For large deposits RaboDirect is offering 5% on amounts up to 10,000.

Irish Nationwide is the best choice for big earners with a two-year fixed rate of 9% on deposits between 20,000 and 1m.

BEST CREDIT CARDS ?
Halifax is offering 0% on balance transfers for the first six months and 0% on purchases for the same period; afterwards, 9.4% on purchases.

NIB's Mastercard Gold offers the 9.4% interest rate after eight weeks of free credit.

BEST BANK FOR YOUR MONEY?
Permanent TSB will pay 4% interest on the first 1,500 in your account and 3.5% thereafter. No transaction fees if you carry out one internet transaction per quarter.

BEST SAFE PLACE FOR YOUR SSIA LUMP SUM?
Rabobank offers 5% on 10,000, but a 3.8% fixed rate for 12 months. For those who don't trust the internet and prefer paper, Northern Rock offers 4.5% BEST STOCKBROKING CHARGES Sharewatch for buying and selling Irish and British shares . . . 60 a year and 0.4% commission per trade.

Minimum charge of 30.

BEST MORTGAGE SWITCHER ? National Irish Bank offers the most transparent remortgage, with fewest restrictions, at between 0.5 and 0.59 points above the ECB interest rate. If you are looking for a mortgage at 60% of the value of your home, it can be a big saving over the life of the loan. NIB also doesn't penalise you if you decide to switch again.

Ulster Bank offers a 1,000 gift to switch, plus a loan rate that is 0.75 points above the ECB rate, making it a close second, particularly after dropping a lot of "ne print.