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 the account.

Halifax offers 7% on monthly amounts up to 750, which may be a better option.

If you don't want to take an investment risk with a large sum, give it to Irish Nationwide which has a two-year fixed rate of 9.25% on deposits from 20,000- 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 competitive at 11.2%.

NIB's Visa card rate is a competitive 9.75% after an original five months at 0% with a cash rate lower than Halifax at 9.75%.

BEST BANK FOR YOUR MONEY

Halifax is offering 10% credit interest on balances up to 2,000 but 0% afterwards, but you must have at least 1,500 to avail of this.

No transaction fees, and it has the cheapest overdraft rate at 9.43%.

BEST SAFE PLACE FOR YOUR SSIA LUMP SUM

Stash it in First Active who have just upped their savings rates on amounts up to 15K to 5.22% and is 4.07% as far as 1m.

BEST PERSONAL LOAN

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

Halifax is offering 6.9% on loans between 2,500 and 25,000 but you do not have to be a Halifax customer to avail of this.

BEST STOCKBROKING CHARGES

Sharewatch for Irish and British shares . . . 60 a year and 0.3% commission per online trade.

Minimum charge 20.

BEST MORTGAGE SWITCHER

NIB offers the most transparent remortgage with fewest restrictions at between 0.5 and 0.59 points above the ECB rate. If your remortgage is 60% of the value of your home, it can be a big saving over the life of the loan, and there's no penalty if you switch again.

If you open an Ulster Bank current account you can switch your mortgage to them and have them give you 1,000 in the process and a rate that will be 0.75% above the ECB rate.