Afin Bank's leading five-year bond currently pays 4.96 per cent, compared with 4.91 per cent from the top one-year account at OakNorth Bank. In exchange for that modest advantage, savers must give up access to their money for an extra four years. So how long can you genuinely afford to lock your cash away for and how do you choose the best accounts? The Bank of England's base rate has remained at 3.75 per cent since December, yet fixed savings rates have risen during 2026. Cash that may be required within two years won't belong in a five-year bond, even if it pays slightly more.