This week's top savings rates

Whether saving is one of your priorities in 2011, or your money is stuck in a low-paying account, it's vital to find somewhere your nest egg can grow.

In this article, Moneywise reviews the best instant access, fixed rate, regular and children's savings accounts currently on the market.

If you haven't used your cash ISA allowance this tax year, then getting an ISA should be your first port of call, check our round-up of the best cash isa rates.

INSTANT ACCESS

If you're looking for an account where you can access your money quickly, then a no-notice deal is a good idea.

Just remember, the interest rate on these accounts is variable so it could decrease down the line.

Also, watch out for sneaky terms and conditions - not all instant access accounts offer unlimited withdrawals, so shop carefully.

• Monmouth BS flexible saver Issue 2 offers savers a rate of 4% AER on a minimum balance of just £1. Transactions can be made by post, online or in branch. Up to four withdrawals can be made each year, further withdrawals will result in closure of the account.
• Coventry BS online saver offers savers a headline rate of 3.15% AER with a minimum investment required of just £1. The saver can be accessed online only and an introductory bonus is payable for the first 12 months.
• ING Direct savings account offers a rate of 3.10% AER on a minimum balance of just £1. Transactions can be made by phone, post or online. Interest is paid monthly.
• Derbyshire Netsaver (Issue 3) offers a rate of 3.06% AER on initital deposits of £1. Transactions can be made online only and interest is paid annually.
• Skipton BS online bonus saver pays 3.05% AER on a minimum balance of £1,000. Transactions can be made in branch, by post or online. Interest is paid annually.

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NOTICE ACCOUNTS

If you want to make withdrawals but are happy to give your bank or building society notice before you do, then you could get a better rate with a notice account, although recently rates have been disappointing.

• Shawbrook Bank 120 day notice personal savings account offers a rate of 3.3% AER variable on a minimum balance of £1,000. Access can be made  
• Aldermore offers a 120 day notice account offering 3.20% AER. Initial deposits on this account is £1,000 and you can operate the account online, by post or over the phone.
• Manchester BS Platinum Notice Issue 1 account has a rate of 3.16% AER. Minimum investments are £1,000 including a 1.15% bonus for 12 months. The saver can be accessed in branch or via post.
• Melton Mowbray BS online 100 day notice account pays a variable rate of 3.14% AER on a minimum investment of £1,000. The account is accessible online only and interest is paid monthly.
• Post Office rewards saver pays a variable rate of 3% AER with a 1.25% bonus payable for 12 months. The minimum investment is £500 and the saver can be accessed in branch, by post or over the phone.

FIXED RATE

Fixed-rate savings accounts are normally aimed at people with a lump sum that they wish to lock away for a pre-agreed period of time.

Interest is fixed so your return is guaranteed. However, bear in mind that withdrawals and further deposits are rarely allowed.

SHORT TERM

One-year:

• Bank of Cyprus offers a loyalty UK one year bond paying 3.50% AER on initial deposits of £1,000. Interest is paid on maturity.
• Tesco Bank fixed-rate saver pays savers a rate of 3.50% AER on a minimum balance of £2,000. The saver can be opened over the phone only and interest is paid annually.
• Close Brothers select gold one year fixed-term account pays a rate of 3.45% AER on a minimum balance of £10,000. No withdrawals are permitted during the term and interest is paid annually.
• United National Bank  fixed-term deposit pays a rate of 3.45% AER on minimum deposits of £2,000. Transactions can be made online only and interest is paid monthly.
• Allied Irish Bank savings direct offers savers a rate of 3.40% AER on a minimum balance of £1,000. The account can only be opened by post and interest will be paid on maturity.

Two-year:

• Bank of Cyprus loyalty UK bond pays a headline rate of 3.80% AER on a minimum balance of £1,000. You can open the saver online or over the phone. Interest is paid annually.
• Close Brothers select gold fixed-term account offers a rate of 3.75% AER on a minimum balance of £10,000. Transactions can be made by post only with interest being paid annually.
• Allied Irish Bank fixed-rate bond pays a headline rate of 3.70% AER on minimum balances of £1,000. Savers can be opened by post only with interest paid annually and statements issued every April.
• AA fixed-rate savings account pays 3.65% AER on a minimum balance of just £1. Transactions can be made by post only and early withdrawls will lead to penalties. Interest is paid annually.
• Post Office online bond Issue 7 offers savers a rate of 3.63% AER on minimum balances of £500. Transactions can be made online only. Early withdrawl will be subject to 180 days loss of interest.

MEDIUM TERM (THREE AND FOUR YEAR TERMS)

Three year:

• Bank of Cyprus loyalty UK bond offers you a rate of 4.10% AER on a minimum deposit of £1,000. The saver is only available to an existing customer who opened a Bank of Cyprus UK account, Bond or Fixed Rate Cash ISA on or before 31st October 2011. Interest is paid annually.
• Close Brothers premium gold fixed-term account pays a rate of 4% AER, however, minimum deposits are £10,000. The account can be opened by post or over the phone with interest being paid annually.
• Clydesdale Bank Term Deposit three-year saver will pay 3.90% AER on initial deposits of £2,000. The saver can be operated online or in branch and interest will be paid out monthly or annually.
• Halifax fixed saver offers a headline rate of 3.85% AER on a minimum balance of £500. Transactions can be made online only while opening an account automatically enters you into Halifax's prize draws. 
• State Bank of India hi return fixed deposit offers a rae of 3.85% AER on a minimum balance of £1,000. Interest is paid annually.

Four year:

• State Bank of India four year high return fixed deposit saver pays a headline rate of 4.20% AER. Initial investments are £1,000.
• Halifax fixed online saver pays 4.05% AER over four years. Initial deposits are £500 and the saver is accessible online only.
• Birmingham Midshires savings fixed-rate bond offers a headline rate of 4% AER on a minimum balance of £1. Transactions can be made by post online and interest is paid annually.
• Shawbrook Bank fixed-rate bond - Issue 2 offers a rate of 3.75% AER on minimum balances of £5,000. Transactions can be made by post only and interest is paid annually.
• Kent Reliance BS fixed-rate bond Issue 2 offers a rate of 3.75% AER on a minimum balance of £10,000. The saver can be opened in branch, by post or online. Interest is paid monthly.

LONG TERM (FIVE YEAR)

• State Bank of India hi return fixed monthly deposit offers savers a rate of 4.50% AER on minimum initial outlays of £1,000. Interest is paid monthly.
• The AA five-year fixed rate bond offers 4.40% AER on a minimum investment of £1. Transactions can be made by post only. Interest is paid annually.
• Birmingham Midshires fixed-rate bond pays a rate of 4.40% AER on a minimum balance of just £1. Transactions can be made by post only and interest is paid annually.
• Clydesdale Bank term deposit monthly saver offers a rate of 4.25% AER on minimum balances of £2,000. Accounts can be opened in branch or by post and interest is paid monthly.
• Yorkshire Bank term deposit monthly saver offers a rate of 4.25% AER on minimum balances of £2,000. Accounts can be opened in branch or by post and interest is paid monthly.

REGULAR SAVINGS

The current economic backdrop has not only highlighted the importance of saving, but means more people would like to do it little and often.

• HSBC regular saver account pays 8% AER on deposits between £25 and £250 a month. The rate is fixed for 12 months, and you must hold a qualifying account with HSBC to apply. No withdrawals can be made and it can be operated via the telephone, online or in branch.
• First Direct current account customers, with its First Account, can get its Regular Saver, paying 8% AER fixed for a year. This allows deposits between £25 and £300 each month, via standing order from your First Direct bank account. With the regular saver, you can't miss any monthly deposits. though you can reduce payments to the minimum in any month. However, no withdrawals are allowed. If you do so before a year is up, the account will close and you'll get just 0.5% on all money saved.
• Norwich and Peterborough BS E-family regular saver has a rate of 5% AER with a 1.65% bonus for the first 12 months. The minimum monthly investment is between £1 and £250 and the saver can only be accessed online. The saver is available to those who have dependent children (up to age of 16 or 18 if in full time education).
• Monmouthshire BS first home bonus saver offers a variable rate of 5% AER. Transactions can be made online, in branch or by post and interest is paid annually.
• The West Brom fixed-rate regular saver pays a rate of 4.1% AER on monthly investments between £10 and £250. Transactions can be made in branch only.

CHILDREN'S SAVINGS ACCOUNTS

• Halifax Kid's regular saver offers a market-leading 6% AER on  a12 month bond. Minimum investments range from between £10 and £1,200, however, a person with 'parental responsibility' for the child must first open their own adult ISA with Halifax.
• The West Brom regular saver child pays 4.60% AER, with interest paid annually. No withdrawals are permitted during the one-year fixed term, although up to two calendar-monthly payments can be missed. The account is available in-branch only.
• Principality pays 4.50% AER on its regular saver on deposits between £10 and £150 a month. Access is permitted via branch or post. 
• Clydesdale Bank and Yorkshire Bank Child Savings Bonds pays a fixed headline rate of 4.25% AER on investments between £50 and £250,000. The bond lasts for five years and the account can be managed in branch only.
• Halifax kids fixed saver offers a headline rate of 4.20% AER for a five year bond on minimum investments of £500. Transactions can be made in branch only. The maximum age of the account holder if 15.