What is the difference between a Stocks & Shares ISA and a Cash ISA?

Our Stocks & Shares ISA allows you to invest your money in a range of tracker (mutual) funds, ETFs, and some of your favourite US companies. Investing your money can provide higher returns than a Cash ISA over the long term (minimum of five years), however, as with all investing, your capital is at risk and you may get back less than you invest. You can sell any settled investments at any time and hold money in your Available Cash, which will earn interest.

Our usual investment account fees also apply to our Stocks & Shares ISA, which you can find in detail here. You can also read more about our Stocks & Shares ISA here.

Moneybox offers two Cash ISAs – the Cash ISA and Open Access Cash ISA – both are cash savings account and do not offer any investment options. To open a Moneybox Cash ISA or Open Access Cash ISA, you’ll need to make a first deposit of at least £500, or transfer in an existing ISA from elsewhere.

For both our Cash ISA and Open Access Cash ISA, you’ll earn a higher rate by keeping an account balance of £500 or more, which for new customers also includes a fixed bonus rate during the introductory offer period.

For our Cash ISA only, you can withdraw as often as you’d like, however, if you withdraw four or more times within each 12-month period from the date of opening your Cash ISA, you’ll receive the lower rate for the rest of that period and lose the bonus rate if this is within your first 12 months. The number of withdrawals you can make without impacting your rate resets each year on the date you opened your Cash ISA. You can find more information about the account here.