A savings account is often the first place people think of for spare cash, but some current accounts also pay interest on your balance, usually with conditions attached.

Many people keep money in accounts that pay nothing at all. Bank of England figures show that individuals held £283.2 billion in non-interest-bearing sight deposits (money that can be withdrawn without notice, such as in a current account) with UK banks and building societies in July 2026.

This guide explains how savings accounts and current accounts differ, how each pays interest, and what to check before deciding where to keep your money. Rates change often, so see our savings accounts guide for current rates.

What is the difference between a savings and current account?

Before understanding whether to put your money in a savings or current account, it's important to note the differences between these types of financial products.

What is a savings account?

A savings account pays interest on anything you have in the account. Interest rates vary between accounts, so it's worth comparing them. Usually, easy-access accounts allow you to deposit and withdraw cash at will, though some accounts will limit the number of penalty-free withdrawals you can make per year.

Compared to easy-access, fixed savings accounts work differently. With fixed accounts your money is locked away. In return, fixed accounts usually pay a higher rate than easy-access accounts. On 10 September 2026, the average one-year fixed bond paid 4.28% and the average easy-access account 2.53%, according to Moneyfacts.

Regardless of the type of savings account you go for, opening a savings account is relatively straightforward and usually just requires you to pass an ID check. You can often open savings accounts online, over the phone, by post or in a branch.

• Pays interest, but rates vary massively between accounts

• Usually no credit check to open an account

• Easy-access gives instant access to your cash

• Fixed accounts require you to lock away cash

What is a current account?

A current account (or bank account) offers more features than a savings account. A current account is designed for everyday banking, and allows you to send or receive payments. For example, you can use a current account to receive a salary. You can also use a current account to send payments to people, or companies - including regular payments, such as standing orders or direct debits.

When you open a current account you'll also be given a debit card to make payments, either online or in-person. A debit card also facilitates cash withdrawals through automated teller machines (ATMs). Savings accounts don't usually come with a debit card.

Aside from the typical benefits, there are also specialist current accounts that may offer additional features. For example, some 'packaged bank accounts' offer free travel insurance, mobile phone and/or breakdown cover. Other current accounts offer monthly rewards, cashback on purchases, or long 0% overdraft periods.

One key difference between current accounts and savings accounts is the application process. Opening a savings account usually only needs an identity check. Opening a current account may involve a credit check, which can be a hard search on your credit file. This varies by provider and account, and a hard search is more likely if you ask for an overdraft.

• Suitable for everyday banking

• Enables you to send and receive payments

• Gives you a debit card

• May involve a credit check; this varies by provider and account type.

A hard search is more likely where an overdraft is requested; check the provider’s application information.

How current account and savings account interest compares

Putting savings into a current account used to make little financial sense, since banks rarely paid any interest on them. Over the past decade or so, some providers have started paying interest on current accounts.

Interest on a current account often comes with conditions. For example, some banks will only pay interest on cash held in a current account if you pay in a set amount each month. Others may require you to pay out a minimum number of direct debits each month in order to be eligible to earn interest.

Many savings accounts pay interest on your whole balance from the day you pay in, although some cap their top rate.

Important: interest rates on current accounts often only apply on small balances, sometimes just a few thousand pounds, with no interest paid above that threshold. Some savings accounts work the same way (particularly regular savers and boosted easy-access accounts, which often cap their top rate to a limited balance or monthly deposit) while others, like standard fixed-rate bonds, pay the full rate on the whole amount. It's worth checking how an account's rate applies to your balance. This is separate from the FSCS protection limit, explained below.

Regardless of where you decide to put your savings, FSCS savings safety protection can apply to both savings and current accounts. As of December 2025, the FSCS protects up to £120,000 per person, per institution (or £240,000 for joint accounts). For more on this, take a look at our article that explains why FSCS savings safety is important.

Which savings and current accounts pay the highest interest rates?

When comparing savings accounts to current accounts, it's important to note that we can only really look at savings rates on easy-access accounts. That's because there are no real 'fixed' current accounts.

Interest rates on savings accounts

Easy-access savings rates broadly track the wider market. Bank of England data shows the average quoted rate on instant-access accounts (including bonuses) has drifted down from 2.62% in January 2025 to 2.20% in December 2025, and has been close to 2.1% through 2026 (2.06% in September 2026). This average masks a lot of variation, though: many of the top-paying easy-access accounts include a boosted introductory rate for new customers, often tied to opening a current account with the same provider, which can push the headline rate several percentage points above this average for a limited period (typically six to twelve months) before reverting to a lower standard rate.

Because these boosted rates change frequently and come with provider-specific conditions (minimum deposits, balance caps, eligibility windows), it's worth checking live best-buy tables rather than relying on a snapshot. Take a look at our best savings accounts guide to see the most up to date rates.

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

Interest rates on current accounts

A number of UK current accounts pay in-credit interest, though the way this works varies a lot by provider. Broadly, there are two models:

• Boosted introductory rates: a higher rate for a set period (commonly 12 months), but only on a limited balance (often £1,500–£4,000). After the introductory period ends, the rate typically drops sharply, sometimes to 1% AER or lower.

• Ongoing tracker or flat rates: a lower but more durable rate, sometimes linked to the Bank of England base rate, often paid on a much higher balance cap (into the hundreds of thousands of pounds), with no time limit. Many interest-paying current accounts also require a minimum monthly deposit, a set number of active Direct Debits, or a monthly account fee to qualify for the advertised rate — so the headline figure isn't always what you'll actually earn. Because these rates and conditions change often and depend heavily on new-customer eligibility, it's worth comparing live offers directly rather than relying on a snapshot.

Interest on a current account counts towards your Personal Savings Allowance in the same way as interest on a savings account.

How can you transfer money from a savings account to a current account?

Many savings providers won't allow you to simply transfer funds to a current account of your choosing. That's because, for security reasons, many providers will only allow you to withdraw funds to a 'linked' current account. This is usually the account you nominated when you first opened your savings account.

So, if you want to move funds from your savings account to a current account that isn't your linked account, you'll first have to move cash to your linked account. From there, you'll have the freedom to move your money to any account.

How can you transfer money from a current account to a savings account?

The easiest way to shift funds from a current account to a savings account is to use online or mobile banking. When transferring funds, you'll need to know the sort code and account number of the savings account you wish to move money to.