Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleLori CampbellWednesday 29 July 2026 15:35 BST212 Travel Challenge with Gabriel Nussbaum and Annabel Grossman.mp4Longer-term savings bonds, such as five-year fixes, currently offer only marginally better returns than one-year accounts, despite requiring a much longer commitment.For example, a leading five-year bond pays 4.96 per cent, just 0.05 percentage points more than the top one-year account, equating to only £5 extra interest on £10,000 saved in the first year.Financial experts attribute this trend to recent market uncertainty, making it difficult for providers to price longer-term deals significantly higher.Savers are advised to consider their need for access to funds, as money in fixed-term bonds is typically inaccessible until maturity, and to be aware of potential tax implications if interest accrues over several years.Alternative strategies include choosing a shorter fix to reassess rates annually, or using a 'savings ladder' by dividing money across bonds with different maturity dates to maintain some annual access.In fullWhen is the right time to take your cash savings out? It might be sooner than you thinkMore bulletinsThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in