Marcus launches a savings account that rewards you for good habits...but is the rate worth it?

Products featured in this article are independently selected by This is Money's specialist journalists. If you open an account using links which have an asterisk, This is Money will earn an affiliate commission. We do not allow this to affect our editorial independence.Marcus has launched a new savings account with a gimmick that pays you higher interest every month that you don't withdraw money.The consumer banking arm of investment giant Goldman Sachs is offering 4.25 per cent variable when you keep the money in the account.If you withdraw funds, the rate dives to 3.25 per cent for that month – which is still far better than rates offered by the high-street banks.Take HSBC for example, which also offers an account that rewards you for not dipping into your savings.The bonus rate is 3.75 per cent on balances up to £50,000 but that plummets to a measly 1.1 per cent in months that you withdraw funds.Marcus's higher 4.25 per cent rate puts the account near the top of our easy-access rates table, making it a good option if you can keep your money sitting in the account more often than not. Financial giant: Marcus is the online-only banking arm of Goldman SachsHow does Marcus's reward account work?Marcus calls this account a Reward Saver and it aims to give savers flexibility. The rates are good and savers can enjoy unlimited access to their funds.The minimum deposit is £1, and you can squirrel away up to £250,000 into the account.Interest is calculated daily and paid monthly – and if you make any withdrawals in a month, you'll be paid the lower rate.Keep in mind that it's an online-only account that you can manage from your desktop browser or mobile app.The account actually features Marcus's top rate on an easy-access account, with its normal savings account sitting at 3.75 per cent and its tax-free cash Isa at 4.01 per cent.Which accounts beat Marcus's rate?Many of the easy-access accounts sitting at the top of our savings tables have some gimmick that means your rate drops after a set time or when you withdraw money.A popular feature offered by providers is the short-term bonus rate, which boosts your interest for 12 months before the rate plunges to a normal underlying one.You must be careful with these and review your options after the 12 months are up, so that you aren't lumbered with a poor rate.Cahoot's Simple Saver is a good pick for 12 months. It offers a good 4.52 per cent variable rate, and you can save between £1 and £500,000.The account closes entirely after a year, with Cahoot transferring your account to its normal savings account – it will contact you before this happens to let you know your new rate.Cahoot is one of the 'secret' savings accounts offered by high-street banks – the brand is part of Santander and generally offers better rates than its sister provider.And what about tax-free cash Isas?Keep in mind that all of the accounts mentioned above don't have a tax-free wrapper. If you still have all or part of your £20,000 Isa allowance left to use, this should be your first port of call.The best rate on an easy-access cash Isa is currently 4.75 per cent variable, offered by investment platform Trading 212*. This includes a fixed 0.9 per cent bonus for 12 months but the boost is only available to new customers.And if you're transferring, contributions made in previous tax years will receive the underlying 3.85 per cent rate.If you've exhausted the short-term boosts offered to woo new savers, have a look at Hargreaves Lansdown*, which offers 4.52 per cent variable on its cash Isa.Hargreaves Lansdown is another investment platform but is one of the UK's best-known.There is a quirk to this account however, in that you can't transfer directly to its cash Isa. Instead, you must transfer to its stocks and shares Isa first and then shift your money across.> Read more: The best investment platforms for beginners Investing platform reviews