OFFSHORE SAVINGS RATES - easy access Type of account (min investment) 0% 20% 40% (1) Maximum 4 free withdrawals a year; rates include a bonus paid for the first year you are in the account (2) Includes 0.5 percentage point bonus paid for one year Nationwide Sterling Bonus Access(£25,000+)(1) 1.50 1.20 0.90 Santander e-Saver Issue 1(£5,000+) 1.25 1.00 0.75 Lloyds TSB International Bonus Saver (£5,000+)(2) 1.00 0.80 0.60 Nationwide Sterling Bonus Access(£5,000+)(1) 1.00 0.80 0.60 TOOL: Do your own research on the best-paying accounts OFFSHORE SAVINGS RATES - Fixed rates Type of account (min investment) 0% 20% 40% Note: These offshore institutions are not covered by UK Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Some banks and building societies say they will meet any liabilities that their offshore subsidiaries cannot cover out of their own assets. But not all are this generous. (1) Rate fixed for a year, then the account guarantees a minimum 0.3 points below Bank of England base rate until March 2012 with a maximum of six withdrawals a year. No withdrawals in the first year. ONE YEAR Co-op Bank(£5,000+) 1.87 1.50 1.12 Britannia(£5,000+) 1.85 1.48 1.11 Santander(£5,000+) 1.40 1.12 0.84 Lloyds TSB International(£5,000+) 1.10 0.88 0.66 TWO YEARS Co-op Bank (£5,000+) 2.09 1.67 1.25 Santander(£5,000+) 1.70 1.36 1.02 All our best savings rates tables...
General savings (internet, branch-based) Fixed-rate accounts Phone/postal accounts Best cash Isas Junior Isas and children's savings accounts Child Trust Funds (CTFs) National Savings Monthly income savings accounts Offshore accounts Accounts for older savers (50+)
ALSO: Premium Bonds winning numbers table
Dear Reader,These tables are unique on the web. They are independent and providers are not forced to pay to appear, which is typically the case at big comparison sites.
Sylvia MorrisThey are completely unbiased - we simply show the best rates around and don't do 'featured deals'.
We've gone a step further, too. To feature in the best buys on variable rate accounts in our savings tables, an account must give you easy access to your money and come with no hidden catches.
In the past we have refused to include accounts where the rate is boosted by a short-term bonus or those with over-restrictive conditions so you only earn the advertised rate if you make three or less withdrawals a year.
But with interest rates so low, most of today's best deals have some sort of clause built in, whether that's a bonus or a restriction on withdrawals.
For that reason, we've included decent bonuses as long as they last for at least 12 months. This is to avoid your having to switch your account too often when short-term bonuses run out.
If there is a restriction on withdrawals we have made this clear in the notes on each account.
We also ignore old-style 'notice' accounts where the bank or building society can demand you give up to six months' notice that you want to take our money out while it can change the rate at any time without warning.
All banks and building societies are registered with the Financial Services Authority and signed up to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, either directly (protecting up to £85,000) or via its passport scheme (where the compensation limit depends on the bank's home country. In Europe it is €100,000).
Sylvia Morris, This is Money savings tables expert
If you have a question about the tables email sy.morris@dailymail.co.uk and editor@thisismoney.co.uk
Loopholes to exploit and dangers to avoid: sign up to our newsletter