With one month of the current tax year left to run, savings providers are starting to increase rates to take advantage of the two month ‘golden window’ spanning a four weeks either side of the April 5^th tax year crossover.

The 2026/27 tax year represents a milestone as it’s the last chance for under 65’s to lock away £20,000 tax free as from 2027/28 the Cash ISA limit for this age group will be slashed to £12,000.

Already we’ve seen Investec Save increase the rate on its 1-year fixed rate ISA from 4.00% to a best buy 4.20% this was followed by a raft of new product launches by Nationwide Building Society, Tandem Bank and Aldermore Bank.

Andrew Hagger, Personal Finance Expert from Moneycomms.co.uk said: “the period from March to May is typically where we see providers battle it out for a slice of cash ISA balances, but this year the fight could be bigger than ever”.

“The 2026/27 tax year will be the last chance for under 65’s to shelter £20k from the taxman, so I expect there to be plenty of appetite from savers.”

“The other good news as far as ISA rates are concerned is that swap rates are rising sharply due to the middle east conflict, so I expect to see the best buy rates really hot up in the coming weeks”.

Alastair Douglas, CEO of TotallyMoney adds:

“Cash ISAs let you earn interest on your savings tax-free – and that’s what can make them a better option than a regular savings account – and even more so if you have a decent amount of cash put away.

“The high-street banks are notorious for offering poor rates, so it’s important to shop around. Smaller providers will be improving their offers at this time of year, and under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme you’ll get the same protection as you would with a big bank. 

“Make sure you read the small print, because some will penalise you for withdrawing your money, and the longer the term, the bigger the hit. If you think you might need access to your cash, then it might be worth putting some into a competitive easy-access account, so you don’t get caught out. It’s also worth considering Lifetime ISAs and stocks and shares ISAs, but both come with different conditions and risks, so do your research before signing up.”

#ENDS

A selection of Best Buy ISA deals as at 10^th March 2026

·         Atom Bank – Easy Access – 4.25%

·         Vida Savings – Double Access – 4.16%

·         Aldermore – 60 days’ notice ISA – 4.15%

·         Investec Save – 1 Year fixed rate ISA – 4.20%

·         Tandem Bank – 1 Year fixed rate ISA – 4.20%

·         Tandem Bank – 2 Year fixed rate ISA – 4.16%

·         Castle Trust Bank – 3 Year fixed rate ISA – 4.10%

Research by moneycomms.co.uk