NS&I Income Bonds Review

A competitive easy access account from NS&I. It ranks 47th of 152 easy access accounts we track.

Variable rate

3.75%AER

Protection

FSCS£120,000

Min balance

£500

Max balance

£1,000,000

Access

Instant, No penalty

Interest paid

Monthly

How It Stacks Up

Ranks 47th of 152

Easy access accounts we track

Above average
This account 3.75%
UK CPI (Aug 2026)
3.10%
Pays 0.65% more
Average easy access
2.83%
Pays 0.92% more
Best easy access
5.00%
Pays 1.25% less

Inflation: ONS. Averages and best rates: accounts on DepositScout.

A better-paying alternative

Tembo bank logo

Tembo

HomeSaver

4.55%

AER

  • Pays 0.80% more than this NS&I account
  • Instant access, open with £10

We may earn a commission if you open this account.

A Good Fit For

  • Pro: New and existing savers
  • Pro: Savers who want instant access
  • Pro: Savers who want a monthly income

Worth Weighing Up

  • Con: The rate is variable, so it can go down

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See all NS&I accounts

Estimated returns with NS&I's Easy Access

What you could earn with NS&I's Income Bonds.

Estimated interest

£1,000 saved

£37.50

At 3.75% AER

£5,000 saved

£188

At 3.75% AER

£10,000 saved

£375

At 3.75% AER

£1,000,000 saved

£37,500

At 3.75% AER

Estimated over one year, if the rate stays the same and interest is left in. Amounts outside the account's minimum or maximum aren't shown.

Our Expert Opinion on NS&I Income Bonds

Jonny PeaseCo-Founder, DepositScout

NS&I Income Bonds pay 3.75%, which is 1.25% behind the easy access market leader at 5.00%, and the position is below the market average, so you are accepting a meaningful rate penalty for the NS&I name. That said, 3.75% does beat August 2026 CPI of 3.1% by 0.65%, and monthly interest payments make it useful if you want a regular income stream. The £1,000,000 maximum is generous, but if rate is the priority, First Active's Instant Access Savings Account at 4.05% is worth a look.

2 alternatives to NS&I's Income Bonds

Same type of account, closest on rate.

Common questions about the Income Bonds

D

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2 minutes ago

Easy Access rate just dropped

A top provider just cut their rate. Here's what you need to know about the latest market shift.

Nationwide FlexSaver Rate Down
4.20% AER
4.75%
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Live Market Tracking

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