Despite the recent base rate cut, savings rates remain at some of their highest levels in over a decade. Top easy-access accounts are currently paying between 4.5% and 4.55% AER. Meanwhile, one-year fixed bonds are offering around 4.12% to 4.23% AER, allowing savers to lock in a rate that comfortably beats the current 3.4% inflation rate.

When it comes to protecting the value of your cash, are there other options for beating inflation? Let's take a look at three ways to boost the interest rate on your cash.

What's the situation with inflation right now?

As of February 2026, UK inflation has cooled significantly from its historic highs and currently stands at 3.4% (recorded in December 2025). While this is a dramatic drop from the 11.1% peak seen in 2022, price growth remains above the Bank of England's 2% target. Current forecasts suggest inflation will continue to trend downward toward 2.9% by early 2026.

It's worth pointing out that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is just one measure of inflation. Other indexes report an even higher rate. For example, the less popular, Retail Price Index (RPI) topped 4.2% at the end of 2025.

The reason why the RPI figure is often higher than CPI is partly because the RPI includes elements of housing costs, whereas the CPI does not.

How does inflation impact savings?

Whichever inflation figure you prefer, one thing is for certain right now - prices of everyday goods and services are higher than many would like. But how do these rates impact savers?

With inflation currently at 3.4%, your savings lose value more slowly than in 2022, but they are still being eroded. Today, £10,000 of savings would buy you approximately £9,671 worth of goods in one year's time (£10,000 / 1.034) unless you find a savings rate that matches or beats the inflation rate.

How can you boost the interest rate on your cash?

Fortunately, in 2026 there are savings accounts that pay close to the rate of inflation. That said, if you're unhappy with rates on easy-access deals, there are ways to boost the interest rate on your cash. Remember, even if your savings rate is lower than inflation, it's still rational to maximise the interest rate on your cash as much as you possibly can.

Here are three tips to boost the interest rate on your savings:

Tip 1: Consider notice savings accounts

If you're fed up with lower rates on easy-access deals, notice savings accounts may fit the bill. Notice accounts are similar to easy-access in the way that you can withdraw cash at will. However, the main difference is that with notice accounts, you must give your savings provider advance notice before you can access your money. Notice periods are typically between 90 and 180 days.

Generally, savings rates on notice accounts beat easy-access deals. And while interest rates on notice accounts often fall short of the rates offered on fixed accounts, notice accounts don't require you lock away cash for a long period. To put it another way, notice accounts allow you to boost the interest rate on your cash, without the need to forgo access to your savings.

For February 2026, top notice accounts are paying around 4.33% to 4.50% AER. For example, GB Bank offers a 120-day notice account at 4.33% AER. This is significantly higher than the 3.4% inflation rate, meaning your money is finally growing in 'real' terms.

For more on notice savings accounts, take a look at our article that explores whethernotice accounts are worth it.

Tip 2: Look at regular savings accounts

Headline interest rates on regular savings accounts are often impressive. However, regular savings accounts often attract criticism due to the fact that you can rarely put more than a few £100 into these accounts each month. Also, many of the top deals are reserved for customers of a particular bank or building society.

However, while regular savings accounts have their drawbacks, they're still worth considering if you're keen to boost the interest rate on your cash. That's because there's nothing stopping you opening a regular savings account, saving the max each month, and keeping any leftover cash in another type of savings account.

In other words, while you may not be able to get the headline interest rate on all of your spare cash, you can still grab yourself a decent rate on a proportion of your savings.

The good news is that regular savings accounts are offering some of the highest yields seen in years. As of February 2026, the top market-leading accounts pay a massive 7% to 8% AER. For example, NatWest offers a Digital Regular Saver at 7% AER on balances up to £5,000, provided you meet certain switching criteria. These are excellent for building a habit, but remember they still usually limit your monthly deposits to between £150 and £500.

Tip 3: Consider opening a high-interest bank account

In years gone by, banks rarely paid interest on any cash held in a current account. As a result, it was common to hear the adage that you shouldn't keep your savings in a bog-standard bank account.

However, more recently, competition for customers has hotted up between current account providers. As a result, some current account providers now pay interest on cash balances. While it can take some legwork, there are some current accounts that pay a higher rate of interest than is available via normal savings accounts.

For example, Nationwide’s FlexDirect account currently pays a top-tier 5% AER fixed for the first 12 months on balances up to £1,500. Alternatively, the Barclays Rainy Day Saver offers 4.21% AER on the first £5,000 for Blue Rewards members.

Remember, there's nothing stopping you holding a notice, regular, and interest-paying current account at the same time. In fact, this might be a shrewd strategy if you really want to max the interest rate on your cash - just be prepared for the extra admin involved with managing multiple accounts!

How can I find the best savings accounts available right now?

Saving rates change on a regular basis. So, to see a list of the top accounts right now - including easy-access, fixed, notice, and regular savings options - take a look at our best savings accounts guide. And here's a recap of different savings account types and how the market looks in early 2026: