Safest UK banks in 2026, ranked by credit rating

The safest UK banks, measured by what the three big rating agencies currently say about their ability to pay what they owe. We blend each bank's latest long-term ratings from S&P, Moody's and Fitch onto one scale and rank them. 27 UK banks hold a published rating; the rest, including some of the best-known app banks, have none, and we explain what that does and does not mean below. Ratings as of 17 October 2026.

The ranking

Ranked by the average of each agency's current long-term issuer rating, mapped to a common 0–100 scale (how the scale works). Banks with the same blended rating are listed alphabetically.

What the ranking is, and what it is not

A credit rating is an agency's opinion of how likely an institution is to meet its financial obligations in full and on time. Ratings of BBB- (S&P and Fitch) or Baa3 (Moody's) and above are "investment grade". The top of the table, in the AA band, is where the agencies see a very strong capacity to pay; the A band is strong; BBB is adequate but more exposed to a downturn.

Three limits matter. First, a rating is an opinion that can change, not a guarantee. Second, it reflects the bank, not your money: whether a deposit is protected if a bank fails is decided by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, which covers eligible deposits up to £120,000 per person per banking licence regardless of the bank's rating (how FSCS protection works). Third, the agencies rate the legal entity that holds the banking licence, so brands that share a licence share a rating and share one FSCS limit (which banks share a licence).

Well-known UK banks with no published rating

42 banks on this site have no public long-term rating from S&P, Moody's or Fitch. That group includes most of the app-based and specialist banks: AIB Group (UK) p.l.c., Al Rayan Bank PLC, Aldermore Bank Plc, Allica Bank Limited, Arbuthnot Latham & Co, Atom Bank plc, Bank of Ireland UK, Brown Shipley & Co Limited, C. Hoare & Co, CAF Bank Ltd, Cambridge & Counties Bank Limited, Chase UK. A missing rating is not a verdict on safety. Agency ratings are commissioned mainly by institutions that raise money in the wholesale bond markets; a bank funded by customer deposits and private investors often never asks for one. The question to check for an unrated bank is whether it holds its own UK banking licence, which brings FSCS protection, and who stands behind it.

AIB Group (UK)Al Rayan BankAldermore BankAllica BankArbuthnot Latham & CoAtom BankBank of Ireland UKBrown Shipley & CoC. Hoare & CoCAF BankCambridge & Counties BankChase UKClearBankCynergy BankDanske BankEFG Private BankGatehouse BankGB BankHampden & CoHampshire Trust BankInvestec BankJulian Hodge BankKroo BankMarks & Spencer Financial ServicesMonument BankMonzo BankN26OakNorth BankOxbury BankParagon BankRecognise BankReliance BankRevolutSecure Trust BankShawbrook BankStarling BankTandem BankThe Charity BankUnited Trust BankUnity Trust BankWeatherbys BankZopa Bank

How to use this list

If you are choosing where to hold savings above the FSCS limit, the rating is one of the few independent signals available, and spreading money across separately licensed institutions matters more than picking the single highest-rated name. If you are within the limit, the rating tells you how likely you are to need the scheme, not whether you would be paid: FSCS aims to pay deposit claims within seven working days (what happens if a bank goes bust). Ratings on this site are re-checked daily against the banks' own investor-relations disclosures, and each bank's page shows the per-agency figures and the date they were published.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the safest bank in the UK?

By current credit rating, the highest-rated UK banks are Handelsbanken, each with a blended long-term rating of AA. That is the agencies' view of the bank's ability to meet its obligations; it is not a guarantee, and deposit protection is provided separately by the FSCS.

Are building societies as safe as banks?

Building societies are regulated by the same authorities (the PRA and FCA) and their members' deposits carry the same FSCS protection as bank deposits, up to £120,000 per person per institution. Several of the larger societies also hold agency ratings; Nationwide, the largest, is rated in the A/AA band.

Is my money safer in a big bank than a small one?

Large banks tend to carry higher ratings because of their diversification and, in some cases, the likelihood of support from a parent group. But for balances within the FSCS limit of £120,000, protection is identical whatever the bank's size or rating. Above the limit, the rating and the strength of the group behind the bank become relevant.

Does a bank with no credit rating mean it is unsafe?

No. Ratings are commissioned mostly by institutions that borrow in the bond markets. Many UK app banks and specialist lenders are funded by deposits and private capital and have never sought a rating. An unrated bank that holds its own UK banking licence still provides full FSCS protection for eligible deposits.

How often does this ranking change?

Agency ratings are reviewed at least annually and can move at any time. This site re-checks each bank's published ratings daily and the ranking updates automatically when a rating changes.