How Instant Access Cash ISAs work

Our range of Cash ISAs are available to all permanent UK residents aged 16 and over.

When opening a Cash ISA you have the option of operating it through one of our branches or by post, via our registered Head Office.

To open an Account simply visit your nearest Northern Rock branch with the relevant proof of identity and the branch will provide you with an application form.

Alternatively, download an application form complete, sign and return it, together with your cheque or transfer instructions, to our registered Head Office.

You will not need to send proof of identity with your application, but you may be asked to supply identification at a later date. The requirements will be outlined in a letter sent to you after your Account is opened.

Your initial deposit can be made by:

• cash (branch accounts only^*)
• cheque (in the interest of security please make your cheque payable to 'Northern Rock for the account of (insert Account Holder(s) name(s))' and crossed 'Account Payee only'.)
• transfer from an existing Northern Rock account (any withdrawal restrictions on your existing account may apply).
• transfer from another Cash ISA provider

When you open an Instant Access or 30 Day Cash ISA you will be issued with a passbook quoting your Account Number and opening balance.

If you open a Fixed Rate Cash ISA we will send you a Welcome Pack including a Certificate of Deposit to confirm your Account Number and opening deposit.

If you already have a Cash ISA with another provider and wish to transfer to Northern Rock, we can arrange the transfer for you. We will require a completed application form together with a transfer authority form and we will do the rest for you.

You can add to your Instant Access or 30 Day Cash ISA at any time, with any amount from £1 up to the maximum investment, currently £3,600 in each tax year by:

• transfer from another Northern Rock account - complete a transfer request form and return to our registered Head Office.
• cash (branch account only)^*;
• cheque sent to our registered Head Office with a deposit request form. Please make the cheque payable to 'Northern Rock for the account of (insert Account Holder(s) name(s))' and crossed 'A/c Payee only'. Please also quote your Account Number on the reverse.
• electronic transfer from your bank or building society account. The following details need to be quoted for an electronic transfer:

The following details need to be quoted for a CHAPS transfer from a bank outside the UK:

The Faster Payments Service aims to process transfers in near real time. However, restrictions may apply. For more details of the Faster Payments Service, see the Faster Payments section of Customer Info.

BACS transfers should reach your Cash ISA Account within three business days after they are sent. CHAPS transfers should reach your Cash ISA Account the same day they are sent (please note your bank may charge for this service).

With our Fixed Rate Cash ISAs, as long as the issue is still available, you can add to your Cash ISA at any time with any amount from £250 up to a maximum investment of £3,600 in each tax year.

Once each issue is closed to new investors, you cannot make further deposits. The Fixed Rate Cash ISA may be withdrawn without notice and your cheque returned to you.

With an Instant Access Cash ISA you have no-notice, charge-free access to your money (unless you opt for a CHAPS transfer, where the charge will be £35) and the minimum withdrawal amount is £10.

With a 30 Day Cash ISA you need to give us 30 days notice for a charge-free withdrawal and you can find details of how to do this in the giving notice section.

You can also take money out straight away subject to a charge equivalent to 30 days loss of interest on the amount withdrawn. The minimum withdrawal amount is £250.

The Fixed Rate Cash ISA is intended as a longer term deposit account. However, you can still take out a minimum of £250 without notice subject to a charge equivalent to 60 or 120 days loss of interest on the amount withdrawn from issues 61 and 62 respectively.

All withdrawals will be processed at our registered Head Office only. To make a withdrawal simply send a withdrawal request form by post to our registered Head Office and we will send your cheque promptly to your registered address.

At the end of the fixed rate term your Account will become a 30 Day Cash ISA and will earn a variable rate of interest equivalent to that payable on our 30 Day Cash ISA (excluding any introductory bonus).

For the first 30 days after the end of the fixed rate term you will have access to your funds without notice. After this you would need to provide 30 days notice for withdrawals.

You can withdraw up to £500 in cash per day from any Northern Rock branch (Instant Access and 30 Day Cash ISAs only).

To make a withdrawal simply visit your nearest branch^* with proof of identity or send a withdrawal request by post to our registered Head Office and we'll do the rest. You will also need to present your passbook (where applicable) to make a withdrawal. Details of your transactions and any interest added to your Account will be updated in your passbook.

CHAPS transfers can also be arranged, where the charge will be £35. CHAPS transfers can only be processed at our registered Head Office and your passbook will also be required for this type of transaction.

Please note: once you have reached your maximum investment limit for any tax year, you will not be able to re-deposit more money after making withdrawals.

With our Instant Access Cash ISA you do not have to provide notice for a withdrawal.

For our 30 Day Cash ISA you need to give us 30 days notice for a charge-free withdrawal (unless you opt for a CHAPS transfer, where the charge will be £35).

To do this, simply hand your written request into any Northern Rock branch or send a notice request form by post to our registered Head Office at least 30 days prior to the date of the withdrawal. The notice will be valid for 14 days after the 30-day period has elapsed.

Please note your notice request is not an automatic request for a withdrawal, you should make a note of when your funds are available charge-free and request your withdrawal by sending a completed withdrawal request form to our registered Head Office within the 14-day period.

If you wish to amend the name, address or interest instructions on your Account, please send a completed Savings account amendment form to our registered Head Office. Please ensure you notify us at least 48 hours before you would like us to make the change.

Your tax-free annual interest is paid on the first business day following 30 November each year.

Interest can be added to your Cash ISA, transferred into any Northern Rock account, or paid by electronic transfer into an account with another bank or building society.

Where the balance falls below £1, interest will be earned at the prevailing basic rate, currently 0.10% gross p.a.

With interest payments sent to another bank or building society account please allow up to four business days for receipt.

Your interest is calculated daily and adjusted automatically as the balance in your Account changes.

If we change the rate of interest on your Account we will notify you personally at least the day before it becomes effective. If the account is a notice account and the rate is to be reduced, we will give you at least the same notice as is applicable to withdrawals.

For details of our up to date products and current interest rates please visit the savings homepage.

We make charges for some standard services that we make available to you. Full details are available in our savings charges leaflet.