Part of our NatWest — Complete Guide 2026 hub.
NatWest offers a small but practical range of savings accounts covering the main savings needs: easy access, regular saving, fixed-rate, and ISA. Rates tend to be competitive enough for convenience savers, but if you’re focused on getting the best return on your money, a comparison with best-buy providers is always worth doing before opening. Figures below were checked against natwest.com in September 2026 — always confirm the current rate before opening, as NatWest can change these with notice.
NatWest Savings Accounts: What’s Available
NatWest currently offers four main savings products for personal customers:
1. Flexible Saver (Easy Access)
NatWest’s standard easy access savings account — previously branded “Instant Saver,” now listed on natwest.com as the Flexible Saver. There’s no fixed term, and you can withdraw your money whenever you need it. The interest rate is variable and tiered by balance: as of September 2026 it pays 1.00% AER on balances from £1 to £24,999, rising through 1.35% AER (£25,000–£99,999) and 1.60% AER (£100,000–£249,999) to 2.10% AER on balances of £250,000 or more.
Best for: money you might need at short notice — an emergency fund or short-term savings pot. Note that the entry-level rate (1.00% AER on the first £24,999) is well below best-buy easy access rates.
2. Digital Regular Saver
The Digital Regular Saver is designed for people building a savings habit. You can save between £1 and £150 per month. As of September 2026 it pays 5.25% AER / 5.13% gross (variable) on the first £5,000 saved, dropping to 1.00% AER on any amount above £5,000.
It’s only available to NatWest current account holders and can only be managed through the NatWest app — you can’t access it in a branch or through online banking.
Best for: regular monthly saving where you want a disciplined approach and can lock away small amounts each month.
3. Fixed Term Savings (Fixed-Rate Bond)
NatWest’s Fixed Term Savings account locks your money away for a set term. As of September 2026, the 1-year term pays 4.11% AER / 4.03% gross (fixed) on balances of £1–£99,999, rising to 4.20% AER / 4.12% gross (fixed) on balances of £100,000 and above. You can’t access the money early without penalty.
Minimum deposit is typically £1,000 — check current terms at natwest.com. The fixed rate won’t change during the term, which makes budgeting easier and protects you if variable rates fall.
Best for: money you won’t need for the fixed term and want a predictable return on.
4. Cash ISA
NatWest offers a Cash ISA that allows you to save tax-efficiently up to the annual ISA allowance (£20,000 in 2026/27). Interest earned inside an ISA is completely free of UK income tax.
NatWest’s Cash ISA is available in both instant access and fixed-rate versions. You can transfer existing ISAs from other providers into a NatWest ISA. Confirm the current AER on each version at natwest.com, as NatWest’s ISA rates were not independently verified in this review.
Best for: tax-efficient saving, especially for higher earners who’ve used their Personal Savings Allowance.
NatWest Savings Rates: Are They Competitive?
NatWest’s rates are generally in the mid-range — above some legacy banks, but below the best-buy rates offered by dedicated savings providers and newer banks. The Digital Regular Saver’s introductory rate (5.25% AER on the first £5,000) is genuinely competitive; the standard Flexible Saver’s entry-level rate (1.00% AER) is not.
As a rough guide:
| Account Type | Where NatWest Typically Sits (September 2026) |
|---|---|
| Easy access (Flexible Saver) | Below best-buy on balances under £250,000 |
| Regular saver (Digital Regular Saver) | Competitive introductory rate on the first £5,000 |
| Fixed-rate bond (Fixed Term Savings) | Mid-range |
| Cash ISA | Below top ISA rates — confirm current rate |
Rates change frequently, so always check the current rate on the NatWest website and compare against best-buy tables before opening.
For the best easy access rates currently available, see our Best Easy Access Savings Accounts UK guide.
For the best ISA rates, see our Best Cash ISA guide.
Is My Money Safe with NatWest?
Yes. NatWest is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). Savings held with NatWest are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) up to £120,000 per person (£240,000 for joint accounts) — this limit rose from £85,000 on 1 December 2025.
NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) share the same banking licence, so if you hold savings with both, the £120,000 FSCS protection applies across both brands combined — not separately.
How to Open a NatWest Savings Account
If you’re an existing NatWest customer:
- Open the NatWest app
- Tap Products or Savings
- Choose the account type you want
- Follow the on-screen steps — most accounts open instantly
If you don’t have a NatWest current account:
You’ll generally need to open a current account with NatWest first before you can access their savings accounts. NatWest does not typically offer standalone savings accounts to non-customers.
NatWest Savings vs Alternatives
If your main goal is maximising interest, it’s worth comparing NatWest against:
- Marcus by Goldman Sachs — consistently strong easy access rates
- Chase UK — competitive easy access saver with round-up features
- Atom Bank — strong fixed-rate bonds
- Coventry Building Society — historically good ISA rates
These providers often offer higher rates than high-street banks because they have lower branch overheads.