Transferring your ISA
Understand how an ISA transfer works and whether it's right for you
There are many reasons for transferring ISAs – and you can move to a new one at any time. Perhaps you want to make it easier to manage your savings by bringing them together in one place. Maybe you want to make some savings by moving to a stocks and shares ISA with lower fees or a cash ISA with a higher interest rate. Or you could have checked your savings goals and realised that it’s time for a change.
If you’re saving for the long term, you might want to move money from a cash ISA to a stocks and shares ISA. If it’s already in a stocks and shares ISA, you might have found one that offers higher potential returns. Or maybe you’re looking for a lower-risk way of saving, so you’re thinking about moving it back into a cash ISA.
Whatever you’re planning, we’re here to:
- Talk you through the ISA transfer basics
- Reassure you that it should be a quick, easy process
- Help you avoid any transfer pitfalls
How to transfer an ISA?
First choose an existing ISA or set up a new one to move your money into. Make sure that it accepts ISA transfers. The kind of product you’re transferring out of can make a difference too. For example, you may have to wait to transfer or pay a penalty if you’re moving money out of a fixed-term cash ISA.
Then you’ll usually just fill out a form asking your old provider to make the transfer.
If you already have a stocks and shares ISA with us, you can transfer your savings into your ISA. You just need to:
- Log into your online account and go to 'Transfer your ISAs'
- Double check that you’re making the right choice for you
- Ask your old provider to make the transfer
Can I transfer my cash ISA into a stocks and shares ISA?
Yes, you can make a cash ISA transfer into a stocks and shares ISA. It could be a good choice if you’re:
- Looking to invest your money for five years or more without locking it in
- Want your savings to grow in line with any stock market growth
- Comfortable thatyour investment’s value will go down as well as up
- you could get back less money than you put in
ISA transfer rules
You can transfer as much or as little as you want, as long as your existing provider allows it.
There’s no upper limit on the amount of money you can transfer between ISAs. You can move as much around as you need to.
No, transferring an ISA doesn’t use up your ISA allowance. For example, you might have £40,000 saved in one ISA. You can transfer it all into another ISA without affecting your £20,000 annual allowance.
It’s very important to follow the transfer process. If you just close down your current ISA, pull your money out and then pay it into another one, you’ll use up some or all of your annual ISA allowance. And your annual ISA allowance limits might stop you paying all of it back into your new ISA.
You can transfer as many ISAs as you need to into as many ISAs as you want to. So for example, you could consolidate five different ISAs into one ISA, or move money from one ISA into five other ones.
You can’t transfer a Junior ISA into any other type of ISA. Apart from that, it’s easy to transfer money into all types and out of most types of ISAs. Financial penalties or fees sometimes apply and moving cash out of a Lifetime or Innovative Finance ISA can be harder. Check with your provider for details.
Check through your old and new providers’ transfer processes. Make sure there aren’t any exit fees or penalties that will take you by surprise. And keep an eye on the transfer period. It can take up to 30 days for your money to move across.
Log in to get started
Log in to your online account to begin the ISA transfer process. You can also:
- Manage your investments
- See how your funds are performing
- Keep your details up to date
Read more about ISAs
Cash ISA vs stocks and shares ISA
How to protect your savings from inflation
