Personal finance: So you want a loan from Barclays? Try their Internet site for a speedy answer

BARCLAYS BANK is putting more resources into its Internet website. You still cannot operate your bank account with Barclays on the web - the bank has its own discrete PC banking operation - but you can now apply for a loan or purchase travel insurance 24 hours a day from the Barclays website. Both customers and non-customers of Barclays may apply for a personal loan by filling in the on-line application form on Barclays web pages.

All your information is sent securely using 128-bit encryption. Applications are acknowledged immediately and a decision on the loan can usually be made within 24 hours. Barclays claims that, if required, the money can be in your account the same day that they receive agreement for the loan.

There is no arrangement fee for the loan and repayment terms are the same as those on offer in the bank's high street branches - between 12 months and five years but extendible up to seven years for loans of pounds 10,000 and above. The rate of interest is not the best on the market but is in line with the bank's main competitors, varying from 20.9 per cent on loans between pounds 500-pounds 3,499, down to 13.9 per cent on loans of pounds 12,000 or more.

You may also get a quote for Barclays travel insurance. Single-trip cover can be purchased by filling out the on-screen application form and entering credit or debit card details. You will get an e-mail acknowledgement and policy documents are dispatched immediately.

Graeme Hosking, head of Online Banking at Barclays, says: "Customers have already taken advantage of this extra choice, with successful applications for both Barclayloan and Barclays travel insurance received within just 24 hours of the service becoming available. "

YOU MAY be among the growing number of people who surf the web looking to do better with your money. How about looking to do good with your money? If you are among the majority of us who are on Pay As You Earn (PAYE), you may want to boost the efficiency of your giving through Give As You Earn (GAYE).

The Charities Aid Foundation, which operates GAYE, has a new website explaining how the system works. Your employer must be registered with Give As You Earn to make deductions on your behalf. Once you have decided on an amount to give, you simply need to ask your payroll department for a joining form, or you could download and complete the form provided on the website.

The site includes a donation calculator, showing how much your contribution would be worth. Remember, these charitable donations are "grossed up". So a monthly gift to charity of pounds 10 would actually only cost a basic rate taxpayer pounds 7.70 - and would be even cheaper for a higher rate taxpayer at pounds 6. Before you get carried away with largess, remember the maximum gift in any tax year is pounds 1,200.

Donations may be made to any registered charities or any other organisation approved by the Inland Revenue. If you don't already have a pet cause, check out the Charity Commission website for a complete list of UK-registered charities. The Charities Aid Foundation also runs a separate Charitynet website which may offer some ideas.

Barclays: www.barclays.co. uk

Give As You Earn: www. giveasyouearn.org

Charity Commission: www. charitycommission.gov.uk

Charitynet: www.charity net.org