You want your savings to earn a decent return, be there when you need them and support things you feel comfortable with. An ethical cash ISA can help bring those priorities together.
Ecology Building Society, Triodos Bank and Charity Bank offer cash ISAs that support environmental or social projects. Gatehouse Bank applies Shariah-based exclusions, while member-owned building societies such as Nationwide and Skipton offer another approach to choosing where your savings sit.
The right account depends on what matters most to you: easy access, a fixed return, transparent lending or a particular cause. Below, we compare six providers and explain what to check before moving your money.
Rates and account details checked on 1 October 2026. Rates can change and accounts can be withdrawn.
What is an ethical cash ISA?
An ethical cash ISA is a tax-free savings account with a provider whose lending policies, ownership or social purpose align with your values.
The ISA wrapper determines the tax treatment. The provider determines how your deposits are used.
Some providers lend specifically to charities, renewable energy projects or sustainable housing. Others exclude particular industries or operate for the benefit of their members. These approaches offer different benefits, so it helps to look closely at what each provider actually does.
You may also see the term green cash ISA. If your priority is the environment, check the provider’s lending policies and the projects it finances before relying on the name.
Ethical cash ISAs at a glance
| Provider and account | Annual rate | Minimum opening deposit | Access | Why consider it? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ecology Building Society Cash ISA | 3.05% AER, variable | £25 | No-notice withdrawals | Supports sustainable housing and environmental projects |
| Triodos Bank Online Cash ISA | 2.36% AER, variable | £10 | Unlimited withdrawals; flexible ISA | Finances environmental, social and cultural projects and publishes its business borrowers |
| Charity Bank Ethical 33-Day Notice Cash ISA | 2.71% AER, variable | £250 | 33 days’ notice | Supports charities and social enterprises |
| Gatehouse Bank 1 Year Fixed Term Woodland Cash ISA | 3.75% AER expected profit rate | £1,000 | One-year term; early withdrawals cost 90 days’ profit | Shariah-based exclusions and a tree planted for each account opened or renewed |
| Nationwide Building Society 1 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA | 4.50% AER, fixed | £1 | Early access requires closure and costs 60 days’ interest | Member-owned mutual |
| Skipton Building Society 1 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA | 4.15% AER, fixed | £1 | Early closure costs 60 days’ interest | Member-owned mutual with a charitable commitment |
AER means annual equivalent rate and helps you compare annual returns. Gatehouse pays an expected profit rate under Shariah principles. The accounts have different access conditions, so compare those alongside the rate.
How we assess providers: the Good Money Test
At Good With Money, our Good Money Test helps readers assess a financial provider’s ethical claims through five questions:
- Where does your money go? What does the provider finance, and which activities does it exclude?
- Can you see what is happening to it? Does it publish useful information about its lending and investments?
- Is it doing any good? Does it actively support environmental or social projects?
- Are customers treated fairly? Are rates, access restrictions, charges and account terms clear?
- Do its actions back up its claims? Is there evidence behind the marketing?
For cash ISAs, this means considering both how your savings are used and whether the account works for your everyday needs.
The providers below have different strengths. Dedicated ethical lenders offer a clearer connection to positive projects, while mutual ownership gives customers a stake in how a building society operates. Membership alone doesn’t establish a provider’s environmental impact.
The Good Money Test is an editorial checklist. Our Good Egg mark is a separate accreditation awarded following a more detailed assessment. Ecology and Triodos hold the Good Egg mark.
Six cash ISA providers to consider
Ecology Building Society
Ecology’s Cash ISA pays 3.05% AER variable and can be opened with £25.
Its environmental purpose is central to its business: savers’ deposits help fund sustainable housing and environmental projects across the UK.
You can withdraw without notice or a penalty. However, bear in mind that an ISA is not flexible, so replacing withdrawn money uses your remaining annual allowance. Transfers from previous years’ cash ISAs are accepted.
Worth considering if: you want accessible savings with a clear environmental purpose.
Triodos Bank
The Triodos Online Cash ISA pays 2.36% AER variable, with a £10 minimum opening deposit.
Triodos finances projects including renewable energy, organic farming and social housing. Its transparency is a particular strength: it publishes the organisations it lends to, helping savers understand what their money supports.
The account allows unlimited withdrawals and is flexible, meaning money withdrawn can be replaced within the same tax year without using more of your ISA allowance. New accounts must be opened through the Triodos app.
Worth considering if: you value transparent lending and the ability to take money out and replace it.
Charity Bank
Charity Bank’s Ethical 33-Day Notice Cash ISA pays 2.71% AER variable, with a £250 minimum deposit.
The bank is owned by charitable foundations, trusts and social purpose organisations. It uses savings to support charities and social enterprises.
The notice period makes this more suitable for money you can plan around than cash you might need immediately. You can apply online, but the bank says accounts are subsequently operated by post.
Worth considering if: supporting charities and communities is a priority and you are comfortable giving notice to access your savings.
Gatehouse Bank
Gatehouse’s 1 Year Fixed Term Woodland Cash ISA offers an expected profit rate of 3.75% AER, with a £1,000 minimum deposit.
Its Shariah principles exclude activities including arms, gambling, alcohol and tobacco. It also plants a tree in a UK woodland for each Woodland Saver account opened or renewed.
Gatehouse pays profit instead of interest. If it expects to fall short of the advertised rate, it says it will contact customers and offer the option to close the account with their deposit and profit earned. Ordinary withdrawals during the one-year term carry a charge equivalent to 90 days’ profit.
Worth considering if: its exclusions match your values and you can leave your money for a year.
Nationwide Building Society
Nationwide’s 1 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA pays 4.50% AER fixed, with a £1 minimum deposit.
Its inclusion rests on its mutual ownership model. Savers looking for a specific environmental outcome should also examine the society’s lending and sustainability policies.
You cannot top up the account after opening it. Early access requires closing the ISA and paying a charge equivalent to 60 days’ interest. Customers new to Nationwide must apply in a branch.
Worth considering if: you want a member-owned provider and a fixed return for one year.
Skipton Building Society
Skipton’s 1 Year Fixed Rate Cash ISA pays 4.15% AER fixed, with a £1 minimum deposit. Early closure carries a charge equivalent to 60 days’ interest.
Skipton is owned by its members and commits one per cent of its group’s pre-tax profits to charitable causes each year. These are useful social and ownership credentials, although savers seeking a dedicated environmental lender should consider that separately.
Worth considering if: you favour mutual ownership and can commit your savings for a year.
Are ethical cash ISAs safe?
Eligible deposits with UK-authorised banks and building societies are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to £120,000 per person, per authorised firm.
That limit covers your combined eligible deposits with the firm. Different banking brands can share an authorisation, so check before assuming each account has separate protection.
A cash ISA doesn’t have stock market fluctuations, although inflation can reduce what your savings will buy. Early-access charges on fixed accounts can also reduce the amount you receive.
How much can I put in a cash ISA?
For the 2026/27 tax year, you can pay up to £20,000 across your adult ISAs, subject to the rules for each ISA type. You can currently put the full £20,000 into cash ISAs. The tax year ends on 5 April 2027.
From 6 April 2027, the annual cash ISA subscription limit will fall to £12,000 for people under 65, within the overall £20,000 ISA allowance. People aged 65 and over will retain a £20,000 cash ISA allowance.
Can I transfer an existing ISA to an ethical provider?
Yes, provided the new account accepts the type of transfer you want to make.
Ask the new provider to arrange an ISA transfer. Withdrawing the money yourself and paying it into another account can lose the protection of the ISA transfer rules.
Check any early-exit charges and whether the new account accepts current-year savings, previous-year savings or both.
Do ethical cash ISAs pay lower rates?
Rates vary between providers, and ethical credentials alone won’t tell you how competitive an account is.
Compare accounts with similar access terms. A one-year fixed account serves a different purpose from an easy-access ISA you might use for emergencies.
It also helps to put the difference into pounds. On a £10,000 balance, a one percentage point difference in annual return is about £100 over a year. That gives you something concrete to weigh alongside access, service and what your savings support.
This article provides general information, not personalised financial advice. Tax treatment depends on your circumstances and rules can change. Check the provider’s latest terms before applying.
