THE Northern Rock fixed mortgage comes with the society's own contents and building insurance. Borrowers arranging their own insurance pay an extra 0.25 percentage points.

Northern fix at 5.99

Bristol & West has a one- year 5.44-point discount on variable-rate loans, reducing payments to 2.7 per cent. The two-year discount of 2.99 points brings payments down to 5.14 per cent.

The Leeds has a stepped scheme that starts with a 4- point discount until May 1995, moving to a 2-point discount for eight months and then 1 point for a further 10 months. Its 6.49 per cent fix has been extended to August 1996 and the fix at 7.99 per cent to August 1997.

Bank of Scotland says it can process mortgages under pounds 150,000 in 48 hours.