UK business interest rates: sight deposits
UK business interest rates: sight deposits stood at 1.97% in Aug 2026, according to Bank of England. It is one of the indicators in the Savings and loan rates table (Value · Monthly), with a complete series running from Jan 1999 to Aug 2026. The complete series with an interactive chart, free to download.
This indicator in the Savings and loan rates table
| Indicator | 08-2026 | 07-2026 | 06-2026 | 05-2026 | 04-2026 | 03-2026 | 02-2026 | 01-2026 | 12-2025 | 11-2025 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Businesses | |||||||||||
| Businesses: sight deposits, outstanding | 1.97 | 1.97 | 1.97 | 1.92 | 1.94 | 1.92 | 1.94 | 1.97 | 2.03 | 2.05 | |
| Businesses: time deposits, outstanding | 3.39 | 3.37 | 3.35 | 3.32 | 3.29 | 3.27 | 3.3 | 3.34 | 3.4 | 3.47 |
Understanding UK business interest rates: sight deposits
Remuneration percentages returned by monetary financial institutions across the United Kingdom on resident business sight deposit balances reflect the average interest paid on corporate current accounts and immediate-access corporate savings. This stock metric captures the weighted average yield across all existing liquid corporate funds rather than newly established accounts. Sight deposits differ from corporate time deposits because funds can be accessed instantly to meet operational cash flow requirements, which limits how aggressively financial institutions price these balances. Non-interest-bearing corporate accounts are included at zero, reducing the aggregate average return.
Analysing this monthly indicator requires attention to corporate liquidity cycles and month-end cash management practices that influence large account balances. Observers should avoid comparing these stock figures directly with wholesale money market rates, as retail sight deposits typically offer a substantial spread below benchmark rates. Revisions to early estimates occur when reporting institutions correct corporate sector classifications. Period-on-period comparisons show how corporations manage working capital remuneration as monetary conditions evolve, though structural shifts often unfold gradually across the business sector.
Frequently asked questions
- What funds are included in business sight deposits?
- The series covers corporate current accounts and instant-access business savings held by resident enterprises within monetary financial institutions.
- Why do business sight deposit rates often sit below wholesale market rates?
- Banks factor in the transactional services and payment processing provided through corporate current accounts when determining interest remuneration.
- Are zero-interest corporate accounts factored into this average?
- Yes, accounts paying no interest are included in the calculation, which pulls down the overall weighted average percentage yield.