Personal finance: BARGAIN BASEMENT

Leeds & Holbeck Building Society will raise rates on some of its investment accounts next week. Rates on the Albion 30 postal account will rise by up to 0.55 per cent with investments of pounds 10,000 to pounds 24,999 earning 7.4 per cent gross and investments of pounds 150,000 earning 8.10 per cent gross. Call 0500 225777.

Alliance & Leicester has put together a package of unsecured loans in the run-up to Christmas. The rate for loans from pounds 12,500 to pounds 15,000 has been reduced from 12.7 per cent APR to 11.5 per cent APR while the rate for pounds 5,000 to pounds 12,499 is 13.3 per cent APR and the rate for pounds 2,500 to pounds 4,999 is 14.8 per cent APR. Call 0990 626262.

Britannia Building Society is launching four mortgages next week. The two-year discount rate is 6.35 per cent fee-free, two, four and 10-year fixed-rate mortgages are at 5.74 per cent, 6.74 per cent and 7.49 per cent, plus Britannia's members' loyalty bonus scheme and 12 months' free unemployment cover. Borrowers wanting to secure their mortgage payments for a shorter time can lock into rates as low as 5.74 per cent for a full two years. Contact branches.

Baronworth Investment Services offers a one-year guaranteed bond combined with a with-profits bond to yield 10.33 per cent tax-free. Minimum investment is pounds 10,000 and half will be invested in a one-year guaranteed bond with Pinnacle Insurance while the remainder will be invested in a with-profits bond of the customer's choice. Call 0181-518 1218.

Coventry Building Society has launched a five-year fixed-rate mortgage set at 6.5 per cent with an arrangement fee of pounds 295 and a capped-rate mortgage set at 7.5 per cent with no arrangement fee and a cashback of pounds 400. Both are available for loans up to 95 per cent of the purchase price. Borrowers will quality for the society's privilege rate after March 2003. Contact branches.

Woolwich Building Society is introducing two-year fixed-rate mortgages starting at 4.99 per cent for a maximum loan of 95 per cent LTV. The application fee is pounds 350 and Woolwich Homewise insurance must be taken. Five-year fixes start at 6.69 per cent with the same restrictions. Contact branches.

Time is running out for people who want to obtain the fifth edition of the Chartwell With Profit Bond Guide. To receive a copy, call 01225 446 556.

Skipton Building Society is raising the rate on its base rate tracker account, the third rise since its launch in July. Minimum investment is pounds 5,000 and interest rates vary between 7.25 per cent gross on balances up to pounds 24,999 and 7.5 per cent gross on balances over pounds 25,000. Call 0800 446776.

The David Aaron Partnership and GE Financial Assurance are offering a new flexible access bond. This is an instant-access postal account which offers a rate of 6.10 per cent net of basic-rate tax. GE Financial Assurance is part of GE Capital of America, the largest publicly quoted company in the world as measured by market capitalisation. Call the David Aaron Partnership on 01908 281544.

BESt Investment publishes a magazine, BESt PEP, that opens up the world of PEP investment to first-time savers. The free magazine provides advice on which plans to invest in and which ones to avoid as well as general background information. For a copy, call 0990 112255.