This comparison simply includes all savings accounts.
Savings Accounts For House Deposit
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Compare Savings Accounts For House Deposit
When putting your money into a savings account, you need to consider how long you intend to save for and how much of a return you would like to see. You can then compare the different types of savings accounts available to see which ones best match you saving goals.
If you are looking for a savings account for a house deposit, you may want to compare the options in the table above.
Current Accounts
Current accounts generally offer the best rates of interest for smaller sums of money. However, if you go over your account’s interest limit, your remaining balance will likely earn you nothing.
To get the best deal, you may have to shop around and be willing to transfer your current account to a new provider. It’s also worth bearing in mind that some current accounts offer a better interest rate during an introductory period which then drops dramatically once that period is over.
If you are starting to save for a deposit from scratch, a current account may not be the best option. This is because you will only receive competitive interest for the introductory period, which may not give you the assistance you require to achieve your savings goal.
Instant Access Savings Accounts
This type of account allows you to earn interest on your savings while still giving quick access to your money when necessary. Some instant access accounts come with a card that lets you draw money out at cash points, others require you to take money out in branch or transfer it to a current account online or by phone.
Please be aware there may be a limit on how many withdrawals you can make per year without losing some of your interest.
If you are unsure as to whether you are comfortable locking up your savings for a prolonged period, an instant access account may be a viable option for you.However, if you are unlikely to need your savings then a different account may be more appropriate.
Easy Access Savings Accounts
Essentially the same as instant access accounts, except there may be a few days' delay when you wish to take money out. This is to allow withdrawal and transfer requests to be processed.
Some providers also refer to their instant access accounts as easy access accounts.
Notice Savings Accounts
These are similar to easy access and instant access savings accounts, except you have to give a certain amount of notice before removing funds. Common notice periods range from 40-95 days. The longer the notice period you are willing to give, the higher the interest rate you will usually receive.
A notice savings account may be useful as a savings account for a holiday, providing you are unlikely to need to access your savings in a short amount of time. If you are confident that you will not need to touch your savings before your holiday, a notice savings account might be appropriate for you.
Regular Savings Accounts
If you want to put away a little bit of money each month over a longer period, a regular savings account is likely to be the best choice. This kind of account usually requires you to deposit a minimum amount each month and will normally specify a maximum you can put in each month as well. There may also be a limit on how many withdrawals you can make each year.
Regular savings accounts often offer very attractive rates of interest, but it is important to note that, because you are only slowly building up capital, your initial yearly returns may be modest. This means that, while they can be used for short term savings, regular savings accounts are usually a better choice for longer term savings.
Fixed Rate Bonds
Fixed rate bonds tend to offer attractive rates of interest, which will be guaranteed for the life of the bond (typically 1-5 years). The caveat here is that you cannot usually take money out of the bond until it matures (i.e. reaches the end of the fixed interest period).
If you are confident that you will not need to use your savings for a certain amount of time, you may want to consider fixed rate bonds. Locking your savings up for a prolonged period of time may result in higher annual interest and result in getting a deposit for a house faster than other accounts.
Cash ISAs
UK tax payers normally have to pay tax on any interest they earn on their savings. However, a cash ISA allows you to earn interest, tax-free, on deposits up to an agreed yearly limit. For the 2017/18 tax year that amount is £20,000.
There are two main types of cash ISAs – instant access and fixed-term. Instant access cash ISAs allow you to withdraw money whenever you need without paying a penalty, making them ideal for short term saving. Fixed-term cash ISAs have similar conditions to fixed rate bonds, so you may be unable to withdraw money until they reach the end of their term or have to pay a penalty in order to do so.
Cash ISAs do not always offer the best interest rates, so you will need to assess whether any tax savings will outweigh the benefits of the higher interest rates provides by other types of accounts.
If you already have a significant amount of savings, or you have received a substantial amount of capital from a family member, then a Cash ISA may be more appropriate to save for a house deposit. This is because, unlike other savings accounts, you can earn tax-free interest on a large amount of money.
If you already have a significant amount of savings, or you have received a substantial amount of capital from a family member, then a Cash ISA may be more appropriate to save for a house deposit. This is because, unlike other savings accounts, you can earn tax-free interest on a large amount of money.
In addition, some banks offer lifetime ISAs. These ISAs allow you to earn up to 2.53% tax-free interest and, better yet, you will receive 25% of whatever you deposit from the government. For example, if you deposit £1,000 into your lifetime ISA a month then your ISA will receive £250 from the government each time.
Find the best short term savings account for you
With so many different brands and products on the market, it can be hard to figure out which offer the best deals for you. The comparison table at the top of this page is regularly updated with the most attractive deals on short term savings accounts from across the industry. This makes it easy for you to contrast the features of different accounts with 6 month options and find the right one for your saving needs.
