Are withdrawals taking longer than expected when money is needed urgently? This guide focuses exclusively on liquidity: withdrawal speed ISA vs Premium Bonds so readers can decide which vehicle suits short-, medium- or emergency cash needs.
It gives clear timelines, likely delays, how different operations (partial withdraw, close, transfer, encashment) affect timing, and practical steps to speed a payout. All timings are indicative and current at time of writing (January 2026).
Key takeaways: what to know in 1 minute
- Cash ISAs with instant-access terms typically allow same-day or next-working-day withdrawals to a nominated bank account, provided the provider supports instant payments.
- Premium Bonds encashment via NS&I normally takes 3–5 working days once requested online, longer by post or for large sums; prize proceeds are separate and paid monthly.
- Stocks & Shares ISAs can take 2–7 working days to sell holdings (often 3–5 days) before funds reach a bank account; market conditions or manual checks can add days.
- Transfers between ISAs are slower than withdrawals: full transfers often take 5–15 working days depending on providers and assets; partial transfers may be restricted.
- Tax status does not speed payouts — the ISA wrapper is tax-efficient but liquidity depends on provider processes, settlement cycles and whether the ISA is cash or invested.
How quickly can you withdraw from an ISA?
Different ISA types and operations produce distinct timings. The three common actions are: instant withdrawal from a cash ISA, selling investments in a Stocks & Shares ISA, and transferring ISAs. Practical timings:
- Cash ISA (instant-access): same day to 1 working day if the provider supports faster payments and the withdrawal is to a verified nominated account. Some online providers process immediately; legacy banks may take until the end of the next working day.
- Cash ISA (notice or fixed-term): notice period or maturity date applies — typical notice periods 30, 60 or 90 days; early closure of fixed-term ISAs may incur penalties and delays.
- Stocks & Shares ISA: selling holdings then transfer. Selling equities/funds usually follows market settlement (T+2 to T+3 for equities; fund deals often settle in 1–5 working days). After sale, the cash must be cleared and then sent to the linked bank account — expect 3–7 working days total in normal conditions.
- Innovative finance and lifetime ISAs: timings vary by provider; many P2P or property platforms require loan redemption or secondary market sale which can take weeks.
Practical notes:
- Working days matter. Requests on weekends or bank holidays will not be processed until the next working day.
- Verification checks. New payee set-ups or suspicion of fraud add 24–72 hours.
- Payment rails. Faster Payments, CHAPS or BACS determine speed and fees. Faster Payments are commonly used for retail transfers and usually clear within minutes to hours.
Accessing money in Premium Bonds: NS&I timings explained
Premium Bonds are held with National Savings & Investments (NS&I). Encashment (cashing in bonds) and prize payments are separate processes.
- Encashment online: typically 3–5 working days from the date the online request is accepted by NS&I to the date of receipt in the nominated bank account. This is the common reported timeframe as of 2026.
- Encashment by post: longer — often 7–14 working days due to postal processing and manual checks.
- Large encashments: NS&I may perform extra checks for unusually large sums which can add days.
- Prize payments (winning bonds): paid monthly. If a bond wins, the prize is credited to the NS&I account and can be withdrawn following standard encashment timings or reinvested into more Premium Bonds.
Authoritative reference: NS&I advice on encashment and withdrawals can be found at NS&I.
Instant access ISAs versus Premium Bonds cash-out speed
Direct comparison by scenario (indicative timings):
| Scenario |
Typical fastest time (best case) |
Typical common time |
Notes |
| Instant access Cash ISA (online) |
Same day (minutes–hours) |
Same day–1 working day |
Depends on Faster Payments and provider payee checks |
| Cash ISA (legacy branch) |
1–2 working days |
1–3 working days |
Manual processing and security checks can add time |
| Stocks & Shares ISA (sell funds) |
2 working days |
3–7 working days |
Fund dealing cycles and settlement rules apply |
| Premium Bonds encash (online) |
3 working days |
3–5 working days |
NS&I processing + payment rail timing |
| Premium Bonds encash (postal) |
7 working days |
7–14 working days |
Postal and manual ID checks |
| ISA to ISA transfer (same provider) |
1–3 working days |
3–7 working days |
Partial or full transfer rules differ |
| ISA to ISA transfer (different providers) |
5 working days |
10–15 working days |
Asset type (cash vs investments) affects timing |
Key point: instant-access Cash ISAs are the likeliest route for immediate liquidity. Premium Bonds are low-risk but not instant cash — expect several working days.
Withdrawal fees, notice periods and processing times compared
- Fees
- Cash ISAs: most providers do not charge a withdrawal fee for standard withdrawals. Some fixed-term products have early withdrawal penalties expressed as loss of interest.
- Premium Bonds: no explicit encashment fee from NS&I, but timing may be slower; some third-party platforms that hold Premium Bonds on behalf of clients may add admin fees.
-
Stocks & Shares ISA: selling funds usually has dealing fees, exit charges or platform charges. Some platforms charge for withdrawals or for converting shares to cash.
-
Notice periods
- Cash ISAs with notice: the notice period (30–90 days) is contractual. Early withdrawal may be permitted but with reduced interest.
-
Premium Bonds: no notice period, but processing time for encashment exists (see above).
-
Processing times
- Providers publish processing times in terms and conditions; those times are indicative. For urgent needs, request electronic transfer to a pre-verified account and check whether the provider uses Faster Payments.
Practical checklist before withdrawing:
- Confirm whether the ISA account is instant-access or subject to notice.
- Verify the nominated bank account is already set up to avoid new-payee delays.
- Check for minimum/maximum withdrawal limits and whether large sums trigger manual review.
- Review product T&Cs for exit charges or lost interest on fixed deals.
How tax-free status affects ISA and Premium Bonds liquidity
Tax-free status is about after-tax returns, not speed of withdrawal. Key points:
- ISA wrapper: contributions and interest/gains/income within an ISA are sheltered from UK income tax and capital gains tax. That does not alter processing or settlement cycles.
- Premium Bonds: prizes are tax-free; encashment returns principal only (no interest) and prize proceeds are tax-free. Again, tax rules do not accelerate encashment.
Implication: choose a vehicle for liquidity on operational grounds — settlement cycles, payment rails and notice periods — rather than tax treatment alone.
When transfers or encashments delay your payout
Common causes of delay and how to avoid or mitigate them:
- New payee verification: adding a new bank account often triggers anti-fraud checks that can take 24–72 hours. Mitigation: add and verify the payee before initiating urgent withdrawals.
- Manual compliance checks: large withdrawals, odd activity or mismatched details cause manual review. Mitigation: contact the provider in advance if expecting a large encashment and supply ID documents.
- Transfer of invested ISAs: moving a Stocks & Shares ISA requires selling assets (if the receiving ISA won’t accept in-specie transfers) — plan for fund dealing and settlement.
- Partial vs full transfers: some providers disallow partial transfers of particular holdings; full transfers may be faster or slower depending on custody arrangements. Check both providers’ transfer SLAs.
- Bank holidays and weekends: these add calendar days. If a withdrawal is requested on Friday evening, next working-day processing may be Monday or Tuesday.
When an ISA transfer delays payout: example scenarios
- Scenario A — Cash ISA to new bank: request withdrawal midday Tuesday; funds sent by Faster Payments and received Wednesday morning — 1 working day.
- Scenario B — Stocks & Shares ISA transfer in specie to new platform: receiving platform accepts holdings and completes transfer in 7–15 working days; if in-specie not accepted the original platform may sell holdings adding 3–7 working days.
- Scenario C — NS&I Premium Bonds encash by post after weekend: posted request and processing cause total 10 working days before money lands.
Step-by-step: how to speed up a withdrawal or encashment (practical guide)
Step 1: confirm account type and terms
Check whether the ISA is instant-access, notice-based or fixed. Check NS&I encashment options (online is fastest). See Gov.uk ISA guidance and NS&I pages for latest instructions.
Step 2: pre-verify recipient bank details
Add and verify the nominated bank account with the provider ahead of time to avoid new-payee holds. Many providers allow adding a payee before withdrawals.
Step 3: use online channels and Faster Payments
Submit withdrawal/encashment online rather than by post. Choose Faster Payments if offered. Avoid CHAPS unless necessary — CHAPS is same-day but often costly; Faster Payments are usually cheaper and fast.
Step 4: notify provider for large sums
If the withdrawal is unusually large, contact customer service beforehand and provide any requested ID to prevent hold-ups due to fraud prevention.
Step 5: choose the correct operation (withdraw vs transfer)
If the goal is to get cash into a bank account, a direct withdrawal/encashment is generally faster than an ISA-to-ISA transfer. Transfers preserve the ISA wrapper but usually take longer.
Practical scenarios and likely timings (table)
| Need |
Best action for speed |
Likely fastest time |
Notes |
| Immediate emergency cash (same day) |
Withdraw from instant-access Cash ISA with Faster Payments |
Same day (minutes–hours) |
Must have provider that supports instant payouts and pre-verified payee |
| Short-term need (within a week) |
Encash Premium Bonds online or sell Stocks & Shares holdings |
3–7 working days |
Premium Bonds: 3–5 days; Stocks & Shares: depends on settlement |
| Preserve ISA tax wrapper but need funds soon |
Partial ISA transfer (if provider supports) |
5–15 working days |
Transfers protect tax benefits but are slower |
| Very large amounts |
Notify provider and use CHAPS/Faster Payments after approval |
1–5 working days |
Large amounts often need manual sign-off; CHAPS same-day but may cost |
Comparative cash-out timeline
Comparative cash-out timeline
⚡
Instant-access Cash ISA
Same day to 1 working day
🏦
Stocks & Shares ISA (sell)
2–7 working days depending on settlement
🎟️
Premium Bonds (NS&I) encash
3–5 working days online; 7–14 by post
🔁
ISA transfer (different providers)
5–15 working days
Advantages, risks and common mistakes
✅ Benefits / when to choose each
- Instant-access Cash ISA: best for emergency liquidity and predictable access. Good when priority is speed.
- Premium Bonds: good for capital security plus chance of tax-free prizes; suitable when immediate access is not essential but capital preservation and prize potential are desired.
- Stocks & Shares ISA: better for longer-term growth; not suitable for urgent cash unless prepared for dealing times.
⚠️ Errors to avoid / risks
- Assuming Premium Bonds are instantly cashable — they are not. Plan for 3–5 working days at minimum.
- Initiating a transfer when quick cash is required. Transfers typically take longer than withdrawals.
- Forgetting working days and bank holidays when counting days.
- Using postal or branch routes for urgent withdrawals.
FAQ: frequently asked questions
How quickly can I withdraw cash from a Cash ISA?
If the account is instant-access and the provider supports Faster Payments, same day or next working day is typical. Verify with the provider.
How long does NS&I take to pay out Premium Bonds?
NS&I encashment online usually takes 3–5 working days to reach a nominated account; postal requests take longer.
Holdings must be sold and settle before withdrawal. Expect 2–7 working days depending on the assets and platform.
Will transferring an ISA be faster than withdrawing?
No. Transfers usually take longer because of administrative handover between providers and potential selling of assets.
Do tax rules speed up withdrawals from ISAs or Premium Bonds?
No. Tax-free status affects returns, not processing or settlement speed.
Are there charges for encashing Premium Bonds?
NS&I does not charge an encashment fee, though third-party intermediaries might. Check the holding platform’s terms.
What delays large withdrawals?
Large sums often trigger additional identity, compliance or fraud checks that can add several days.
Can a payout be sent faster with CHAPS?
CHAPS can be same-day for bank-to-bank transfers but may incur fees. Providers decide whether to initiate CHAPS; many retail payouts use Faster Payments instead.
Conclusion
Access speed depends on product type, provider processes and the payment rails used. For urgent cash, an instant-access Cash ISA with Faster Payments is typically fastest. Premium Bonds offer safety and monthly prizes but are not a same-day cash solution.
Your next step:
- Check whether the ISA is instant-access and pre-verify the nominated bank account.
- If urgent cash is required, choose direct withdrawal rather than transfer and submit the request online.
- For large sums, notify the provider in advance and confirm expected timelines and any documentation required.