As of January 2026, Principality Building Society offers a top regular savings rate of 7.5% (fixed for six months), while Nationwide Building Society (6.5% AER) and Newcastle Building Society (6.5% variable) also provide high returns for regular savers, often restricted to £200–£500 monthly deposits.
You generally won't find 7% on standard savings accounts, but can find it on Regular Saver Accounts (like First Direct or Co-operative Bank in the UK) or with specific Credit Unions (like Community Financial Credit Union in Michigan for up to $1,000 balance). For kids, some accounts like WECU offer 7% on small balances, while some high-yield checking accounts or accounts in other countries (like India's IDFC Bank) might hit 7% with strict conditions or large deposits.
As it stands, the Nationwide 6.5% regular saver account is still available, so you could jump onto it for another 12 months. The maximum you can pay into the account each month is £200 a month, and the maximum withdrawals you can make are three - any more and you will only earn 1.05% interest.
Nationwide's popular 8% savings account was a Flex Regular Saver launched in September 2023 for existing current account holders, offering a market-leading 8% AER for 12 months on deposits up to £200 monthly, with limited withdrawals allowed before the rate dropped; however, this specific 8% product is no longer available, with rates changing and maturing for many savers by early 2025, though Nationwide continues to offer other competitive savings products.
Best online high-yield savings account rates
Fitch Affirms Nationwide Building Society at 'A'; Outlook Stable. Fitch Ratings - London - 07 Dec 2023: Fitch Ratings has affirmed Nationwide Building Society's Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) at 'A' with a Stable Outlook and Viability Rating (VR) at 'a'.
Many personal finance experts recommend saving at least three to six months' worth of expenses. But the goal amount can vary on several personal factors. An emergency fund is just as the name suggests. This is money set aside to cover your necessities if you suddenly lose your job.
You're unlikely to find an everyday savings account with 8% interest in the US as of early 2026 (rates are closer to 4-5%), but you might find such high rates for Fixed Deposits (FDs) or special accounts, especially in India (like Jana SFB, Suryoday SF Bank, or DCB Bank for FDs) or for specific UK accounts (like Principality BS), often for senior citizens or specific tenures, so check banks like Unity Small Finance Bank, Jana Small Finance Bank, or Suryoday Small Finance Bank, but always verify rates for your location and account type (savings vs. FD).
Yes, interest earned from savings accounts, including high-yield accounts, money market accounts, and CDs, is considered taxable income by the IRS and must be reported on your federal tax return, taxed at your ordinary income rate (10% to 37%). Banks send Form 1099-INT for interest over $10, but you must report all interest, even if you don't receive the form. The principal isn't taxed, only the earnings, and sign-up bonuses are also taxable.
If you want to invest $10,000 over 10 years, and you expect it will earn 5.00% in annual interest, your investment will have grown to become $16,288.95.
If you put in $10,000 in a one-year certificate of deposit (CD) that earns a competitive 4% annual percentage yield (APY), you'll earn around $400 in total interest. That rate is more than double the national average rate, and it's over 100 times greater than rock-bottom rates commonly offered by large banks.
How to save a lump sum of money
You can usually have more than 1
That could be multiple accounts with the same bank, or spread across a few different providers.
The "7-3-2 Rule" refers to two main concepts: a financial strategy for wealth building, suggesting it takes 7 years for the first major savings milestone, 3 years for the next, and 2 years for the third, driven by compounding and increasing investments; and a trucking rule (7/3 split) allowing drivers to split their 10-hour mandatory break into 7 hours in the sleeper berth and 3 hours of off-duty rest, offering flexibility.
The 3-6-9 rule in finance is a guideline for building an emergency fund, suggesting you save 3 months of essential expenses for stable jobs, 6 months for most people (especially those with families/mortgages), and 9 months for those with irregular income (freelancers, sole earners) or high financial risk. It's a flexible strategy to provide financial security, helping you avoid debt or panic withdrawals during unexpected job loss or emergencies, with the exact target depending on your income stability and dependents.