Even though the Bank of England's base rate has held steady at 3.75% throughout 2026, fixed-rate savings deals have been climbing since spring.

Bank of England data shows the average 1-year fixed-rate bond rose from a low of 3.51% in March to 4.04% by August. That's ahead of the current 2.9% inflation rate, giving savers who lock money away a real return. Easy-access rates have moved far less over the same period, averaging around 2.1%.

Source: Bank of England, Quoted household interest rates (series IUMWTFA, IUMB6VJ), monthly data to August 2026.

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?

UK inflation stood at 2.9% in July 2026 (the latest figure available in September) up slightly from 2.6% in June as higher energy prices, linked to conflict in the Middle East, began feeding through. This remains well below the 11.1% peak seen in 2022, though still above the Bank of England's 2% target. The Bank's own July 2026 projections show inflation potentially rising further, toward 3.2%, later in the year.

It's worth pointing out that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is just one measure of inflation. Other indexes report a higher rate — the Retail Prices Index (RPI), for instance, stood at 3.2% in July 2026.

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 2.9%, your savings lose value more slowly than in 2022, but they are still being eroded. Today, £10,000 of savings would buy you approximately £9,718 worth of goods in one year's time (£10,000 / 1.029) 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, there are several ways to boost the interest rate on your cash beyond a standard easy-access account. Even if a savings rate is lower than inflation, a higher rate still reduces how much value is lost to inflation over time.

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

Tip 1: Consider notice savings accounts

Notice savings accounts are worth considering as an alternative to easy-access deals. 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 typically range from around 30 to 180 days, depending on the provider and account.

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.

Notice account rates have traditionally sat between easy-access and fixed-bond rates, rewarding savers for giving up instant access. Right now, though, that hierarchy has compressed: top easy-access deals (often boosted by short-term new-customer bonuses) are currently matching or even exceeding typical notice account rates, while notice accounts still generally fall short of fixed-bond rates. It's worth comparing all three categories directly rather than assuming notice accounts automatically beat easy access.

With average fixed-rate bonds now running well above current inflation, a competitive notice account can offer a genuine real return while still giving you scheduled access to your money — see our notice accounts guide for current top rates.

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.

Some people use more than one account type, subject to each account’s terms, limits and their own circumstances.

In other words, while you may not be able to get the headline interest rate on all of your spare cash, it's still possible to earn a decent rate on a portion of your savings.

Regular savings accounts often carry the highest headline rates on the market (sometimes into the high single digits) though these are usually restricted to existing customers of a specific bank or building society, and monthly deposits are typically capped somewhere between £150 and £500. Because the top rate and provider change frequently, it's worth checking our best savings accounts guide for current market-leading deals.

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 financial advice to avoid keeping savings in an ordinary bank account.

However, more recently, competition for customers has heated 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.

These accounts typically follow one of two patterns: a boosted rate fixed for an introductory period (commonly 12 months) on a capped balance, often requiring a linked current account or rewards scheme; or a banded rate that pays a higher amount up to a set balance and a much lower rate above it. Either way, the headline figure often comes with conditions attached (e.g. a minimum monthly deposit, a rewards-scheme fee, or new-customer eligibility) so it's worth checking the full terms rather than the advertised rate alone.

It's possible to hold a notice account, a regular saver, and an interest-paying current account at the same time, spreading savings across each to make use of their different rates and conditions — though this comes with more admin than managing a single account.

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 as of September 2026: