General Portfolio offers best bonds

GENERAL PORTFOLIO has overtaken Financial Assurance in terms of offering the best rates in the market on all of its pounds 50,000 guaranteed-income bond products. It offers 5.2 per cent on a one-year bond, 5.6 per cent on a two-year bond, 6.2 per cent on a three-year bond and 6.5 per cent on a four-year bond.

Tipton & Coseley Building Society is offering rates of 8.65 per cent on its Tessa. The minimum investment is pounds 1, and transfers require seven days' notice and a fee of pounds 20.

Darlington Building Society is offering 8.5 per cent on its Tessa, again with a minimum investment of pounds 1. Transfers require either 28 days' loss of interest or a pounds 35 transfer fee.

----------------------------------------------------------------- SIX OF THE BEST ----------------------------------------------------------------- Savings ----------------------------------------------------------------- Type Account Term *0% *25% *40% Min GIB General Portfolio 5 years 6.80 6.80 5.78 pounds 50,000 B Soc Cheltenham & Glos Instant 8.00 6.00 4.80 pounds 25,000 Tessa National Counties 5 years 8.75 8.75 8.75 pounds 3,000 *Compounded annual rate except for GIB (guaranteed income bond) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Source: Chase De Vere 071-404 5766 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Mortgages ----------------------------------------------------------------- Type Source Deal Variable Stroud & Swindon 5.49% on 90% loans Fixed Northern Rock 7.49% for 4 yrs,90% loans, fee pounds 250 Capped Woolwich 7.25% for 2 yrs, 1st time buyers only ----------------------------------------------------------------- Source: John Charcol 071-611 7000 -----------------------------------------------------------------