One in five retail investors have switched money from equities to cash

Research^* from Investec Save shows that more than a fifth of retail investors have moved some or all of their money from equities to cash this year in response to stock market volatility.

Global stock markets have experienced serious shifts in 2025 due to rising geopolitical tensions, international trade policies and general economic uncertainty. While the UK’s FTSE 100 has risen over the year to date, the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, Nasdaq Composite, Nikkei and Shanghai Composite are among the indices that have fallen.

In response, many investors have pulled money out of equities and put it into the perceived safe haven of cash savings accounts, Investec Save research found.

It shows 21% of investors have already switched money from equities to cash so far this year while another 21% plan to do so in the next three months.

Almost one in 10 (9%) of investors have moved more than £1,000 from stocks and shares into cash, the research found.

Slightly more men than women shifted some of their wealth from equities to cash in 2025 so far - 24% and 18% respectively.

David Hunt, Head of Savings, Investec Bank, said: “With global stock markets having a turbulent 2025, many investors are moving their money to safer cash accounts providing more predictable returns. This rush to cash shows no signs of stopping. With investment returns so unpredictable, our research shows that large numbers of investors will continue to seek out trusted, reliable places to store and grow their hard-earned wealth.”

Investec Save offers a range of savings accounts which do not have any penalty fees or hidden bonus rates. These include its Fixed Rate Saver offering 1-Year, 2-Year or 3-Year terms, which offer between 4.30% AER/gross and 4.40% AER/gross. The Fixed Rate Saver provides simplicity and security for savers. Interest is paid on maturity on the 1-Year and annually on the 2-Year and 3-Year. No withdrawals are permitted until the end of the term, and no further deposits can be made after the first seven days.

It's Online Flexi Saver, which currently offers 4.20% AER^** (4.12% gross), is a simple and secure instant access savings account, provides instant access to savings, and allows unlimited deposits and withdrawals to a linked current account. This also makes the Online Flexi Saver perfect for unexpected bills that might arise, such as car maintenance or a vet’s bill.

Investec Save’s 90-Day Notice Saver, which offers 4.43% AER (4.34% gross), gives savers a higher rate of interest than its instant access account and no fixed term. It enables customers to save as well as to pay for bills they know are coming up, as they can access savings at any time with unlimited withdrawals by providing 90 days’ notice before withdrawal. It also gives 97 days’ notice before reducing the interest rate on the account. 

  
^* Investec Bank commissioned Viewsbank to survey 769 people with savings accounts between May 21st and May 23rd 2025. The sample represented the demographic profile of the UK.
^**AER stands for the Annual Equivalent Rate and illustrates what the interest rate would be if interest was paid and compounded once a year. The AER is intended to be an indicative rate to help you compare the return on different savings products.