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Best high-interest bank accounts 2025
What is a high-interest current account?
Whether you've just got paid or have funds put aside for emergencies, there's likely to be money sitting in your current account – but is it earning interest?
Here we reveal the current accounts that pay interest, helping you reduce the impact of inflation on your money.
We also compare current accounts to savings accounts, and explain some simple saving tips.
- Looking for a savings account instead? See our guide to the best savings accounts
Best high-interest current accounts
Our table shows the best current accounts for credit balances of £1,000 (see below to find out how to qualify for interest on the accounts).
Nationwide Building Society FlexDirect (340) | 81% | 5% | £1,500 | £1,000 | |
Kroo Bank Current Account | n/a | 3.15% | £500,000 | n/a | |
Santander Edge Up (340) | 73% | 2.50% | £25,000 | £1,500 | |
Lloyds Bank Club Lloyds (423) | 75% | 1.50% | £5,000 | n/a | |
Bank of Scotland Classic with Vantage (162) | 72% | 1.50% | £5,000 | £1,000 | |
Virgin Money M Plus (147) | 68% | 1% | £1,000 | n/a |
Table note: Data correct as of 14 May 2025. Customer score: Our rating for customer satisfaction, based on feedback from real customers. The score is made up of a customer's overall satisfaction with the brand, and how likely they are to recommend that brand to a friend. We surveyed 4,510 members of the general public in August/September 2024. Sample size in brackets. Our full table includes scores and star ratings for all banks.
High-interest current account reviews
Nationwide FlexDirect
- 5% interest on up to £1,500, but only for one year
For the first 12 months of holding this account, you'll receive 5% interest on balances of up to £1,500.
Thereafter, the rate reverts to 1% AER on balances up to £1,500. You don't earn any interest on balances over £1,500.
If you open this account, you won't pay any interest on the first £50 of any arranged overdraft, but after this you'll be stung with a rate of 39.9% APR.
Making payments and withdrawing cash with your debit card abroad incur a 2.99% fee.
If you prefer a bank account with travel insurance and breakdown cover bundled together, Nationwide offers a Which? Best Buy packaged account for £18 per month.
Kroo Bank current account
- 3.15% on £500,000
Mobile-only challenger bank Kroo launched its current account in December 2022, which now pays 3.15% AER.
It pays this rate on balances up to £500,000 though it is recommended that you keep yours within the Financial Services Compensation Scheme limit of £85,000.
Other perks include zero fees on spending when using its debit card abroad and a lower overdraft APR (24.9%) than most high street banks, subject to status and by invitation only. Note that this rate will increase to 39.9% from 1 June 2025.
Its sample size was too small to be rated in our best banks guide, following our annual customer survey in August 2024.
Santander Edge Up
- 2.5% on £25,000
If you are happy to pay £5 a month, the Edge Up current account offers a competitive 2.5% interest on deposits up to £25,000. It replaces the Santander 123 current account.
Other benefits include fee-free spending abroad and 1% cashback on debit card supermarket spending and household bills (both capped at £15 a month).
Beyond the £5 monthly fee to maintain the account, you must pay in at least £1,500 each month and have two active direct debits.
More on high-interest current accounts
Using multiple high-interest current accounts to boost savings
One option is to open multiple high-interest current accounts to maximise the interest you earn.
The drawback with this type of account is that banks apply restrictions, such as minimum monthly payments.
However, we explain how you can work within these rules to beat the limits and make the most of your cash savings.