Best Notice Savings Account Apps: 4 UK Picks Compared
The best notice savings account app depends on the bank behind it: Zopa, Moneybox, Plum and Raisin compared on notice rules, rate cuts and FSCS cover.
The best notice savings account app is the one whose rules you can live with on the day you need the money, not just the one with the top rate this week. A notice account pays more than easy access because you agree to wait, usually 30 to 120 days, before cash comes out. Four apps make that easy to set up from your phone in the UK: Zopa, Moneybox, Plum and Raisin. They differ in who holds your money, whether you can take part of it out, and what happens when the rate falls.
Rates on all of these are variable and move often, so check the live rate in the app before you open anything. What follows is about the structure, which changes far less.
How a notice account works
You deposit as normal, and when you want money back you tell the provider. The clock starts, and the cash lands in your linked account once the notice period ends. Until then you keep earning interest.
Two rules decide whether a notice account suits you:
- You cannot jump the queue. Zopa says plainly that you cannot get money out of a Boosted pot early, not even for a fee. Raisin UK says notice, once given, cannot be withdrawn. Treat the notice period as a hard wall.
- A rate cut has to be announced before it bites. On its 95-day account, Moneybox says rate decreases come with at least 109 calendar days’ notice. That is the notice period plus 14 days, which means you can give notice the moment you hear about a cut and still be out before it applies. Look for that pattern in any notice account’s terms.
That second point is the real advantage over easy access. An easy access app can cut its rate with little warning; a notice account gives you a window to leave on the old rate.
The four apps worth comparing
Zopa Boosted pots: three notice lengths, rate tied to base rate
Zopa’s notice option lives inside its Smart Saver account as Boosted pots, with a choice of 7, 31 or 95 days’ notice. The longer the notice, the higher the rate. The selling point is that the rate tracks the Bank of England base rate: Zopa’s terms say it moves up or down by the same amount when base rate changes, though Zopa keeps the right to change it for other reasons in rare cases.
Notice applies to the whole pot. When it runs out, the pot turns into an easy access pot you can draw from freely. If you might want part of the money sooner, split it across two or three Boosted pots rather than holding one large one. Zopa is a bank in its own right, so your money is protected by the FSCS under Zopa’s own licence. Our Zopa Smart Saver review covers the rest of the account.
Moneybox 95 Day Notice: £1 to start, held by Investec
Moneybox’s 95 Day Notice Savings Account opens from £1 and holds up to £120,000. The money sits with Investec Bank, Moneybox’s partner bank. Interest is worked out daily and paid on the first day of each month, gross.
Withdrawals are requested in the app. Moneybox passes the request to Investec on the next business day, and the cash reaches your nominated bank account within one business day of the 95 days ending. Rate rises usually start from the first of the next month; cuts carry the 109-day warning described above. More on the app in our Moneybox review.
Plum 95-Day Notice Pocket: only on the top plan
Plum offers a 95-Day Notice Pocket, also provided by Investec Bank. It starts from £1 with no cap on top-ups. The catch is access: Plum restricts it to subscribers on its highest paid plan, Plum Max, so the monthly fee eats into the extra interest unless you hold a large balance or already pay for Max for other reasons. Our Plum review weighs up whether the subscription earns its keep.
Raisin UK: a marketplace of notice accounts in one app
Raisin UK is not a bank. It is a savings marketplace where you open accounts with partner banks, with notice periods from 14 days up to around 120 days listed on its notice page. Banks named there include Atom Bank, QIB, Perenna Bank, LHV Bank and UBL UK. You manage everything through the Raisin UK app or website, and each partner bank’s FSCS cover applies separately.
Raisin works differently on withdrawals: you cannot take part of the balance. You close the account to start the notice clock, and the full amount plus interest goes to your Raisin Transaction Account when it ends. Some partner banks also set a minimum opening deposit, so check each one.
The trap: two apps, one bank
Moneybox and Plum both hold their notice money with Investec. FSCS protection is £120,000 per person, per banking group, so a Moneybox notice account and a Plum notice pocket count as one pot of cover, along with anything you hold directly with Investec. Below that total, it does not matter. Above it, spread the money across different banks. Our guide to whether Plum is FSCS protected explains how app-held money is covered, and you can check any firm on the FSCS protection checker.
Which notice app suits which saver
| If you want | Look at | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A short notice period | Zopa (7 or 31 days) | The only one of the four with a 7-day option |
| A rate that follows base rate | Zopa | Moves by the same amount as base rate |
| £1 to start, no subscription | Moneybox | Open to any Moneybox customer |
| The widest choice of banks | Raisin UK | Several banks in one login |
| Notice savings alongside Plum’s budgeting tools | Plum Max | Only if you already pay for Max |
When a notice account beats easy access
A notice account makes sense for money you will not need for at least a few months but do not want to lock in a fixed bond: a house deposit fund still a year away, next year’s tax bill, or savings above your emergency buffer. It is the wrong home for the emergency fund itself, because a boiler does not wait 95 days. Keep three to six months of costs in easy access first; our guide on where to keep an emergency fund sets out the layers, and our list of the best easy access savings apps covers that part.
Compare the notice rate against the best easy access rate on the day. If the gap is small, the flexibility of easy access is worth more than the extra interest. Remember too that interest outside an ISA counts towards your Personal Savings Allowance, so a higher earner on a large balance may do better in a cash ISA app.
Frequently asked questions
Can I cancel a withdrawal from a notice account once I have given notice? Usually not. Raisin UK says notice cannot be revoked once given, and Zopa does not offer early access to Boosted pots at all. Only give notice when you are sure you want the money.
Do I still earn interest during the notice period? Yes. All four providers keep paying interest until the money leaves. Moneybox, for example, pays interest until the cash returns to your account.
Can a notice account cut my rate while I am waiting? Rates are variable, but providers have to warn you first. Moneybox gives at least 109 days’ notice of a cut on its 95-day account, longer than the notice period, so you can leave on the old rate.
Can I withdraw just part of my notice savings? It depends on the app. Raisin UK only lets you close the whole account. Zopa applies notice to a whole pot, so splitting money across several pots gives you more control.
Is a notice savings account safe in an app? Yes, if the bank behind it is FSCS protected. Zopa holds money itself; Moneybox and Plum use Investec; Raisin uses its partner banks. Cover is £120,000 per person per banking group.
Is a 95-day notice account better than a fixed-rate bond? A bond often pays more and guarantees the rate, but locks the money for the whole term. A notice account keeps a route out, with a wait, and its rate can move. Choose a bond only for money you are certain you will not touch.
