have a low credit score you might be refused. High interest current accounts are mainly aimed at those with a good credit rating and you’ll need to stay in credit to benefit from the high interest rate. If you apply and are refused, it could hurt your credit rating even more – so think carefully before applying.

If you’re struggling to open a bank account because of bad credit, you might want to consider a basic bank account. You won’t earn interest or have access to an overdraft, but it could help you build a better credit score.

If you go overdrawn often, you might be better off with an account that offers an interest free overdraft.

To apply for an overdraft you must be a UK resident and aged 18 or over. Credit is subject to status and eligibility.

Thanks to the Current Account Switch Service, switching bank accounts is quick and simple. Nearly all banks and building societies are signed up to the service, which guarantees that your account will be switched over within seven days. Once your application is accepted, your new bank will take care of moving over your balance and payments, and closing your old account. All you have to do is wait for your new debit card and bank details.

High interest accounts tend to have a lot more restrictions and conditions than standard current accounts. When comparing deals, check if any fees or charges could outweigh the interest you’d be earning.

What to look out for:

• Monthly fees
• Overdraft charges
• Using your debit card abroad – are there added charges?
• Minimum monthly deposits
• Maximum amount you’ll earn interest on
• How long the high interest offer lasts
• The interest you’ll earn once the offer ends
• Age restrictions
• Whether direct debits and standing orders are allowed

This depends on each provider. Some accounts – usually teenager accounts – can only be opened in-branch. Others like Monzo and Starling Bank are app-based and don’t have physical branches, so you can only apply online.

When you use our search tool, you’ll be shown a list of the latest current account deals sorted by the highest interest rate to the lowest. This gives you an easy way of quickly seeing which deals offer the highest AER. You’ll also be given details about each account so you can weigh up the pros and cons of each.

We compare current accounts from a wide range of banks, including the major high street names and newer challenger banks. Start a comparison now, to see you can start saving.

To apply for a current account you must be a UK resident and meet the age, status and eligibility requirements set out by the individual provider.