Easy access

Easy access is a term that relates to savings accounts and the ability to withdraw your funds without giving any notice. An easy access savings account will not usually pay as high a rate of interest as a savings account that requires a notice period for making withdrawals or sets a limit on the number of withdrawals allowed each year.

However, with an increase in the number of easy access online savings accounts this is less of an issue because online easy access savings accounts often provide very good rates of interest whilst retaining the easy access facility.

When looking for an easy access savings account it is important to shop around and check the terms and conditions carefully because some accounts impose hidden fees for making withdrawals and others will pay introductory bonus rates to entice customers but these rates will often revert to a very low rate of interest after the bonus period has expired. If this happens it is sensible to switch to a different easy access savings account that pays a higher rate of interest.

	Leeds BS launches easy access ISA range Leeds Building Society has released a new selection of fixed rate cash ISAs, offering penalty-free access to 25 per cent of the funds at any time.
	AA launches new easy access savings account paying up to 3% The AA has launched a new easy access savings account that pays interest of three per cent on balances higher than £10,000.
	AA increases rate to 3.20% on easy-access savings account The AA has raised the interest rate to 3.20% gross pa/AER on its Extra easy-access internet savings account from Thursday December 8th 2011.
	Easy access savings rates reach 30-month high Savers are enjoying the best rates of return on easy access accounts since March 2009, according to Moneysupermarket.com.
	Easy access Cash ISA? A reader from London is looking for an ISA where she can get access to her funds quickly.