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Today's best savings rates
By Rebecca Atkinson
The Bank of England has held interest rates in May at 5% but with future cuts likely in the months ahead, many savers are considering fixed rate accounts.
The good news is that the fixed rate savings market has got a little more competitive following Icesave's launch of a one-year fixed account paying 7.01% AER. The account requires a minimum deposit of £1,000, but if you have less to save then Birmingham Midshires pays 6.81% AER for one-year on deposits from £1.
Elsewhere, National Counties pays 6.94% AER for six-months on deposits of £1,000, cahoot offers an account fixed at 6.88% AER until 30 October 2008 on deposits from £1, or Heritable Bank has a one-year account paying 6.8% AER on deposits of £1,000.
ISAs
Opting for a fixed rate account at the moment could be a good move if interest rates fall in the months ahead. But if you haven't yet utilised your ISA allowance for 2008/09 then this should be the first place for your savings.
The first thing to decide is whether you want to fix your interest rate or opt for more flexibility with a variable rate. The Bank of England chopped interest rates in April and many economists predict it may do the same in May.
So, if you are happy to lock your money away for a set period of time then the security of a fixed rate ISA might be for you.
If you've got the full £3,600 to deposit then Principality Building Society offers a competitive 6.6% AER six-month account. This account accepts transfers from previous ISAs.
Or Bradford & Bingley pays 6.25% AER on its one-year account, and Julian Hodge Bank pays 6.15% AER for one-year.
However, if you are prepared to put your money away for four years, then Halifax pays 6.2% on deposits from £500.
For people with smaller amounts to save, Nationwide and Birmingham Midshires both have accounts paying 6.15% for one year on deposits of £1.
If you would rather plump for a variable rate ISA, then the best rate on the market is from National Counties. It pays 6.26% AER on deposits from £1. Barclays has re-launched its Tax Haven ISA paying 6.25% AER on deposits from £1. Bear in mind that this rate includes 1% bonus rate for 12 months.
Market Harborough pays 6.09% AER on deposits of £1, which includes 0.6% bonus until 31 April 2009. Icesave also offers an account priced at 6.10% on deposits of £1,000 while Egg pays 6.05% on deposits of £1. Finally, Scarborough pays 6.05% AER on deposits of £1,000 with its 30-day notice ISA.
Instant access accounts
If you want instant access and to manage your money online, then Birmingham Midshires' e-saver account pays 6.5% AER on deposits of £1 or Kaupthing Edge pays 6.5% AER on deposits of £1,000.
FirstSave offers an Easy Access online account paying 6.26% on deposits of £100 while Bradford & Bingley pays 6% on deposits from £1.
Or you could opt for ICICI Bank's HISAVE Saving account which pays 6.17% on deposits from £1.
However, if you are considering an instant access account be aware than many come with a sting in the tail - for example, you might lose a month of interest if you access your cash or face your account being closed down altogether if you make too many withdrawals.
Best of the rest
If you are committed to making regular savings then Abbey has a fixed account paying 7.23% AER for monthly deposits of between £20 - £250.
If you are over 50 then SAGA has launched an instant access online tracker account paying 6.25% AER on a minimum deposit of £1. Or Coventry pays 6.2%, including a bonus rate of 0.6% for 12 months. You will need to have £10,000 to put down though and the account requires 60 days notice for access.
Finally, if you're a parent looking to set up a savings account for your children, then Halifax's one-year Children's Saver bond continues to outshine its competitors, paying 10% AER on deposits from £10.
If you have less to save then Halifax's Save4it instant access account pays 5.55% AER on deposits of £1 and Yorkshire Building Society offers an instant access account paying 5.99% on deposits of £100.
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