You can put up to �3000 in each tax year into a cash ISA and if you're a taxpayer it makes sense to use this yearly allowance as you won't pay any tax on your interest. (which is usually deducted at source at 2%) You can always close the ISA account at any time and draw your money out. The problem with the newer high interest paying bank accounts likje ICICI and ICESave is that they are innundated with new customers and their admin is often very poor in the early months. I'd try somebody like Birmingham Midshire BS or Kent Reliance BS. If you bank with Barclays you can save up to �250 a month into their Regular Saver Account for a year and get 10% interest, but you need to have a current account with them first. Some of the other banks offer similar accounts.