Best UK Brokers For Earning High Cash Interest 2026
Cash sitting uninvested in your trading account can be a productive asset in your portfolio, particularly in fluctuating interest rate environments. To capitalise on this, many investors are considering interest incentive programs offered by a growing number of brokers in the UK. These programs automatically add interest to your unused cash balance, ensuring your British Pounds are productive until you decide to invest them.
UK Brokers Paying Interest On Cash Balances
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Established in Poland in 2002, XTB caters to over a million clients worldwide. This forex and CFD broker offers a robust regulatory framework, a diverse range of assets, and prioritises trader satisfaction. It provides an intuitive proprietary platform equipped with excellent tools to support aspiring traders.
Interest Rate: USD: 3.45%, GBP: 4%, EUR: 2.30%
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Founded in 1974, IG is a part of IG Group Holdings Plc, a publicly listed brokerage (LSE: IGG). The company provides spread betting, CFD, and forex trading, offering access to over 17,000 markets. Its platforms and investing apps are notably user-friendly. Over the past 50 years, IG has consistently been an industry leader, excelling in all essential areas for traders.
Interest Rate: GBP: 3.75%
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Interactive Brokers (IBKR) stands as a leading brokerage, offering access to 170+ markets in 40 nations alongside extensive investment services. With 40+ years in finance, this Nasdaq-listed entity complies with regulations from the SEC, FCA, CIRO, and SFC, ensuring global trustworthiness in trading.
Interest Rate: USD: 3.14%, GBP: 3.24%
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Founded in 1983, City Index is a prestigious broker, now under the Nasdaq-listed StoneX Group. It excels in forex, CFDs, and spread betting. With access to over 13,500 instruments, City Index provides a dynamic Web Trader platform, exceptional educational materials, and round-the-clock support five days a week, ensuring a thorough trading experience.
Interest Rate: GBP: 2.0%
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Founded in 1996, Swissquote is a prominent Swiss bank and broker, providing online trading opportunities for an impressive portfolio of three million products, including forex, CFDs, futures, options, and bonds. Renowned for its reliability, Swissquote has earned a solid reputation through pioneering trading solutions. It was the first bank to introduce cryptocurrency trading in 2017, and has since expanded its offerings to include fractional shares and the Invest Easy service.
Interest Rate: USD: 1.75%, GBP: 2%, EUR: 0.75%, CHF: 0.10%
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Saxo Markets is a renowned trading brokerage, investment firm, and regulated bank. Featuring over 72,000 trading instruments, alongside investment products and managed portfolios, it provides abundant opportunities for clients. This reputable brand ensures transparent pricing and is protected by top-tier regulations from more than ten agencies, including FINMA, FCA, and ASIC.
Interest Rate: USD: 3.10%, GBP: 3.25%, EUR: 1.45%
XTB
IG
Interactive Brokers
City Index
Swissquote
SaxoSafety Comparison
Compare how safe the Best UK Brokers For Earning High Cash Interest 2026 are and what features they offer to protect traders.
| Broker | Trust Rating | FCA Regulated | Negative Balance Protection | Guaranteed Stop Loss | Segregated Accounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XTB | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| IG | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Interactive Brokers | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| City Index | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Swissquote | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ | |
| Saxo | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ |
Payments Comparison
Compare which popular payment methods the Best UK Brokers For Earning High Cash Interest 2026 support and whether they have trading accounts denominated in British Pounds (GBP).
| Broker | GBP Account | Debit Card | Credit Card | Neteller | Skrill | Apple Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XTB | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| IG | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Interactive Brokers | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| City Index | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Swissquote | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
| Saxo | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ |
Mobile Trading Comparison
How good are the Best UK Brokers For Earning High Cash Interest 2026 at mobile trading using apps or other mobile interfaces.
| Broker | Mobile Apps | iOS Rating | Android Rating | Smart Watch App |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XTB | iOS & Android | ✔ | ||
| IG | iOS & Android | ✔ | ||
| Interactive Brokers | iOS & Android | ✔ | ||
| City Index | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| Swissquote | iOS & Android | ✘ | ||
| Saxo | SaxoTraderGo (iOS, Android, Windows) | ✘ |
Beginners Comparison
Are the Best UK Brokers For Earning High Cash Interest 2026 good for beginner traders, that might want an affordable setup to get started, along with good support and educational resources?
| Broker | Demo Account | Minimum Deposit | Minimum Trade | Support Rating | Education Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XTB | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| IG | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| Interactive Brokers | ✔ | $0 | $100 | ||
| City Index | ✔ | $0 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| Swissquote | ✔ | $1,000 | 0.01 Lots | ||
| Saxo | ✔ | $0 | Vary by asset |
Advanced Trading Comparison
Do the Best UK Brokers For Earning High Cash Interest 2026 offer features that allow for more advanced trading strategies?
| Broker | Automated Trading | Pro Account | Leverage | VPS | AI | Low Latency | Extended Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XTB | - | ✔ | 1:30 | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ |
| IG | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader, build your own on ProRealTime | ✔ | 1:30 (Retail), 1:222 (Pro) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Interactive Brokers | Capitalise.ai, TWS API | ✘ | 1:30 | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| City Index | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader | ✔ | 1:30 | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Swissquote | Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader and FIX API solutions | ✘ | 1:30 | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
| Saxo | - | ✘ | 1:30 | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ |
Detailed Rating Comparison
Use this heatmap to compare our detailed ratings for all of the Best UK Brokers For Earning High Cash Interest 2026.
| Broker | Trust | Platforms | Mobile | Assets | Fees | Accounts | Support | Research | Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XTB | |||||||||
| IG | |||||||||
| Interactive Brokers | |||||||||
| City Index | |||||||||
| Swissquote | |||||||||
| Saxo |
Our Take On XTB
"XTB excels for novice traders with its superb xStation platform, minimal trading costs, no required deposit, and outstanding educational resources, many of which are fully integrated into the platform."
William Berg
Reviewer
Pros
- XTB offers a superb array of educational resources, such as training videos and articles, embedded within the platform to assist traders of all experience levels.
- The xStation platform stands out with its user-friendly design and intuitive tools, such as adaptable news feeds, sentiment heatmaps, and a trader calculator. These features streamline the learning process for new traders.
- XTB offers a diverse array of instruments, including CFDs on shares, indices, ETFs, commodities, forex, crypto, real shares, real ETFs, and share dealing, along with newly introduced Investment Plans. This allows XTB to serve both short-term traders and long-term investors efficiently.
Cons
- It is frustrating that XTB products do not allow traders to modify the default leverage level. Manually adjusting leverage can greatly reduce risk in forex and CFD trading.
- The research tools at XTB are commendable but have the potential to excel further. Enhancing them with access to top-tier third-party services like Autochartist, Trading Central, and TipRanks would significantly elevate their offering.
- XTB has stopped supporting MT4, restricting traders to its own platform, xStation. This decision may discourage experienced traders accustomed to using the MetaTrader suite.
Our Take On IG
"IG offers a complete package: an easy-to-use web platform, top-tier beginner education, enhanced charting via TradingView, up-to-date data, and strong trade execution for seasoned traders."
Tobias Robinson
Reviewer
Pros
- The ProRealTime advanced charting platform remains free, provided traders meet modest monthly activity requirements.
- IG provides a wide range of professional and engaging educational materials, such as webinars, articles, and analyses, tailored for traders.
- IG excels with its diverse instruments, offering stocks, forex, indices, commodities, and cryptocurrencies. Additionally, it provides US-listed futures, options, and an AI Index, ensuring varied diversification opportunities.
Cons
- In the UK and EU, negative balance protection is available. However, US clients lack account protection and guaranteed stop losses.
- Based on tests, stock and CFD spreads remain less competitive than the lowest-cost brokers, such as CMC Markets.
- IG has ended its swap-free account, diminishing its attractiveness to Islamic traders.
Our Take On Interactive Brokers
"Interactive Brokers ranks highly for seasoned traders due to its robust charting platforms, live data, and bespoke layouts via the new IBKR Desktop app. Its competitive pricing and sophisticated order choices appeal to traders, and its wide equity options are industry-leading."Tobias Robinson
Reviewer
Pros
- While initially targeting seasoned traders, IBKR has recently widened its appeal by eliminating its $10,000 minimum deposit requirement.
- DayTrading.com awarded Interactive Brokers 'Best US Broker' for 2025, highlighting its dedication to US traders, extremely low margin rates, and affordable global market access.
- A wide range of third-party research subscriptions, both free and paid, are available for traders. Additionally, by subscribing to Toggle AI, traders can receive commission rebates from IBKR.
Cons
- You are limited to a single active session per account, meaning you cannot use both your desktop programme and mobile app at the same time. This restriction can occasionally lead to a frustrating experience for traders.
- The learning curve for TWS is quite steep, making it tough for novice traders to navigate and grasp all its features. In contrast, Plus500's web platform is far more accessible for those new to trading.
- In 2025, IBKR was fined $11.8m by the US OFAC for operating in sanctioned areas. That same year, FINRA imposed a $125k fine for lapses in municipal bond disclosure.
Our Take On City Index
"City Index suits active traders perfectly, offering rapid execution speeds averaging 20ms and a customisable web platform with over 90 technical indicators. Its educational resources are exceptional. For UK traders interested in spread betting on 8,500+ instruments tax-free, City Index is an excellent option."Tobias Robinson
Reviewer
Pros
- City Index offers adaptable trading platforms suited to every expertise level. For newcomers, the Web Trader platform is straightforward and user-friendly. For more in-depth analysis and automated features, MetaTrader 4 (MT4) and TradingView are supported, providing a comprehensive trading experience for all traders.
- City Index offers access to over 13,500 markets, including forex, indices, shares, commodities, bonds, ETFs, and interest rates. The platform's inclusion of niche markets such as interest rates provides traders with unique opportunities not commonly available on other platforms.
- City Index is under the regulation of leading authorities, such as the FCA in the UK, ASIC in Australia, and MAS in Singapore. Its parent company, StoneX Group Inc., is publicly listed, which enhances its credibility.
Cons
- Unlike brokers like AvaTrade and BlackBull, City Index lacks options for passive trading, such as social copy trading or real ownership of stocks and ETFs. This limitation may reduce its appeal to traders seeking a more hands-off approach.
- Although many brokers, such as eToro, have broadened their crypto offerings, City Index restricts its clients to crypto CFDs. This limited selection may not meet the needs of traders seeking a wider variety of altcoins.
- City Index does not offer an Islamic account with swap-free conditions, making it less attractive to Muslim traders than brokers such as Eightcap and Pepperstone.
Our Take On Swissquote
"Swissquote is ideal for traders seeking a tailor-made platform, like its CXFD, which incorporates Autochartist for automated chart analysis to support trading decisions. Yet, its moderate fees and high $1,000 minimum deposit could deter novice traders."Tobias Robinson
Reviewer
Pros
- Swissquote offers sophisticated research tools such as Autochartist for technical analysis and real-time news from Dow Jones. The firm's exclusive Market Talk videos and Morning News provide daily expert insights, catering to active traders.
- Swissquote is highly reputable due to its status as a bank, its presence on the Swiss stock exchange, and its authorisations from credible regulators such as FINMA in Switzerland, FCA in the UK, and CSSF in Luxembourg.
- Swissquote is designed for rapid trading strategies, including scalping and high-frequency approaches. With an average execution speed of 9ms and a 98% fill ratio, it also supports FIX API.
Cons
- Swissquote focuses on serving professional and high-net-worth clients, requiring substantial initial deposits, such as $1,000 for Standard accounts. This approach is less favourable for smaller traders who prefer brokers offering higher leverage and no deposit requirements.
- Unlike brokers like eToro that offer social trading capabilities, Swissquote does not provide tools for community interaction or replicating successful traders. This absence can reduce its attractiveness to those who prioritise peer-to-peer learning.
- Analysis indicates that Swissquote's charges are relatively high. Forex spreads on Standard accounts begin at 1.3 pips, whereas brokers such as Pepperstone or IC Markets offer starting spreads of 0.0 pips. Additionally, transaction fees for non-Swiss stocks and ETFs could accumulate significantly for active traders.
Our Take On Saxo
"Saxo suits active traders and high-volume investors, providing unmatched instrument variety, premium research, and fee rebates. With 190 currency pairs offering tight spreads, it excels for forex traders."Christian Harris
Reviewer
Pros
- Execution was robust during live tests. Saxo's FX order statistics showed average fills at 9–10ms, with approximately 99.3–99.5% completing in under 50ms. This performance aligned with the rapid, precise fills observed on major FX and index CFDs.
- Saxo offers traders genuine multi-asset access through a single account. Our tests showed seamless trading in FX, CFDs, stocks, ETFs, futures, options, and bonds across over 70,000 instruments, all without needing to switch platforms.
- Research tools excel with Autochartist integration. It offers filters by pattern type, asset class, and timeframes from 15 minutes to daily, with probability bands reaching over 70%, ensuring genuine utility.
Cons
- Saxo offers speed but is not ideal for ultra-tight scalping. Around 55-60% of EUR/USD orders experience zero slippage. However, about 20% encounter negative slippage, especially noticeable during news events and in higher-latency conditions of 300-400ms.
- Our analysis shows classic account pricing is costly for traders. The EUR/USD pair typically incurs all-in spreads of 0.8–0.9 pips. Consequently, traders with smaller volumes will often face higher costs compared to leading ECN-style brokers.
- Withdrawals are dependable but sluggish. Saxo handled requests within 1-2 business days, but transfers typically reached our bank in 4-5 days due to correspondent banking and SHA fees.
Note: interest rates are subject to change. Check the current rate available before depositing funds.
What To Consider With An Interest-Earning Investment Account
When evaluating what to do with uninvested cash, consider these factors to ensure your money works effectively for you:
- Weigh the interest rates available for the amount you plan to leave in your investment account. For instance, Swissquote is paying interest up to 2% on balances up to 50,000, however the interest rate drops if you want to deposit more than that. Alternatively, XTB serves British traders of all budgets, paying 4% on all balances.
- Consider whether traditional savings accounts offer higher interest rates. At the time of writing, I evaluated the options available and Wealthify stood out by offering 4.91% in their Instant Savings account, while Virgin Money was offering 5.01% in their Defined Access account. The downside is convenience – you’ll need to move funds to an investment account to capitalise on trading opportunities.
- The safety of your cash is another critical aspect. Verify whether your uninvested cash will be protected by insurance schemes like the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) in the UK – which insures deposits up to £85,000 per eligible person and up to £170,000 for joint accounts. XTB and eToro, for example, are all regulated by the FCA and provide deposit protection through the FSCS.
Interest rates are determined by the rates brokers receive from the banks where they hold your cash. If there are changes in the Bank of England’s base rate you can anticipate corresponding adjustments in the interest rates on your cash.
Pros & Cons Of Interest-Adding Brokerage Accounts
Pros
- Interest automatically added to unused cash helps mitigate the opportunity cost of holding onto idle funds, allowing you to earn a return on funds that would otherwise earn no interest.
- Some brokerage accounts give you the flexibility to earn interest on the funds held within it, and to utilise the account as a financial tool to pay bills directly from your account.
- Account funds remain liquid and accessible for trading or withdrawal, providing flexibility to capitalise on market opportunities or meet unexpected financial needs.
- Interest earned can be automatically reinvested, compounding returns over time without requiring manual intervention.
Cons
- Although earning interest on your uninvested cash is a pleasant bonus, it may not amount to a substantial sum. If you want to earn risk-free interest, you may be better off considering a high-yield savings account.
- While a broker may offer an attractive interest rate on uninvested funds, they may have a minimum balance requirement and will only pay interest on all your uninvested cash if your total balance exceeds a specific threshold.
- Some brokers have account fees and restrictions, which may limit how often you can transfer money in and out.
Comparing different brokerage offers and their terms can help you choose the best place for your uninvested cash, balancing earning interest and having funds readily available for investment opportunities.
Bottom Line
If you want to attain the returns of a high-yield savings account while maintaining nearly the same level of security as a bank, there are possibilities to achieve this within your brokerage account.
Utilising your trading account for banking purposes can also aid in consolidating your financial affairs under one provider, potentially offering additional advantages in terms of simplicity and convenience.
But while many investors view cash interest programs as temporary holding spots, it’s common for uninvested cash to remain there for an extended period. As such, ensure that your cash is positioned optimally for your circumstances, for example, maximising the interest rate.
To find the right platform for you, see our ranking of the best UK brokers paying cash interest.
FAQ
Which UK Investment Platform Pays The Highest Cash Interest?
eToro is among the highest interest-paying investment platforms in the UK, offering up to 5.3% on cash balances.
We’ve compiled a list of the best brokers paying interest on idle funds in the UK, considering their overall trading environment, alongside factors like interest earned on cash.
Do You Have To Pay Tax On Interest Earned From Brokerage Accounts?
In the UK, you may owe tax on interest earned through a brokerage account. HMRC sets the rules on how much tax you will pay, which varies depending on your personal allowance, personal savings allowance, and the starting rate on savings.