Business
Best ISAs, fixed rate and easy access savings accounts with interest rates up to 6.2% | Personal Finance | Finance
After 14 consecutive Base Rate rises, banks and building societies have been improving interest rates across their own savings products – and some are offering returns of up to 6.2 percent.
While average fixed rate deals may have marginally dropped compared to the summer’s peak, savers looking for easy access accounts can benefit from some of the highest interest rates seen in decades.
Lucinda O’Brien, savings expert at Money.co.uk said: “Santander has caused a stir this week, with the reveal of its limited edition easy access saver and its market-leading interest rate of 5.2 percent. This surpasses Furness Building Society Triple Access Saver which has an interest rate of five percent.
“However, Santander’s offering is only available until September 17 – or until it’s sold out, which could be a lot sooner. To unlock this interest rate, you’ll need to open the account with a minimum deposit of £1 and have the interest earned annually rather than monthly.”
Ms O’Brien noted that the “good news” is that deposits and withdrawals are flexible, so it’s “ideal” for someone who wants to save but might need to access the money quickly.
She added: “So, with a high street bank raising its interest rates on easy access accounts, could this be a sign for others to follow suit? Only time will tell.”
A number of different savings accounts are available to suit a range of circumstances – from easy access to cash ISAs – and Ms O’Brien has pulled together some of the top rates on offer today.
Easy access savings accounts
Easy access accounts are typically more flexible, as these allow savers to make payments and withdrawals with minimal restrictions and with small opening deposit requirements.
Topping the leaderboard of easy access savings accounts offering the highest interest rate is Santander’s Easy Access Saver Limited Edition (Issue 3) with an Annual Equivalent Rate (AER) of 5.2 percent on savings up to £250,000 for 12 months. The account can be opened with a minimum deposit of £1 online, in-app, over the phone or in a branch, and interest is annually.
Furness Building Society Triple Access Saver (Issue 1) falls just behind with an AER of five percent on a minimum deposit of £1. Up to three withdrawals are permitted per year and up to £250,000 can be invested overall.
For those looking for a little more freedom to withdraw funds, Shawbrook Bank’s Easy Access (Issue 36) is offering an AER of 4.93 percent. A minimum deposit of £1,000 and interest is paid on the anniversary of opening. Up to £85,000 can be invested overall and withdrawals are permitted without penalty.
Fixed rate savings accounts
Fixed-rate accounts enable savers to lock in an interest rate for a set length of time, but typically come with a few more restrictions to limit withdrawals.
NS&I’s Guaranteed Growth Bond (Issue 72) is currently topping the list for one-year fixed savers with an AER of 6.2 percent and interest can be paid monthly or annually. The account can be opened with a minimum deposit of £500 and up to £1million can be invested overall. Withdrawals are not permitted until the end of the term.
Topping Ms O’Brien’s list for three-year savers is OakNorth Bank with an AER of 5.96 percent. The account can be opened with just £1 and up to £500,000 can be invested. Interest is compounded annually and paid on maturity, and withdrawals are not permitted.
For longer-term savers, Tandem Bank remains top of Ms O’Brien’s list for five-year bonds with an AER of 5.85 percent. The account can be opened with just £1 and up to £2.5million can be invested. Interest is paid annually and withdrawals are not allowed until the term ends.
Cash ISAs
Cash ISAs enable savers’ money to grow without having to pay tax on the interest above the Personal Savings Allowance (PSA). However, some ISAs can come with a few more restrictions, like penalty charges for early access or transfers.
For those who need instant access to their cash ISA, Cynergy Bank Online ISA (Issue 41) tops the list with an AER of 4.55 percent. The account can be opened with a minimum deposit of £1 and withdrawals can be made at any time.
For those looking for a fixed rate, Shawbrook Bank, Charter Savings Bank and Zopa are topping the lists for one, two and three-year accounts. Shawbrook’s one-year fixed ISA offers an AER of 5.78 percent, while Charter Savings and Zopa offer AERs of 5.78 percent and 5.56 percent respectively.
Mumbai:
Stock market benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty rebounded sharply in morning trade on Wednesday after heavy drubbing in the previous session amid buying in blue-chip bank stocks and a firm trend in Asian peers.
The 30-share BSE benchmark gauge Sensex bounced back in early trade and later jumped 835.2 points or 1.02 per cent to 82,021.64. The NSE Nifty surged 262.3 points or 1.06 per cent to 24,946.20.
From the Sensex firms, Sun Pharma, Bajaj Finance, UltraTech Cement, Mahindra & Mahindra, Bajaj Finserv, Tech Mahindra, HDFC Bank and Tata Motors were the biggest gainers.
IndusInd Bank emerged as the only laggard.
Moody’s Ratings said on Wednesday, India is well-positioned to deal with the negative effects of US tariffs and global trade disruptions as domestic growth drivers and low dependence on exports anchor the economy.
In a note on India, the agency said government initiatives to boost private consumption, expand manufacturing capacity and increase infrastructure spending will help offset the weakening outlook for global demand.
In Asian markets, South Korea’s Kospi, Shanghai’s SSE Composite index and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng were trading in the positive territory while Japan’s Nikkei 225 index quoted lower.
US markets ended lower on Tuesday.
Global oil benchmark Brent crude jumped 1.62 per cent to USD 66.44 a barrel.
Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) offloaded equities worth Rs 10,016.10 crore on Tuesday, according to exchange data.
Retreating from early highs, the 30-share BSE Sensex tanked 872.98 points or 1.06 per cent to settle at 81,186.44 on Tuesday. The Nifty tumbled 261.55 points or 1.05 per cent to 24,683.90.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Business
Piccadily Becomes The 1st Indian Alcobev Company To Adapt NFC Technology To Combat Counterfeiting
New Delhi, Delhi, India – Business Wire India
In a pioneering move to safeguard consumers and reinforce trust in premium Indian spirits, Piccadily Agro Industries Limited has become the first Indian alco-bev company to implement ForgeStop’s cutting-edge anti-counterfeit smart label technology for its acclaimed Indri Single Malt.
With counterfeiting rampant in India – where it’s said that more Scotch is consumed than Scotland even produces – Piccadily has taken a bold and proactive step. By integrating NFC-enabled smart labels into its packaging, the company is setting a new benchmark in authenticity and transparency, investing significantly to ensure consumers receive only genuine, original products, reinforcing trust in premium Indian spirits.
ForgeStop InfoTap Labels on Piccadily products utilize EM Microelectronic echo-V chips with 128bit AES encryption and dynamically changing tokens – giving them bank level security and making them virtually impossible to fake. They also feature tag-tamper detection – alerting a consumer if the bottle seal has ever been broken – this prevents bottle re-use, a major issue with Alcohol counterfeiting that is difficult to combat with other technologies. Its platform creates a unique digital twin of every product at the moment of production and secures the product until it’s enjoyed by the customer. The software allows for app-free authentication and provides batch level product information – making it the most user-friendly anti-counterfeit technology available. This technology can be connected to the blockchain generating an immutable product journey – securing supply chains.
Unlike static technologies such as QR codes or holograms, this NFC tap and verify experience allows customers to simply tap their smartphones to the bottle to instantly confirm its authenticity and view batch-level information.
“As a brand committed to authenticity and quality, we’re proud to be the first Indian single malt brand to take this bold step,” said Praveen Malviya, CEO (IMFL), Piccadily Agro Industries Limited. “Counterfeit alcohol is a serious issue in India and globally. With ForgeStop’s smart technology, our customers can enjoy Indri with the confidence that what’s in the bottle is exactly what we crafted.”
“We’re proud to partner with Piccadily Distilleries, a globally recognized brand leading the way in product integrity. With ForgeStop’s smart label technology, consumers can instantly verify authenticity and access product information with a simple tap-no app required. It’s a seamless blend of security and brand storytelling,” said Terry Katz, CEO of ForgeStop.
As per the TRACIT (Transnational Alliance to Combat Illicit Trade) September 2023 report on India, a significant share of alcohol sold in India is counterfeit-well above the global average-and the problem is escalating rapidly. Counterfeit alcohol not only harms brands but also poses serious risks to consumer health.
With this first-of-its-kind initiative, Piccadily is elevating the standards of transparency, safety, and innovation in the Indian spirits industry-paving the way for a more secure and connected future for whisky lovers.
*Source- Source (TRACIT Report on India)
Source (OECD Illicit Trade Report)
Stock Ticker: (PICCADIL | 530305 | INE546C01010)
About Piccadilly Agro Industries Limited (PAIL)
Piccadilly Agro Industries Limited (PAIL) is a publicly listed company on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE: PICAGRO). The company operates primarily in two strategic business segments: Distillery and Sugar. Its manufacturing facility is located in Indri, Haryana, covers 168 acres and is equipped with advanced technology for producing a diverse range of products, including Malt, Extra Neutral Alcohol (ENA), Ethanol, and White Crystal Sugar.
Piccadilly Agro Industries Limited has established itself as a key player in the alcoholic beverages industry, particularly renowned for its expertise in malt spirits. The company boasts a robust portfolio that includes premium expressions of Indri single malt whisky, blended malt whisky brands and Camikara, premium sugarcane juice aged rum.
In 2022, Piccadilly Agro Industries Limited made a significant mark with the launch of ‘Indri’ its flagship single malt whisky brand, aimed at catering to discerning consumers who appreciate quality and craftsmanship in spirits. By focusing on premiumization strategies and leveraging its technical capabilities, the company has successfully positioned itself as a leader in the Indian single malt whisky market by becoming the ‘fastest growing single malt whisky brand’ in 2024.
Website: www.piccadily.com
About ForgeStop
ForgeStop is a connected product technology company that helps brands deliver engaging, trusted product experiences while protecting against counterfeiting, supply chain fraud, and lost consumer trust. Its smart label platform enables interactive product experiences that protect brands and engage buyers.
Website: www.forgestop.com
Media Contact Details
Nazish Khan, Avian WE, [email protected], +91-9538385162
Abhishek Haryson, Avian WE, [email protected], +91-9891356547
Quick Reads
Summary is AI generated, newsroom reviewed.
Filing ITR is crucial for salaried employee, business owner and freelancer.
But do keep in mind the deadlines for various categories of taxpayers.
Filing your ITR on time saves you from late fees, interest, and scrutiny notices
New Delhi:
Filing your Income Tax Return (ITR) is an annual obligation for every eligible Indian taxpayer. It not only ensures compliance with the law but also facilitates access to various financial services like loans, visas and credit cards. An ITR is essentially a declaration of your income, deductions and taxes paid to the Income Tax Department of India. Whether you’re a salaried employee, a business owner, or a freelancer, timely ITR filing is crucial.
Who Needs To File An ITR?
Individuals or entities whose gross total income exceeds the basic exemption limit must file an ITR. For FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26), the exemption limits under the new tax regime are as mentioned on the Income Tax Department’s website are:
- Rs 3 lakh for individuals
- Rs 3 lakh for senior citizens (60-79 years)
- Rs 5 lakh for super senior citizens (80 years and above)
In the Union Budget 2025-26, the government announced zero tax on income up to Rs 12 lakh. The zero tax will only be applicable to individuals opting for the new tax regime. However, you still need to file an income tax return (ITR), even if your taxable salary is less than Rs 12 lakh. Zero tax is payable due to a tax rebate available under Section 87A of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
ITR must be filed by an individual to claim the tax rebate under Section 87A.
Key ITR Filing Deadlines for FY 2024-25 (AY 2025-26)
| Category of taxpayer | Deadline |
| Individual Salaried Employees / Non-Audit Cases | July 31, 2025 This includes salaried individuals, freelancers, and professionals not subject to tax audit. |
| Businesses Requiring Audit | October 31, 2025 If your business turnover exceeds Rs 1 crore (or Rs 10 crore in certain digital transaction cases), a tax audit is mandatory. |
| Transfer Pricing Cases (International/Specified Domestic Transactions) | November 30, 2025 Applicable for entities involved in cross-border or specified domestic transactions requiring a transfer pricing report (Form 3CEB). |
| Belated or Revised Return | December 31, 2025 |
Filing your ITR on time saves you from late fees, interest, and scrutiny notices. With the Income Tax Department’s e-filing portal, the process has become simpler than ever. Keep your PAN, Aadhaar, bank statements, Form 16, and investment proofs ready to avoid last-minute hassle.
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