AIB offers an AER for regular savers of 7.1 % for amounts between 10 and 300 a month.

For that little bit extra, Anglo Irish Bank offers 7% interest on monthly deposits of 1,000 over two years, but drawing from the account prematurely will terminate it ? Halifax offers 7% on monthly amounts up to 750, which may be a better option.

Irish Nationwide has a two-year fixed rate of 9.25% on deposits between 20,000 and 1m.

BEST CREDIT CARDS?

Halifax's purchase-rate 9.5% is still the best around, especially as the first six months are at 0% interest. Its cash rate is also very competitive at 11.2%.

NIB's visa card is next best with a 10.5% rate on cash and purchases after five months at 0%.

BEST BANK FOR YOUR MONEY?
Halifax is offering 10% credit interest on balances up to 2,000 but 0% afterwards. No transaction fees are included and it has the cheapest overdraft rate at 9.43% APR.

Permanent TSB's current account interest rate of 4% is next best.

BEST SAFE PLACE FOR YOUR SSIA LUMP SUM?

Rabobank offers 5% interest on balances up to 10, 000 and 3.75% on amounts up to 1m at a fixed rate for 12 months.

For those who don't trust the internet and prefer paper, Northern Rock offers 4.75%.

BEST PERSONAL LOAN?

First Active is offering the best loan rates for loans under 20,000 over five years of 6.8% APR.

BEST STOCKBROKING CHARGES?

Sharewatch for buying and selling Irish and British shares: 60 a year and 0.3% commission per online trade. Minimum charge of 20.

BEST MORTGAGE SWITCHER?

NIB 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 don't penalise you if you decide to switch again.

EBS will give you 85% of the value of your home, pay legal fees and give you a 1,000 cheque if you switch to it before 7 July.

However, it charges you 777 if you change within five years and you have to use its solicitors. The APR is a competitive 5.2%. KLM