Skipton Building Society

Who they are

Skipton Building Society was established in 1853 in Skipton, England, where it remains headquartered. It is the UK's fourth largest building society, with over one million members and more than 100 branches. As a mutual, it has no shareholders - every decision is focused on delivering long-term good value for members and the communities they live in.

It offers a wide range of savings, mortgages, retirement planning, financial advice, and insurance products. That breadth makes it more than just a savings provider, though savings and ISAs are what most people come to Skipton for. The branch network stretches from Aberdeen to Plymouth, which is genuinely useful if you prefer face-to-face service over an app.

Savings accounts

Skipton currently appears in our data with two savings products worth knowing about.

The Regular Saver pays 5.75% AER variable and can be opened with no minimum balance. That headline rate is competitive, but it is worth understanding how regular savers work before getting too excited: you drip-feed money in each month, so your average balance across the year is roughly half your total deposits. The actual interest earned will be lower than the rate implies. Still, for disciplined monthly savers who want instant access, 5.75% variable is a strong offer.

The Junior Cash ISA pays 3.80% AER variable, with a minimum deposit of just £1 and access locked until the child turns 18. That is the same structure as every other Junior ISA on the market - the money legally belongs to the child and cannot be touched early except in very narrow circumstances. As a point of comparison, our Junior ISA roundup shows a handful of smaller building societies sitting slightly above Skipton on rate, though some of those require branch or postal applications with no online management. Skipton is a well-known name with a straightforward product, which counts for something over an 18-year horizon.

Both accounts carry FSCS protection up to £120,000 per person - higher than the standard £85,000 limit that applies to most bank accounts, because building society savings accounts qualify for the elevated protection threshold. Skipton holds its own banking licence and does not share it with another brand, so your full protection applies to Skipton deposits alone.

Service and access

Skipton leans on its branch network as a point of difference, and customer feedback broadly reflects that. Many customers value the branch network as a key reason to favour Skipton over other providers. Phone and webchat support are also available, and reviews tend to praise responsiveness on those channels too. The app has attracted more mixed feedback - some customers find it clunky and temperamental, which is worth factoring in if you plan to manage everything digitally. There is no current account switch offer from Skipton in our data.

Is it right for you?

Skipton suits savers who want a familiar, long-established mutual with a real branch presence and solid FSCS protection. The Regular Saver is worth a look if you are building a savings habit and want instant access at a strong variable rate. The Junior ISA is a simple, reputable option for parents or grandparents putting money aside for a child - though it is always worth checking whether another provider is paying more at the time you apply.

There is no fixed-rate bond or easy access account from Skipton in our current data, so if that is what you are after, the live comparison tables below are your best starting point.

Rates are variable and can change at any time - check the live figures on this page before you apply.