- What are ISAs?
Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) were introduced by the government as a way of encouraging individuals to save. previously known as PEPs and TESSA's, ISAs provide a tax-free incentive, allowing you to earn interest without having to pay tax on it, unlike other investments held outside an ISA wrapper that are subjected to income or capital gains tax.
With standard savings accounts, higher-rate taxpayers lose 40% on any savings interest to the tax-man (50% for those earning over £150,000), while those in the basic-rate tax band lose 20% (10% for anyone earning under £2,440). Therefore, if you are a taxpayer, making use of your annual ISA allowance can be very rewarding, and by comparing the market to find the best ISA rates, 2010 will be a good tax year for your wallet. - How do ISAs work?
Each tax year (running from April to April), everyone living in the UK is entitled to a £10,200 ISA allowance which can be split up between a cash ISA and stocks and shares ISA (which increased from £7,200 in October 2009 for all savers aged 50 and over and April 6th 2010 for everyone else).
The maximum amount that can be put into a cash ISA within any one year is £5,100, however you can use up to your full £10,200 allowance solely for a stocks and shares ISA, without paying any tax on the returns you gain.
You can only open one cash ISA, and one stocks and shares ISA each tax year, but it is possible to move balances from existing ISAs into another ISA, as long as the new account provider allows transfers, and the transfer is carried out by the bank. - Where do I go to open an ISA?
If you're looking for somewhere to make use of your ISA allowance it is worth comparing different providers to find the best ISA rates. At Which4U, we compare ISAs from a wide range of providers, helping you to see which accounts offer the best ISA rates, and which account would best suit your savings needs. Whether you're looking for an ISA that rewards you for leaving your money untouched, or you require instant access to your account, we have something for you.
Something to remember when using this type of savings vehicle is that like standard savings accounts, ISA providers often pay high introductory rates lasting for the first 12 months from opening the account, so don't be shy to keep on-top of the best rates on offer and make the most of your savings. - What are investment ISAs?
Stocks & shares ISAs are a great alternative to their cash counterparts for those that wish to see their savings more as an investment. There are a number of options to choose from, each carrying a different level of risk together with various possible returns offered. These types of ISAs to provide the potential to earn much higher returns, but the reason for this is that the risk element is introduced, so it's up to you to decide whether you are happy with this.
Banking & Saving - Best ISA Rates - Compare 2010 High Interest ISAs
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Best ISA Rates
BEST ISA RATES - Compare top performing Isas with our easy to use table and quickly see the latest deals on offer. Make the most of your tax free allowance and start saving Today!
Best ISA Rates
| Provider | Account | AER | Notice | Deposit Per Year | Apply | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Min | Max | |||||
| View Full Table > | ||||||
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No withdrawals allowed. Transfer your existing ISA balances to this ISA and get 4.25% AER. Minimum deposit £500.
|
4.25%
|
Instant
|
£500 | £3,600 | |
|
|
No withdrawals allowed. Transfer your existing ISA balances to this ISA and get 3.35% AER. Minimum deposit £500.
|
3.35%
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Instant
|
£500 | £3,600 | |
|
|
No withdrawals allowed. Transfer your existing ISA balances to this ISA and get 3.0% AER. Minimum deposit £500.
|
3.00%
|
Instant
|
£500 | £3,600 | |
 |
Rate includes a 1% bonus until 30/06/2011. Transfer your existing ISA balances to this ISA. NO withdrawal Restrictions. YOU MUST HAVE (OR OPEN) AN NATIONWIDE CURRENT ACCOUNT TO APPLY FOR THIS ISA
|
2.75%
|
Instant
|
£1 | £5,100 | |
 |
Deposit £1k - £9k and get 2.0% AER for 12 months. Deposit £9K+ and get 2.75% AER for 12 months. Transfer your existing ISA balances to this ISA. NO withdrawal Restrictions
|
2.75%
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Instant
|
£9,000 | £150,000 | |
- Get 4.25% AER Fixed for 4 Years
- Minimum opening balance - £500
- Maximum balance - up to £3,600 (£5,100 for those aged 50 or above on or before 5 April 2010) in any one tax year
- No withdrawals
- No additional deposits - after account opening. However, if you are aged 50 or above on or before 5 April 2010 and you have funded your fixed rate ISA with current year funds you can make a one-off extra payment into your account before 6 April 2010 so you can take advantage of the new ISA limit of £5,100.
- Manage your savings - In branch, by phone or view your balance online 24/7
- Britain's No 1 for ISAs*
- Number of accounts - you can only fund one cash ISA during any one tax year. If you already have an ISA with another provider and want to take advantage of our cash ISA interest rate, ask to transfer your ISA today
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £50,000 BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
- Get 3.35% AER Fixed for 3 Years
- Minimum opening balance - £500
- Maximum balance - up to £3,600 (£5,100 for those aged 50 or above on or before 5 April 2010) in any one tax year
- No withdrawals
- No additional deposits - after account opening. However, if you are aged 50 or above on or before 5 April 2010 and you have funded your fixed rate ISA with current year funds you can make a one-off extra payment into your account before 6 April 2010 so you can take advantage of the new ISA limit of £5,100.
- Manage your savings - In branch, by phone or view your balance online 24/7
- Britain's No 1 for ISAs*
- Number of accounts - you can only fund one cash ISA during any one tax year. If you already have an ISA with another provider and want to take advantage of our cash ISA interest rate, ask to transfer your ISA today
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £50,000 BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
- Get 3.00% AER Fixed for 2 Years
- Minimum opening balance - £500
- Maximum balance - up to £3,600 (£5,100 for those aged 50 or above on or before 5 April 2010) in any one tax year
- No withdrawals
- No additional deposits - after account opening. However, if you are aged 50 or above on or before 5 April 2010 and you have funded your fixed rate ISA with current year funds you can make a one-off extra payment into your account before 6 April 2010 so you can take advantage of the new ISA limit of £5,100.
- Manage your savings - In branch, by phone or view your balance online 24/7
- Britain's No 1 for ISAs*
- Number of accounts - you can only fund one cash ISA during any one tax year. If you already have an ISA with another provider and want to take advantage of our cash ISA interest rate, ask to transfer your ISA today
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £50,000 BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
- Save up to £5,100 in the 2010/11 tax year without paying any tax on the interest
- Transfer/Deposit £1 - £9,000 & get 2.0% AER (includes a 12 month variable rate bonus of 1.50% gross/AER)
- Transfer/Deposit £9,000+ & get 3.0% AER (includes a 12 month variable rate bonus of 2.00% gross/AER)
- After 12 month intro rate reduces to:
- £1 - £9,000 = 0.5%AER
- £9,000 + 1.00%AER
- Pay-in/Withdraw via Abbey Branch, Online, and Telephone
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £50,000 BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
- Save from £1 and save up to £5,100 per tax year
- If you wish to transfer your existing ISAs balances to this ISA you will earn the following rate of interest:
- £0 - £9,999 = 2.00% AER
- £10,000 - £29,900 = 2.25% AER
- £30,000+ = 2.50% AER
- Instant access to your funds with no penalties
- Monthly tax-free interest – Natwest can pay the interest into your Cash ISA Plus or another NatWest account.
- Manage your ISA by Phone, post, in branch and online
- Minimum balance - £1,000 up to a maximum balance of £5,100 each tax year
- Up to 4 withdrawals within the first 12 months - £10 or more.
- Unlimited deposits - up to £5,100 each tax year
- Remember, you can also add additional funds by transferring any ISA funds held elsewhere
- Manage your savings online or by telephone
- Number of cash ISAs - you can only fund one cash ISA during any one tax year
- Transfer your existing ISA - if you already have an ISA with another provider and want to take advantage of our Halifax ISA Direct Reward interest rate, transfer your ISA today free of charge
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £50,000 BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
- Save up to £5,100 in the 20010/11 tax year without paying any tax on the interest
- Transfer/Deposit £1 - £9,000 & get 2.0% AER (includes a 12 month variable rate bonus of 1.50% gross/AER)
- Transfer/Deposit £9,000+ & get 3.0% AER (includes a 12 month variable rate bonus of 2.00% gross/AER)
- After 12 month intro rate reduces to:
- £1 - £9,000 = 0.5%AER
- £9,000 + 1.00%AER
- Pay-in/Withdraw via Abbey Branch, Online, and Telephone
- YOUR SAVINGS ARE PROTECTED UP TO £50,000 BY THE FSCS - Financial Services Compensation Scheme
- Save from £1 and save up to £5,100 per tax year
- Earn 0.50% AER to 2% AER depending on deposit:
- £50,000+ = 2.00% AER
- £27,000 - £49,999 = 1.75% AER
- £22,000 - £26,999 = 1.10% AER
- £15,000 - £21,999 = 0.95% AER
- £9,000 - £14,999 = 0.75% AER
- £1 - £8,999 = 0.50% AER
- Instant access to your funds with no penalties
- Monthly tax-free interest – Natwest can pay the interest into your Cash ISA Plus or another NatWest account.
- Manage your ISA by Phone, post, in branch and online
- Get 2.75% AER Tax Free on your savings
- Open and manage your account online
- Have instant access to your funds: no withdrawal limits or penalties
- Pay into your account as many times as you want to, up to your annual cash ISA limit
- Transfer in from existing cash ISAs held with Nationwide or other providers
- In order to apply for and operate an e-ISA you must have a Nationwide current account
- Golden ISA - Issue 2 is a cash ISA that pays 2.08% AER /2.06% tax-free pa1 - Interest rate is variable and interest paid monthly
- The above rate includes a fixed rate bonus of 1.00% gross. The bonus is payable for 12 months from the date you open your account, after which time the rate will reduce accordingly
- Transfers-in of funds from another ISA are not allowed and you can only invest a maximum of £5,100 in the 2010/2011 tax year, regardless of any withdrawals made.
- Earn interest on your savings tax-free
- Open from £1
- Save up to £5,100 in the 2010/11 tax year
- Barclays current account customers can manage their account online or by phone. Branch access also available
- Account can be included within an offset mortgage arrangement if you have a Woolwich Offset Mortgage
Latest ISA News 
-
Increase in ISA deposits 'unsurprising'
- An expert has said the increase in the amount of money put into ISA accounts this year is unsurprising. The fact that an increased amount of money has been put into ISAs throughout this ...
- Read More >
- Thu 2nd Sep, 2010
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Principality Building Society launches new ISA deal
- Principality Building Society has introduced a new ISA. Principality Building Society may have a new product to interest anyone looking to compare savings on ...
- Read More >
- Thu 26th Aug, 2010
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AA adds to range of ISAs
- AA has launched a new ISA product. People with AA savings might be interested to note that the financial provider added to its range of ...
- Read More >
- Fri 20th Aug, 2010
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Mixing ISAs and pensions 'could be the way forward for youngsters'
- An expert has stated that mixing ISAs and pensions might be the most effective way for young people to save for their future. Mixing ISAs and pension schemes could be an ideal way to ...
- Read More >
- Thu 12th Aug, 2010
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Sainsbury's launches new cash ISA
- Sainsbury's has announced the introduction of a new cash ISA product. People holding Sainsbury's savings accounts might be interested to note the supermarket bank's introduction of a ...
- Read More >
- Tue 10th Aug, 2010
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Cash ISAs 'less popular due to 0.5% base rate'
- NFU Mutual has said that savers are considering other deals apart from cash ISAs due to the interest rate hold. Many people with a cash ISA are now considering the possibility of ...
- Read More >
- Mon 9th Aug, 2010
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Barnsley Building Society introduces new ISA
- Barnsley Building Society has announced the addition of a new ISA to its range of savings accounts. Anyone currently seeking to compare savings on ISAs might like to note that Barnsley ...
- Read More >
- Thu 29th Jul, 2010
Popular ISA Reviews
Editors Choice
Offering a fantastic rate of 2.60% AER including the option to transfer existing ISA balances to this ISA and 4 withdrawals per year makes this our editors choice...
