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Best joint savings accounts for first time buyers with interest rates up to 5.85 percent | Personal Finance | Finance

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With more Britons jointly to buy their first home, savers are being urged to check they’re investing in the accounts with the best returns. At present, joint savers can currently benefit from interest rates as high as 5.85 percent.

House prices fell by 5.3 percent in August compared with the same month last year, reflecting the biggest annual drop since 2009, according to Nationwide. While this is a sizeable fall from the record-high levels seen last year, getting on the ladder remains a daunting task for first-time buyers.

Average house prices are still hitting £259,153 in the UK And when paired with the UK’s stubborn 6.9 percent inflation rate, building up a deposit is harder than ever.

Despite the challenges, new figures from money.co.uk savings accounts indicate millions of young people are banding together in an effort to ease the burden.

Nearly half (47 percent) of people aged 18-24 have a joint savings account with their partners, family members, or friends, according to the data, while around a quarter (23 percent) of young people are actively saving for a home.

With this in mind, a savings expert has explained how to get “excellent” rates and “maximum savings potential” during the current period of high inflation eroding money’s purchasing power.

Lucinda O’Brien, expert at money.co.uk, said: “Saving together through a joint savings account has a wealth of benefits, and they’re not just related to your savings potential. For starters, it promotes shared financial responsibility and a sense of teamwork, which is key when it comes to long-term goals.”

Ms O’Brien added that funds can also accumulate “much more quickly” with multiple contributors, while joint savings accounts offer competitive interest rates that enable money to grow at a faster rate and “enhance” savings potential.

However, Ms O’Brien said: “Deciding what type of joint savings account is right for you depends on your personal circumstances, and how quickly you may need to access your funds.”

For those at the beginning of a long-term savings journey and financially secure enough to know that they won’t need to dip into savings, Ms O’Brien said: “You can get excellent rates and maximum savings potential with a fixed rate bond. 

“The Ford Money Fixed Saver One Year offers a competitive 5.95 percent interest rate, which is great for your long-term savings, but with no access to withdrawals for a year.” 

Similarly, the My Community Bank One Year Fixed Term Deposit offers a 5.95 percent interest rate, with a 12-month term.

Ms O’Brien said: “If you want to save but might need immediate access to your funds – either to move quickly to secure a purchase or for other, unrelated emergencies – then an instant access account is the one for you.”

According to the savings expert, the Ford Money Flexible Saver account is currently “one of the best available options”, with a rate of 4.75 percent.

Meanwhile, the Aldermore Double Access Account provides savers with a marginally lower 4.7 percent rate.

Ms O’Brien added: “Remember that joint accounts aren’t the only option when saving for your first home, with lifetime ISAs (LISAs) providing a 25 percent bonus to your savings up to £1,000 a year, the top choice for many.”

There are certain rules to follow to qualify for the bonus. Firstly, people must be UK residents to open and continue to pay into a Lifetime ISA, unless they’re a crown servant (for example, in the diplomatic service), or their spouse or civil partner.

The property must also cost £450,000 or less and it must be bought at least 12 months after the first payment into the LISA is made. People must also use a conveyancer or solicitor to act for them in the purchase – the ISA provider will pay the funds directly to them. People must also be buying with a mortgage.



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Government Notifies Online Gaming Act Rules; Implementation Starts May 1

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April 22, 2026

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The government has notified rules under the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Act, 2025, with implementation set to begin from May 1, marking the operational rollout of a formal regulatory framework for the sector.

A key feature of the rules is that registration for online social games has been made voluntary. Such games can operate without prior determination or registration with the proposed regulator, the Online Gaming Authority of India (OGAI). However, the authority will have powers to step in and review any game on its own.

OGAI, which will become functional from May 1, will now have six members, with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) included as a full-time member. The validity of certificates issued to games has also been extended from five to ten years, reducing compliance frequency for operators.

The authority will be chaired by additional secretary of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), and its members will include the joint secretaries of MHA, Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, and the Department of Legal Affairs.

ALSO READ: Rummy Culture To Dream11: List Of Top Apps That Halted Real-Money Games After Online Gaming Act

The rules allow the government to mandate registration for specific categories of social games based on factors such as addiction risk, scale of participation, financial implications and country of origin. Parameters such as the distinction between registration fees, prizes and wagers will also be used to determine the nature of games.

The framework has been refined after receiving over 2,500 stakeholder submissions. It introduces greater clarity on data retention norms, fair play requirements, cybersecurity standards, and the grounds for suspension or cancellation of registrations.

Officials said the rules aim to strike a balance between ease of doing business and user protection, while retaining regulatory oversight for high-risk segments of the online gaming ecosystem.

Notably, the key changes in the rules include removal of complex elements around the promotion on e-sports. The I&B Ministry and Sports Ministry are free to develop separate policies related to it.

ALSO READ: Government Blocks 300 Betting And Gambling Website Links

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UPMSP Set To Announce UP Board Class 10 & 12 Result 2026 On April 23 At upmsp.edu.in

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April 22, 2026

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The results of the Class 10 and 12 board examinations of the UP Board 2026 will be declared at 4 p.m. on April 23, according to the official notice. As per Board Secretary Bhagwati Singh, “The results will be issued from the Board headquarters in Prayagraj at 4 p.m. and will be accessible on the official website upmsp.edu.in

Last year, the board declared the results in record time. It was announced on April 25, while this year, the announcement is scheduled two days earlier. As in previous years, the results for both Class 10 and 12 are being declared at the same time.

This year, approximately 54.37 lakh students were registered, with 27.32 lakh sitting for Class 10 and 27.05 lakh for Class 12. The examinations, which commenced on February 18, wrapped up on March 12, after which the grading process was finalised between March 18 and April 4.

ALSO READ: UPMSP To Announce UP Board Result 2026 Soon: Here’s What Students Should Know

UP Board Exam Results 2026: Follow this guide to check & download results

Step 1: Head to the official websites such as upmsp.edu.in, results.upmsp.edu.in, or pahachan.upmsp.edu.in.

Step 2: Select the link for “Class 10 Result 2026” or “Class 12 Result 2026″.

Step 3: Input your roll number along with any other necessary information.

Step 4: Hit the submit button.

Step 5: Your mark sheet will be displayed on the screen.

Step 6: Download it and print a copy for your records.

ALSO READ: CBSE Class 10 Two Board Exam Pattern For Private Candidates: Detail On Eligibility, Fees & Important Guidelines

UP Board Exam Results 2026: Previous year total passing percentage

The Uttar Pradesh Madhyamik Shiksha Parishad (UPMSP) Class 10 In 2025, 2,545,815 students appeared for the exam and the overall pass percentage stood at 90.1%, with girls outperforming boys at 93.87% against 86.66%, according to the data shared.

A similar pattern was seen in 2024, when 2,749,364 candidates took the exam and the overall pass percentage came in at 89.55%. Girls again led the tally with a pass rate of 93.34%, while boys recorded 86.64%.

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Who Was Nadendla Bhaskar Rao? Ex-Andhra Pradesh CM Passes Away, Last Rites In Hyderabad On April 24

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April 22, 2026

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Nadendla Bhaskar Rao, the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, passed away on Wednesday morning at the age of 90.

He had been suffering from age-related ailments and breathed his last while undergoing treatment at Continental Hospitals.

Rao’s body will be kept at his residence in Jubilee Hills here for friends, relatives, fans and well-wishers to pay their last respects.

His last rites will be held on April 23 at 4 PM at the Hindu crematorium in Punjagutta.

Andhra Pradesh Governor S. Abdul Nazeer expressed ‘profound grief and sadness’ over the passing of Rao.

ALSO READ: Watch: Indian Air Force Aircraft Takes Off, Lands On Purvanchal Expressway

Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said: “I express my sorrow over the demise of Nandedla Bhaskar Rao Garu, former Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh. Praying to God that his soul attain peace, I convey my deepest condolences to the family members.”

Born on June 23, 1935, in Guntur, Bhaskara Rao completed his law degree from Osmania University and began his career as a lawyer. He entered politics and was elected MLA from Vijayawada East constituency in 1978 on a Congress ticket, going on to serve as minister in the cabinets of Marri Chenna Reddy and T. Anjaiah.

In 1982, he played a crucial role in the formation of the Telugu Desam Party under N.T. Rama Rao, and served as Finance Minister in NTR’s cabinet after TDP’s sweeping 1983 victory.

ALsO READ: West Bengal Election Phase 1: EC Publishes Voters List Cleared By Tribunals — Steps To Check

In 1984, Bhaskara Rao served as Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh for just 31 days — from August 16 to September 16 — taking oath with Congress support while NTR was in the United States for heart surgery.

The episode, known as the ‘August Crisis’, became one of the most dramatic chapters in Telugu political history. He was the state’s 11th Chief Minister.

He later rejoined Congress, won a Lok Sabha seat from Khammam in 1998, and joined the BJP in 2019. His son Nadendla Manohar is currently active in Andhra Pradesh politics.

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