🔔 Rates rundown: 2018 may be well underway, but few providers are making waves in the savings market so far.

It’s been a quiet week in the savings market in many ways, particularly if you are keeping an eye on the top end of the market and the current best buy tables.

However, we have seen several changes from providers that have affected our best buy tables, so it’s not all doom and gloom!

Paragon Bank and Leeds Building Society each launched a joint market-leading easy access cash ISA and both Aldermore and Atom Bank have reviewed their fixed rate bond ranges, resulting in a number of new best buy entrants.

Regardless of changes this week, there are still plenty of options available to switch to if you find yourself in the unenviable position of sitting in a low-paying account.

So, don’t wait for something to happen, if you have some spare time, why not take a few minutes to review your existing accounts and see what the current rates are, using our free Rate Tracker service.

We will also continue to be sending out Rate Alert emails, with any new and interesting accounts throughout each week – so, keep on top of the latest developments and if you’re languishing in a low-paying account, make the switch!

Cash ISAs

New this week and now joint top of the pile for those looking for an easy access cash ISA is the Limited Edition Easy Access Cash ISA (Issue 3) from Paragon Bank, paying 1.16% tax free/AER.

Accounts can be opened online with a minimum of £1 and transfers in from previous cash ISAs are allowed.

Although this puts the provider in line with the current leader, the AA, crucially this account includes an introductory bonus of 0.96% for the first 12 months, unlike the new offering from Paragon Bank.

Also launched at the same rate is a new offering from Leeds Building Society. Its Limited Issue Online Access ISA (Issue 4) can be opened online with a minimum of £1,000, although it does have a set maturity date of 31/03/2019, so you may need to look for an alternative at that time.

Alternatively, for those looking for a fixed rate, Post Office Money remains top amongst one year ISAs (1.45% tax free/AER), Aldermore and The West Brom (both 1.65% tax free/AER) lead the way amongst two year ISAs, the three year table is headed by Charter Savings Bank (1.86% tax free/AER) and United Trust Bank (2.20% tax free/AER) still leads the way for five years.

For more information on these accounts and for the full list of alternatives, click here for our Variable Rate Cash ISA and Fixed Rate Cash ISA Best Buy Tables.

Fixed Rate Bonds

Always popular with savers and providers alike, there have been a couple of changes this week that affected our best buy tables.

Firstly, Atom Bank reviewed its range of Fixed Savers and now pays 1.80% gross/AER for one year, 2.00% gross/AER for two years, 2.15% gross/AER for three years and 2.30% gross/AER for five years.

Accounts can be opened with a minimum of £50 through the provider’s mobile app, available in the Apple App store or Google Play store.

The pick of the bunch is the one year fixed saver, which shot up to joint top of our table. Also noteworthy is the two and five year accounts, which both entered the top five for the respective terms.

Also reviewing its fixed rate bond range this week was Aldermore, improving the rates on each term up to five years. The pick of the changes was the 1 Year Fixed Rate Account paying 1.80% gross/AER, which gave the provider a share of the top spot, alongside Atom Bank and Investec.

For more detail and the full range of options for each term, take a look at our Fixed Rate Bond Best Buy Tables or contact us for more information.

Easy Access Accounts

There’s not much change to report in the easy access market this week, with the consistent RCI Bank and recently improved AA pick of the bunch.

Newly crowned Best Easy Access Provider in our 2018 Awards, RCI Bank has been a fixture in our best buy table throughout the last year and is currently paying 1.30% gross/AER.

Just pipping RCI Bank to the top spot is the AA, paying a slightly higher rate of 1.32% gross/AER, but it is important to note that this rate includes a 1.12% bonus for the first 12 months, so it will need reviewing after a year.

For more information on the current top-paying accounts, please take a look at our Easy Access Best Buy Table.

For more information on any of the accounts above or for other options, call our Bath-based Savings Experts on 0800 011 9705. We’d love to hear from you.