Personal Finance: Bargain Basement

IFA PORTFOLIO, which deals through independent financial advisers, is launching securityFIRST, a mortgage and income protection policy with rates starting at 3.5 per cent per month of the sum insured, for a 30- day waiting period and 12-month benefit period, with free unemployment cover for the first six months. Call 01273 477784.

THE ECOLOGY Building Society is launching a one-year Earthsaver Bond, which pays 6.1 per cent gross on deposits above pounds 500, 6.35 per cent gross on amounts to pounds 5,000 and 6.6 per cent gross on deposits above pounds 10,000. The society will pay pounds 1 for each pounds 1,000 invested in the bond to the Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT). Investors also receive a pounds 5 voucher redeemable for CAT centre entrance and products.

Call 01535 635933.

CAPITAL ONE is launching a new credit card which allows customers to select their favourite photo to use on the front. The Capital One Photo card charges 6.99 per cent APR fixed until July 1999, thereafter reverting to 17.9 per cent APR linked to the UK clearing bank base rate. For an application pack, call 0800 9525050 between 8am and 9pm on weekdays and 9am to 8pm at weekends.

ROYAL BANK of Scotland is launching a Student Royalties Account. The account offers interest-free overdrafts of pounds 1,000 in year one, rising to pounds 2,000 in year five; 4 per cent interest on accounts in credit; 24- hour telephone and on-line Internet banking facilities; free valuations for students taking out RBS mortgages; telephone discounts of up to 24 per cent on all UK calls and a range of other other facilities.

Details from branches.