Easy access business savings accounts pay less than fixed-rate bonds, but they let you reach your money the same day you need it. The gap between the best easy access rate and the best fixed bond is typically 0.5 to 1 percentage point.
That spread is the trade-off you are weighing. Easy access is the right home for cash you might genuinely need at short notice. Money you can leave untouched for a year or more belongs in a fixed bond, where it earns more.
Two things to check before you choose. First, easy access rates have regularly fallen below the rate of inflation in recent years, which means the real purchasing power of your savings can shrink even while the nominal balance grows. Second, ‘easy access’ does not always mean instant — several accounts on this page impose daily cut-off times or guarantee only next-working-day access. If your business occasionally needs cash urgently, check the access terms for your shortlisted account before you apply.
Rates change frequently.
Best Easy Access Business Savings Accounts at a Glance
- Highest rate: Shawbrook at 4.36% AER — needs £1,000 to open and caps at £120,000.
- Best high rate from £1: Cynergy Bank at 4.00% AER — no minimum, deposits accepted up to £10 million.
- Best for large deposits: Allica Bank up to 4.08% AER (with qualifying conditions) on deposits up to £5 million.
- Specialist pick: Oxbury Bank for farms — 3.66% AER with same working day access (1pm cut-off).
- Simplest to open: Tide — inside the app from £1, £100 cashback for new customers, at 3.04% AER.
- FSCS protection: £120,000 per banking group. There is no joint-account doubling for business deposits.
Easy Access Business Savings Accounts Compared
| Provider | Rate (AER) | Min / Max deposit | Access | FSCS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shawbrook Bank | 4.36% | £1,000 / £120,000 | Next working day | £120,000 |
| Allica Bank | Up to 4.08% | £1 / £5,000,000 | Instant, linked account | £120,000 |
| Cynergy Bank | 4.00% | £1 / £10,000,000 | Easy access | £120,000 |
| Dudley Building Society | 3.75% | £1,000 / not stated | Instant | Confirm with provider |
| Oxbury Bank | 3.66% | £1,000 / £500,000 | Same day (1pm cut-off) | £120,000 |
| Newcastle Building Society | 3.60% | £1 / £1,000,000 | No notice required | £120,000 |
| Virgin Money | 3.55% | £1 / £2,000,000 | Unlimited | £120,000 |
| Aldermore | 3.50% | £1,000 / not stated | Unlimited | £120,000 |
| Recognise Bank | 3.15% | £1,000 / £250,000 | Instant | £120,000 |
| Tide | 3.04% | £1 / no cap | Unlimited | £120,000 (ClearBank) |
Rates were verified at our last review (May 2026) and are variable. Always confirm the live rate with the provider before applying. FSCS cover applies per banking group, not per account.
Provider Reviews
Shawbrook Bank Easy Access Business Account (Issue 11)
The highest rate on this table at 4.36% AER, but two catches keep it from being an automatic pick: a £1,000 minimum that rules out the smallest balances, and a £120,000 cap, so a larger deposit spills outside both the account and its FSCS cover at the same point.
- Rate: 4.36% AER (variable). 4.28% gross paid monthly, or 4.36% gross paid annually.
- Access: Next working day, for withdrawals requested before 9:30pm.
- Minimum / Maximum: £1,000 to £120,000.
- Eligibility: Sole traders, limited companies (limited by shares), and general partnerships. Not available to LLPs, charities, or trusts.
- FSCS: £120,000 per person; £240,000 on a joint account.
Allica Bank Instant Access Savings Pot
Allica pays up to 4.08% AER, but the headline needs unpacking. The base rate is 3.08% — you only reach 4.08% by making 15 outbound transfers a month and switching in through CASS. It also requires an Allica Business Rewards Account with at least £50,000 in it, or an active Allica loan, to earn the full rate.
- Rate: Up to 4.08% AER (variable)*, calculated daily and paid monthly.
- Access: Instant, into your linked Allica Business Rewards Account. No withdrawal penalties.
- Minimum / Maximum: £1 to £5,000,000.
- Eligibility: UK businesses registered with Companies House, holding an Allica Business Rewards Account, with all controlling owners UK-resident and over 18.
- FSCS: £120,000 under Allica Bank’s own banking licence.
*Rate includes a standard 3.08% AER base (minimum balance applies), plus a 0.5% boost each month if you make 15 bank transfers out of the account in the previous month, and a further 0.5% boost for six months if you complete a CASS switch. Eligibility criteria and T&Cs apply.
Visit Allica Bank →Cynergy Bank Business Saver
The rate most businesses should consider first: 4.00% AER from just £1, so you land near the top of the table without Shawbrook’s £1,000 floor or Allica’s transfer conditions. No fees, and it accepts deposits up to £10 million.
- Rate: 4.00% AER (variable); 3.93% gross paid monthly.
- Access: Easy access, no withdrawal fees or penalties.
- Minimum / Maximum: £1 to £10,000,000.
- Eligibility: UK businesses registered with Companies House, with up to 10 partners, directors, or shareholders.
- Application: Online, in around 10 minutes. You’ll need a UK business current account, mobile number and email for all signatories, and your Unique Taxpayer Reference.
- FSCS: £120,000.
Dudley Building Society Business Saver (Issue 2)
3.75% AER on balances over £1,000, but this is a building society account run the traditional way: opened in branch or by post, with interest paid once a year on 31 March rather than monthly.
- Rate: 3.75% AER (variable) on balances above £1,000. Interest paid annually on 31 March.
- Access: Instant access withdrawals permitted.
- Minimum: £1,000 to open and operate the account.
- Eligibility: Corporate bodies registered with Companies House, identified as Ltd, Plc, or Incorporated.
- Application: In branch or by post. All operational instructions must be given in person or in writing.
- FSCS: Not explicitly stated on this product. Confirm FSCS coverage directly with Dudley Building Society before depositing.
Oxbury Bank Farm Business Easy Access Account
A specialist pick for the agricultural sector: 3.66% AER with same-working-day access, subject to a 1pm cut-off. Not available to general businesses — you must hold an active CPH or SBI number confirming farming activity.
- Rate: 3.66% AER (variable).
- Access: Same working day, subject to a 1pm cut-off.
- Minimum / Maximum: £1,000 to £500,000.
- Eligibility: Active farmers with a valid CPH (County Parish Holding) or SBI (Single Business Identifier) number only.
- Application: Apply online with a minimum £1,000 opening deposit.
- FSCS: £120,000.
Newcastle Building Society Online Business Saver
- Rate: 3.60% Gross/AER (variable). Available with monthly or annual interest.
- Access: Penalty-free withdrawals without notice.
- Minimum / Maximum: £1 to £1,000,000.
- Eligibility: UK-registered limited companies and LLPs classified as micro, small, or medium enterprises (up to 250 employees, total balance sheet not exceeding £36.5 million, turnover not exceeding £42.5 million).
- Application: Entirely online. The account opener must be an owner, partner, designated member, or director.
- FSCS: £120,000.
Virgin Money Business Access Savings Account
- Rate: 3.55% AER (variable); 3.49% gross paid monthly on the 10th of each month.
- Access: Unlimited withdrawals by electronic transfer to your nominated business account. No fees or penalties.
- Minimum / Maximum: £1 to £2,000,000.
- Eligibility: UK-registered SMEs. The account is designed for micro, small, and medium enterprises.
- Application: Apply online with a minimum deposit of £1.
- FSCS: £120,000.
Aldermore Easy Access Business Account
- Rate: 3.50% AER (variable). Interest paid gross.
- Access: Unlimited, penalty-free withdrawals at any time.
- Minimum: £1,000 to open. No stated maximum.
- Eligibility: UK businesses looking for a flexible savings account with no lock-in.
- Application: Online, available 24/7.
- FSCS: £120,000.
Recognise Bank Business Easy Access Account
- Rate: 3.15% AER/Gross annually; 3.11% gross monthly.
- Access: Instant access — move money in and out without penalties.
- Minimum / Maximum: £1,000 to £250,000.
- Eligibility: UK companies registered with Companies House, with a UK business bank account, fewer than 250 employees, and assets under £36.5 million or turnover under £42.5 million. LLPs and limited companies can deposit above £85,000.
- Application: Online in minutes. Manage savings online at any time.
- FSCS: £120,000.
Tide Instant Access Savings Account
The simplest entry point on this page: open inside the Tide app from £1, with £100 cashback for new customers. The rate (3.04% AER) is the lowest here, but the near-zero friction makes Tide worth considering for businesses that want idle current-account cash earning something without any setup effort.
- Rate: 3.04% AER (variable), influenced by the Bank of England base rate.
- Access: Unlimited withdrawals, no fees or penalties.
- Minimum / Maximum: From £1; no maximum balance stated.
- Eligibility: UK residents aged 18+ with an active Tide Business Account. Available to sole traders and limited companies.
- Application: Open inside the Tide app. Deposit a minimum of £1 to begin.
- FSCS: £120,000 covering total deposits held with ClearBank.
What Is an Easy Access Business Savings Account?
An easy access business savings account lets you deposit and withdraw without restriction. Unlike a fixed-rate bond, there is no lock-in period and no exit penalty: if you need the money tomorrow, you can have it. The trade-off is rate — easy access accounts pay less than fixed bonds because the bank cannot rely on the deposit staying put.
The interest rate is variable and moves when the Bank of England base rate moves. When rates are rising, that can work in your favour. When they are falling, the rate on your account falls with them. Most providers change their rates within a few weeks of a base rate decision.
Minimum opening balances are typically low, with many accounts starting from £1. A few higher-rate accounts set the bar at £1,000 or more. There is no FSCS joint-account doubling for business accounts the way there is for personal ones — each business can protect up to £120,000 per banking group.
Easy access versus a notice account. If you can give advance notice before withdrawing (typically 95 to 200 days), a business notice account typically pays 0.3–0.7 percentage points more than easy access. If you can commit for a full year or more, a fixed-rate bond pays more still. Easy access is the right choice only for genuinely liquid reserves — cash you might actually need at short notice.
Final Verdict
Best rate overall: Shawbrook Bank (4.36% AER). The highest rate on this page, with next-working-day access and a clean online application. The £1,000 minimum and £120,000 cap mean it suits businesses with moderate surpluses rather than very small or very large balances. LLPs and charities are excluded.
Best no-conditions rate from £1: Cynergy Bank (4.00% AER). Near the top of the table, no minimum balance, no transfer hoops, and deposits accepted up to £10 million. The straightforward pick for most businesses that want a strong easy-access rate without restrictions.
Best for large deposits: Allica Bank (up to 4.08% AER). Potentially the highest rate if you qualify for both boosts, and accepts up to £5 million. The conditions — 15 monthly outbound transfers and a CASS switch — make the headline rate misleading for most businesses. Evaluate it against Cynergy’s 4.00% and decide whether the conditions are worth 0.08 percentage points.
Best specialist pick: Oxbury Bank (3.66% AER). Same-day access and a competitive rate — but only for active farmers with a CPH or SBI number. Not available to the general business market.
Best for app-based simplicity: Tide (3.04% AER). The lowest rate here, but zero friction: open inside the app, deposit from £1, withdraw anytime. Worth considering for businesses that want idle current-account cash earning something without a separate application process.
Easy Access Business Savings FAQs
How do I withdraw from an easy access business savings account?
Most accounts on this page allow withdrawals by electronic transfer to a nominated business bank account, initiated online or by phone. Some providers impose a daily cut-off time (Shawbrook: 9:30pm; Oxbury: 1pm) — miss the cut-off and the transfer processes the next working day. Dudley Building Society requires written or in-person instructions. Always check the specific access terms before you apply if same-day availability is critical.
Are there fees on easy access business savings accounts?
None of the accounts on this page charge monthly maintenance or withdrawal fees. Interest is paid gross on all of them — no tax is deducted at source — so the business is responsible for declaring interest income and paying any tax owed. Review the specific terms of any account before applying; the Allica Bank account carries eligibility conditions that affect the rate you actually receive.
Can the interest rate change after I open an account?
Yes. All rates on this page are variable and can increase or decrease at any time. Movements typically follow Bank of England base rate changes, but providers can also adjust their margins independently. Banks are required to give you notice of a rate reduction — the notice period varies by provider and is usually stated in the account terms. If your rate drops significantly, you are free to withdraw and move to a better-paying account without penalty.
Is my money protected in an easy access business savings account?
Deposits in FSCS-eligible accounts are protected to £120,000 per business per banking group (increased from £85,000 on 1 December 2025). The FSCS is a statutory scheme backed by UK law — it is not discretionary. If a bank fails, you claim directly to the FSCS. The limit applies per institution, so holding deposits at two separate banks protects up to £240,000 in total. Note: Tide holds customer funds with ClearBank, not under Tide’s own banking licence — the £120,000 limit covers all deposits you hold with ClearBank across any ClearBank-backed account.
Who is eligible to open an easy access business savings account?
Eligibility varies by provider. Most accounts on this page are open to UK-registered limited companies, sole traders, and partnerships with all controlling persons being UK residents. Newcastle Building Society and Recognise Bank impose SME size thresholds (up to 250 employees, turnover under £42.5 million). Shawbrook excludes LLPs and charities. Oxbury Bank is restricted to active farmers. Allica Bank requires a linked Business Rewards Account. Review the eligibility section for each provider before applying.
What documents are needed to open an account?
You will typically need: proof of incorporation or business registration (e.g. Companies House number), personal ID and proof of address for all directors and beneficial owners, a nominated UK business bank account for transactions, and in some cases a Unique Taxpayer Reference. Tide requires only an active Tide Business Account. Dudley Building Society requires in-branch or postal verification rather than online ID checks.
Can I set up direct debits or standing orders from a savings account?
No. Easy access business savings accounts are savings-only products. You cannot set up direct debits, standing orders, or make card payments from them. Withdrawals are made by electronic transfer to a nominated business current account. For day-to-day transactions, a business current account is the appropriate product.
Methodology and Disclosure
BusinessExpert compares easy access business savings accounts by checking rates, minimum and maximum deposit limits, FSCS protection status, access terms, interest payment frequency, and eligibility criteria directly against provider websites and published terms and conditions. We do not accept payment from providers in exchange for a higher ranking or more favourable editorial treatment.
Where a link generates a referral fee, this is disclosed with a “sponsored” rel attribute on the link. Allica Bank (affiliate link), Aldermore (affiliate link), and Tide (affiliate link) are current referral partners. Shawbrook, Cynergy, Dudley Building Society, Oxbury, Newcastle Building Society, Virgin Money, and Recognise Bank are not affiliate partners — their links go directly to the relevant page on each institution’s own website.
Rates on this page were verified in May 2026. All rates are variable and change frequently, often within days of a Bank of England base rate decision.
FSCS protection figures reflect the current statutory limit of £120,000 per eligible depositor per authorised institution, following the increase from £85,000 on 1 December 2025. The limit applies per banking group, not per account. Tide’s FSCS cover applies to deposits held with ClearBank — check how much of your £120,000 ClearBank allowance is already in use before depositing.