Cheaper energy bills, £240 switch deal, top easy access saver, 7%+ regular savers
This edition was published on 4 September 2026. Offers and rates mentioned were correct when published and may have changed since. See today’s verified offers →
THIS WEEK
Hi there, William here.
£240 to switch banks, a 4.55% easy access saver, four regular savers paying 7% or more, and energy bills going up on 1 October.
Your deal editor at MoneyHQ. I check every offer myself and I tell you the catch before you click.
THIS WEEK IN NUMBERS
£240 Santander pays you to switch | 4.55% NatWest's new easy access rate | 8% Top regular saver rate right now |
TL;DR
Energy prices rise from 1 October: make sure you are not overpaying. Compare energy →
Best switch deal yet: Santander now pays £240. Switch offers →
NatWest's new easy access saver: 4.55% with no lock in. Savings →
Four regular savers paying 7% or more. Regular savers →
01 · ENERGY
Energy bills go up on 1 October. Don't just accept the rise.
NEW PRICE CAP From 1 Oct | WHO PAYS MORE 6 in 10 homes | TIME TO CHECK 5 minutes |
Source: energy-uk.org.uk
From 1 October the energy price cap rises to its highest level in three years. Around 60% of UK homes are on a standard tariff and will automatically pay more.
Fixed deals are available right now that could beat the new cap. It takes five minutes to check, and it could save you hundreds.
The catch: if you do nothing, you move onto the new cap automatically. Nobody switches you to a better deal for you.
02 · BANK SWITCHING · MONEYHQ PICK
Santander: £240 to switch, up from £180
SWITCH BONUS £240 | PAY IN, 60 DAYS £1,500 | DEADLINE 7 October |
Santander has quietly increased its switching bonus from £180 to £240, one of the best deals available right now.
Switch your current account, pay in £1,500, set up two household Direct Debits and put £200 into their Regular Saver within 60 days. That's it.
The Regular Saver pays 8% on top, so you are looking at £344 in year one combined.
The catch: the deadline is 7 October 2026, so don't hang about.
03 · SAVINGS
NatWest's new First Active saver: 4.55% easy access
RATE 4.55% AER | OPEN WITH £1 | BONUS LASTS 12 months |
NatWest Group has just launched First Active, a brand new digital savings brand offering one of the most competitive easy access rates available right now.
4.55% AER on balances up to £1,000,000. No fixed term, no lock in, withdraw any time. Open with just £1 in minutes through the app.
It is backed by NatWest Group, one of the UK's biggest banking groups, so your money is in safe hands. FSCS protected up to £120,000.
The catch: the 4.55% includes a bonus rate for 12 months. After that it drops to 3.05%, so set a reminder to move your money when it ends.
Worth considering if you have cash sitting in a standard account earning next to nothing.
04 · REGULAR SAVERS
Four regular savers paying 7% or more right now
TOP RATE 8% | MOST INTEREST £135 a year | YOU NEED Their current account |
Most people have never heard of a regular saver, but they are paying some of the best rates available anywhere in the UK right now.
Santander, 8% on up to £200 a month. You need a Santander current account. The rate is variable and includes a bonus, but they are also paying £240 to switch right now, so the timing is perfect.
Lloyds / Bank of Scotland, 8% fixed on up to £250 a month. Fixed, so guaranteed for the full year. Existing customers only.
First Direct, 7% fixed on up to £300 a month. The highest total interest of the four at £135 a year. A £175 switching bonus is available too.
Co-op Bank, 7% on up to £250 a month. The most flexible: skip months and withdraw any time. Up to £300 switching bonus on top.
The catch: all of these need a current account with that bank. Most of them are paying switching bonuses right now, so you get paid to switch and then earn 7 to 8% on your savings. Not bad.
Other news
Car insurance prices are falling: the average premium is down 29% from the 2023 peak. A good time to shop around before prices start rising again.
Fixed rate Cash ISAs now pay up to 4.77%: worth considering if you have cash you won't need for a year or two and want to lock in a guaranteed tax free rate before the ISA rules change in April 2027. Compare Cash ISAs →
How was this week's edition?One tap. William reads every answer. |
 | That's it for this week. Hit reply if you want me to look at a deal, I read every one. Know someone overpaying? Forward this to them. William · Deal editor, MoneyHQ |
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