Cash ISA

Savers torn between easy-access, fixed cash and regular saver ISAs can now open one of each in the same tax year at certain building societies and banks and still earn top rates, MoneySavingExpert.com has discovered.

If you opened a Santander Direct ISA Saver last year, check your rate now. If you haven't upgraded, it could now be paying as little as 0.5%.

Savers can get up to 2.75% tax-free interest on cash put into an ISA. But with the deadline looming you need to use your ISA allowance now or you'll lose it.

Chancellor George Osborne announced big changes for the UK's savers in today's Budget, including a revamp of the Isa system and new bonds for over-65s.

The Chancellor pulled a rabbit out of his Budget back pocket today, which is probably why he's been sitting uncomfortably for so long. The shock news is that from 1 July, cash and shares Isas are to be merged into one new, much bigger £15,000 tax-free savings and investing pot.

Savings rates are at an all-time low. But with less than a month left to take advantage of this year's Isa allowance, should you be using it?

NatWest, RBS and Ulster Bank are banning introductory bonus rates to get back to basics with simpler products. But MoneySavingExpert.com creator Martin Lewis says the move could result in even lower returns and less certainty for savers.

If you're an HSBC current account holder, you can now get up to 1.6% AER interest on your savings with the bank's new Isa – but it's not a market-leading deal.

Update: 6 February 2014: The RBS Group has confirmed that any missing interest has now been credited to affected NatWest and RBS customers' Isa accounts.