In this episode, Jonny and Jan run through the best UK savings rates for August 2026 — where to actually put your money now the Bank of England has held the base rate at 3.75%. From 8% regular savers to 5% fixed bonds and a market-leading cash ISA, we cut past the headline rates to the catches that decide what you really earn.

What we cover:

• Switch offers worth up to £600 — and which are genuinely easy to qualify for
• Easy-access accounts topping 5% — and why a 4.55% account can quietly beat them
• Fixed rate bonds up to 5% — and whether locking in actually makes sense right now
• Cash ISAs — including eToro at 4.87%, why it's not a normal savings account, and the best fixed ISAs
• Notice accounts — and why they barely make sense this month
• Regular savers at 8% — plus the £675 "top" account that isn't what it looks like

Every account we mention is on DepositScout.com — filter by type, compare rates properly, run the savings and tax calculators, and check the rate history graphs before you open anything.

eToro's 4.87% Cash ISA (Market Leading)
OakNorth's Fixed Bonds
Tembo's Home Saver

Rates were correct at the time of recording and can change at any time. This is general information, not financial advice — always do your own research. Some links in the show notes are affiliate links, and we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community

https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord

Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates.

Connect with us (via LinkedIn)

Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/

Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease

Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at jonny@technicallymoney.com

IHG has brought out its first UK cards in three years — two Revolut debit cards dangling instant hotel status, boosted points and a 30,000-point welcome bonus. Jonny and Jan run the real maths on the free Essential and the £18-a-month Elite to work out whether £216 a year is a genuine bargain or a shiny trap.

• Essential (free) vs Elite (£18/month, £216/year) — status, welcome bonuses and metal cards compared
• What an IHG One Rewards point is really worth, and why everyday spend earns just 0.2–0.6%
• Where the value actually hides: hotel spend, the welcome bonus and the £35k "full house"
• The catches — no Section 75, a Revolut account you can't avoid, and sneaky exit fees
• How it stacks up against Hilton, Marriott and Currensea, plus the cheaper Platinum shortcut
• Who these cards genuinely suit — and who's walking into a trap

Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community

https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord

Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates.

Connect with us (via LinkedIn)

Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/

Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease

Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at jonny@technicallymoney.com

In this episode, we compare four stocks and shares ISA providers — XTB, Trading 212, IG and eToro — and work out which ones actually deserve your money.

What we cover:

• DIY, managed and advised — and why the fees only make sense inside their category
• What you can actually invest in at each provider, and why eToro is the weakest despite being the nicest app to use
• FX fees, interest on idle cash, and fractional shares
• The cash ISA cut from £20,000 to £12,000, and the money market route people are talking about
• Why we'd both pick XTB — and when Trading 212 is the better call
• St James's Place, Hargreaves Lansdown, and what you're really paying more for

Sign-up for XTB: https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/i53xvc
Sign-up for Trading212: https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/kf1n2y

Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community

https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord

Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates.

Connect with us (via LinkedIn)

Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/

Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease

Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at jonny@technicallymoney.com

Revolut's new light-up Dogecoin card promises "no exchange fees" — so we put £25 through it and tracked every penny. What we found was a £16.16 Amazon purchase actually cost £18.05, and a tax headache behind every tap.

In this episode:

• What the Doge card actually is
• The test: buying DOGE, spending it at Amazon, and where £2.54 went in 35 minutes
• The hidden markup: how a "fee-free" card carried a ~2.9% round-trip spread
• The tax trap: why every tap is a potential tax
• Follow the money: interchange, dormant crypto balances, and why this card makes perfect sense for Revolut
• Serious bank or meme machine? A glowing Shiba Inu, just months after the UK banking licence
• Who actually buys this — and our verdicts

Nothing in this episode is financial or tax advice. If you're considering spending crypto, speak to a professional about the capital gains implications.

Watch the blowtorch unboxing: https://youtube.com/shorts/mh916J-LnJQ

Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community

https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord

Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates.

Connect with us (via LinkedIn)

Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/

Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease

Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at jonny@technicallymoney.com

Summer 2026 is officially here, and so are the hidden fees waiting to ambush your holiday budget! In this episode of Banking Without Borders, we pull back the curtain on international spending to ensure your next vacation is as fee-free as possible. We break down the exact anatomy of a perfect travel card, expose the legacy banks secretly draining your wallet, and dive into why the most popular fintech giants might not actually be your best option abroad.

What We Cover:

• The 4-Point Travel Card Checklist: The essential features your card needs before you board a flight.
• Legacy Banks vs. Challenger Banks: Why traditional accounts from Barclays, Lloyds, NatWest, and HSBC are costing you—and the free alternatives we highly recommend.
• The Wise & Revolut Debate: A transparent look at weekend markups, variable fees, and why they might not be the ultimate answer to international spending.
• Predatory ATMs & The DCC Trap: How to outsmart Dynamic Currency Conversion and avoid paying double fees at the terminal.

Revolut vs WISE: Who Has The Best Travel Card? https://www.buzzsprout.com/2458086/episodes/19324904

Trading 212 👉 https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/naSs
Get £25 using the link above or PROMO CODE "BWB". Sponsored content. Terms apply. Card distributed by T212, issued and provided by Paynetics (UK). Available with an Invest account. Other fees may apply.

Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community

https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord

Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates.

Connect with us (via LinkedIn)

Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/

Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease

Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at jonny@technicallymoney.com

In this episode we cover the best UK savings rates for July 2026 — including a new headline regular saver rate from Santander, fixed bonds pushing to 4.90%, and the latest switch bonuses with some deadlines coming up fast. We also cover the Halifax rebrand to Lloyds and what it means for existing customers.

In this episode:

• Switch offers up to £600, including HSBC standard at £220 — best accessible bonus this month
• Easy access accounts up to 5.00%, including Revolut, Tembo and a notable rate increase from Cahoot
• Cash ISAs — easy access up to 4.62% with Plum, fixed up to 4.60% with Tembo and Oak North
• Fixed rate bonds up to 4.90% with Marcus and Afin Bank
• Notice accounts — honest take on whether they're worth it right now
• Regular savers — why 8% isn't as simple as it sounds, and the accounts actually worth opening
• Halifax is being rebranded to Lloyds — what changes and what doesn't

All accounts are listed and updated daily at DepositScout.com. Affiliate links for selected accounts are in the show notes.

Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community

https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord

Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates.

Connect with us (via LinkedIn)

Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/

Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease

Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at jonny@technicallymoney.com

In this episode of Banking Without Borders, Jonny and Jan go head-to-head on two of the most talked-about premium cards in the UK — Amex Platinum and Revolut Ultra. One's a credit card, the other's a debit subscription, and yet they keep ending up in the same conversation.

So we're doing the thing everyone actually wants. Not "it depends" — but if you had to pick one and walk away with it, which is it?

We cover:

• Overseas spending and FX fees
• Lounges, hotels and car hire
• Travel insurance — including the catches in both policies
• Credits, subscriptions and how to actually break even on the fee
• Points and welcome bonuses

Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community

https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord

Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates.

Connect with us (via LinkedIn)

Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/

Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease

Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at jonny@technicallymoney.com

We pit the four biggest UK digital banks head-to-head to crown a winner. Spoiler alert: there's no single answer—it depends what matters to you.

From cashback and travel rewards to customer service and credit cards, we break down exactly what each bank gets right and where they fall short. Plus, which one has the worst app but the best banking fundamentals, and why Revolut's new banking license doesn't save its standard account.

What we cover:

• Cashback rates: Chase UK offers 2% on groceries, fuel, transport & dining
• Travel support: Which bank wins for international spending
• Credit cards & personal loans: Only Monzo offers both
• Cash deposits: Starling vs Monzo's £1 fee (and the hidden limit)
• Customer service tiers: Why Chase & Starling stand out
• The verdict: Best overall, best for travel, best for cashback—and the bank we'd skip entirely

Join the new Banking Without Borders Discord community

https://link.bankingwithoutborders.co.uk/discord

Check out our website DepositScout.com for the latest savings rates.

Connect with us (via LinkedIn)

Jan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-watermann/

Jonny: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-pease

Got a question or topic you want us to cover? Drop us a message at jonny@technicallymoney.com