Post Office launches market-leading savings account

The Post Office Online Saver offers the highest easy-access rate we've seen since February. The account allows unlimited withdrawals and can be opened with just £1.

At 1.33% AER variable (including a 1.08% bonus for 12 months), the account pays 0.03 percentage points more than the next best rate at 1.3% - which is available from four different providers: Shawbrook, Sainsbury's, Coventry Building Society and Virgin Money.

For more on these accounts and how they differ from one another, see our guide.

You can earn more by locking away cash or opening a bank account

While the new Post Office account offers the best easy-access deal, it's possible to earn boosted rates if you're happy to lock away your cash in a fixed savings account instead.

Currently, the top one-year fix is from Atom Bank at 2.05% AER, followed by Secure Trust Bank at 1.88%. For more details, including longer fixes paying up to 2.66%, see our fixed savings best-buys.

Alternatively, if you're happy to open a current account, it's possible to earn up to 5% on your savings.

Those accepted for the Nationwide FlexDirect account can earn 5% for a year on up to £2,500, while its linked regular also pays 5% and you can drip-feed in up to £250 per month.

Alternatively, Tesco Bank pays 3% guaranteed until April 2019 on up to £3,000 via its current account, and you can open two of them. For more on these accounts and others, see Current Account savings.