Background image: Cash ISA

Cash ISA

Our Cash ISA is an ideal way to save your money tax free.

You can open and manage a Cash ISA face to face in our Relationship Centres or by post.

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Excellent and Seamless Service
The entire process was handled extremely efficiently from beginning to end and I would not hesitate to recommend.
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Extremely positive customer experience. All aspects of applying for and obtaining my mortgage were dealt with very efficiently and courteously by SBS.
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Always excellent service from knowledgeable pleasant staff.
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Efficient friendly staff good at explaining options available in no nonsense fashion
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The personal touch and being able to speak to an advisor is great. Staff always respectful and helpful.

Key Information
  • Tax-free interest helps your money grow faster
  • You’ll have instant access to your money
  • Deposits can be made at any time during the tax year, subject to your annual ISA allowance
  • Open with £100 and save up to £20,000 each tax year. It’s easy to transfer additional funds in if you have Cash ISAs and Stocks and Shares ISAs with another ISA provider
Interest Rate
2.50%
Tax-Free/AER Variable
What might a Cash ISA look like for me?
Initial Deposit
Balance after 12 months
Interest earned
£1,000.00
£1,025.00
£25.00
£10,000.00
£10,250.00
£250.00
£25,000.00
£25,625.00
£625.00
£50,000.00
£51,250.00
£1,250.00
Interest Rates

The main benefit of our easy access Cash ISA is the tax advantages it offers you, because any interest you earn is tax free. You can make as many deposits into your Cash ISA as you want (subject to your annual ISA allowance) and withdraw money whenever you need to.

Whether you’re putting funds aside for a special occasion, thinking about a dream holiday or making plans for your retirement, opening a Cash ISA is easy.

You can open an account in one of our Relationship Centres with £100 and save up to £20,000 each year tax-free, or if it’s easier for you, you can download an application form and post it to us. 

Questions we get asked

What's the interest rate?

Tax Year Account Opened/Funds Deposited           Tax-free/AER variable

2022/23                                                                                          2.50%

AER stands for Annual Equivalent Rate and illustrates what the interest rate would be if interest was paid and added each year.

Interest is paid annually on 31 March each year, as long as the account continues to satisfy the ISA regulations. Interest is usually added to the account, but it can be paid to a bank account or another account with Scottish Building Society if you’d like.

Will the interest rate change?

The interest rate is variable and can change – if it increases, we’ll update our website and, if the rate goes down, we’ll write to you 14 days before it changes.

You can find out more about changes to our interest rates by reading our Savings Terms & Conditions.

What would be the estimated balance after 12 months if I opened an account with £1,000?

After 12 months the estimated balance would be £1,025.00.

This estimate is just for illustrative purposes and doesn’t take into account any deposits or withdrawals you might make,

Can anyone open a Cash ISA?

You can open a Cash ISA if you're aged 16 or over and resident in the UK for tax purposes. The minimum opening balance is £100.

How do I open the account?

You can open a Cash ISA in one of our Relationship Centres, or if it’s easier for you, you can download an application form and post it to us with a cheque for your initial deposit and proof of ID. It’s best to use a recorded mail service if you send original documents to us.

You can make deposits in our Relationship Centres (cash or cheque), by post (cheques only) or by bank transfer.

For more information see managing your savings account.

What's my annual ISA allowance?

The Government sets an ISA limit on how much you can save in all your ISAs each tax year (from 6th April – 5th April). For 2022/23, your full annual ISA allowance is set at £20,000. There are 4 types of ISA - cash ISA, stocks and shares ISA, innovative finance ISA and Lifetime ISA.

How will I receive my interest?

Interest is calculated daily from the day after you deposit your cash or cheque until the date you withdraw your funds.

Annual interest is paid to your account once a year on 31 March. Or, if you prefer, the interest can be transferred to another account held with Scottish Building Society or paid to your bank account.

Will I pay tax on a Cash ISA?

Whatever your personal tax status, you won’t have to pay income tax on the interest earned on a cash ISA under current regulations, provided that you keep to the annual subscription limits and other rules of operation laid down by HM Revenue & Customs. You don’t need to mention a cash ISA on any tax return you fill in. Any interest earned is free of Capital Gains Tax.

Interest earned from your Cash ISA will not count towards your Personall Savings Allowance.

How can I access and transfer my money?

Getting access to your Cash ISA couldn’t be simpler.

You can withdraw money from your Cash ISA at any time. You can make an unlimited number of withdrawals to a nominated bank account without notice,  penalties or charges.

You can make withdrawals in our Relationship Centres too. You’ll need to bring proof of ID with you (for example, a valid Passport) and your signature (for example, a valid driving licence).

Our Cash ISA isn't a flexible ISA, that means the maximum amount you can deposit in any one tax year is £20,000, regardless of any withdrawals you make in that tax year.

If you want to make ISA transfers, you can transfer money in from other Cash ISAs and Stocks and Shares ISAs.

What happens to my ISA if I die?

Your ISA savings will be included in your estate for inheritance tax purposes. However, any accrued ISA savings can be passed to your spouse or civil partner upon death, allowing the surviving spouse or civil partner to continue receiving the tax benefits. Please contact us for more details.

Financial Services Compensation Scheme

Any eligible deposits into your E-ISA are protected up to the limit of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, the UK’s deposit guarantee scheme.

If your bank or building society fails and can’t pay back your money, FSCS can automatically pay you compensation:

  • up to £85,000 per eligible person, per bank, building society or credit union.

  • up to £170,000 for joint accounts.

Find out more by visiting fscs.org.uk

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Request a Transfer

If you want to transfer funds in from existing ISAs with another provider, please complete the relevant transfer authority form.


If you want to transfer funds from an existing Scottish Building Society savings account or ISA, please complete our withdrawal form.