ISA Ideas

• Cash ISAs
• Fixed Rate Cash ISAs
• Instant Access Cash ISAs
• Structured Cash ISAs
•  
• ISAs Explained
• 5 Factors to Consider when choosing a Cash ISA
• What can Cash ISAs include?

Best Cash ISAs

Compare the Best Cash ISA Deals

See our selection of the best cash ISAs available for the 2013/14 tax year. Remember, you have until 5^th April 2014 to use your cash ISA allowance, so make sure you take advantage of your tax free allowance before it's too late.

  

James Caldwell, Director

Cash ISA Selection

Provider	Plan Name	Deposit Taker	ISA Option	Term	Maximum Potential Return	More Info
	Deposit Growth Plan	Investec Bank plc		5 years	130% x any FTSE 100 growth (no limit)	More Info >
Return of 130% x any FTSE 100 growth, no upper limit Capital protected Low minimum - £3,000  Short/medium term alternative to fixed rates  Also available for Cash ISA & Cash ISA transfers Limited offer - deadlines apply. May close early if oversubscribed Plan designed to be held for full term Arrangement fee applies Returns not guaranteed. You may only receive a return of your original capital

Important Information: Structured deposits offer you the potential to earn higher returns than you would with a regular savings account. Your returns are based on the performance of an index or commodity. If the investment does not perform well you may receive no income or capital growth, but you can be confident that your capital will be repaid. You have no access to your deposit during the term of the account, typically 3 to 6 years but your original capital will be repaid in full at the end of the term. In the event that the deposit taker is unable to repay your initial investment and any returns stated you may be entitled to compensation from the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) depending on your individual circumstances.

Instant Access Cash ISA Selection

Fund Manager	Account	Rate	Term	More Info
	E-Cash ISA	1.30%	Instant Access	More Info >
No bonus included in the rate No notice period or loss of interest for withdrawals Transfers accepted Minimum balance £10 Access – online, telephone and post Annual interest Variable interest rate

Fixed Rate Cash ISA Selection

Fund Manager	Account	Rate	Term	More Info
	2 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA	1.85%	2 Years	More Info >
Earn 1.85% AER tax free. Minimum deposit £1,000 Interest will be paid at the rate of 1.50% AER/Gross (fixed) p.a. until the Fixed Rate ISA start date - 29th July 2013 Partial withdrawals are not permitted during the fixed term Early closure will result in an interest charge
	1 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA	1.85%	1 Year	More Info >
Minimum opening balance of £1,000 Manage your account online Withdraw cash early if you need to (subject to loss of interest) Transfer from other cash ISA providers
	1 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA	1.70%	1 Year	More Info >
Earn 1.70%AER tax free. Minimum deposit £1,000 Interest will be paid at the rate of 1.50% AER/Gross (fixed) p.a. until the Fixed Rate ISA start date - 29th July 2013 Partial withdrawals are not permitted during the fixed term Early closure will result in an interest charge

Benefits of a cash ISA

• Tax-free - you won't be asked to pay any tax on the interest you earn from the cash in your ISA.
• No need to declare - you don't need to declare your cash ISA on your tax return.
• Easy access - instant access cash ISAs offer a convenient way to save at a good interest rate while retaining easy access to your cash.
• Straightforward transfers - you can transfer your cash ISA to a different provider to get a better rate of interest.

A cash ISA is a simple way get a good return on your money through tax-free interest, particularly if you're a novice when it comes to choosing savings accounts. In the current economic climate it's more important than ever to have some money stashed away for a rainy day.

Choosing the best deal for you

There are several factors to consider when choosing a cash ISA:

Do you want easy access to your money? An instant access ISA might be the right choice for you, as long as you're willing to accept a slightly lower rate of interest.

Are you happy to lock away cash for a set period of time? Fixed-rate cash ISAs might be a better option as they have the potential to offer a greater return long-term.

Do you have a lump sum to invest, or are you planning to make small regular payments? Different ISA providers offer different minimum deposits ranging from just one pound to several thousand pounds.

There is no single 'right' cash ISA choice for everyone - it's a case of weighing up the different factors and considering which product and provider best meets your overall needs. Use our cash ISA rates tables for 2013/14 to compare different providers, research your options, and ensure you get a good savings rate.

How much tax will I save through a cash ISA?

Using your cash ISA allowance saves you money by allowing you to keep 100% of any interest you earn. Compare this to the usual tax rates on savings:

• Saving rate taxpayers - you would usually pay 10% tax on interest earned from your savings. In a cash ISA this savings interest is tax-free.
• Basic rate taxpayers - you would usually pay 20% tax on interest earned from savings. In a cash ISA this savings interest is tax-free.
• Higher rate taxpayers - you would usually pay 40% tax on interest earned from savings. In a cash ISA this savings interest is tax-free.
• Additional higher rate taxpayers - you would usually pay 50% tax on interest earned from savings. In a cash ISA this savings interest is tax-free.

The above information gives you a general idea of what you could save - remember that it depends on your individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future.

Can I transfer my cash ISA to a new provider for a better deal?

You are free to transfer your cash ISA at any time, making it easy to move your money around providers and ensure the most competitive rates. Bear in mind that if you try to do this by withdrawing your cash and then opening another ISA, you will lose all your tax-free benefits. To transfer an ISA without losing out, speak to your new provider, who will arrange the transfer of funds from your old cash ISA provider.