Money: loose change

Coventry Building Society is raising the rates on its First Instant and Postal 50 accounts. Postal 50 account rates go up from 0.6 per cent on deposits of pounds 2,000 to 0.25 per cent more on higher sums. Call 0345 665522.

Birmingham Midshires is launching a range of fixed-rate savings accounts, including a three-year term paying up to 7.15 per cent gross annually on deposits above pounds 50,000. Two-year accounts pay 6.9 per cent gross on the same sum. Call free on 0645 720721.

Darlington Building Society is launching a variable rate cashback mortgage offering up to 3 per cent of the initial loan, up to a maximum of pounds 2,400. There is a pounds 150 reservation fee. Call 01325 366366.

Premier Fund Managers is launching a Global Equity Protector fund which tracks a range of world stock markets and attempts to restrict losses by using options. Call 0800 212577.

Bristol & West is offering a range of new home loans, including a mortgage fixed at 7.25 per cent to March 2002 on loans worth up to 90 per cent of the home's value. Call 0800 119955.

NatWest has a free 32-page guide on building society windfalls, explaining everything you need to know about share dealing. Call 0800 200400.

Bradford & Bingley is to cut 0.2 per cent off the variable rate of all borrowers who have been with the society for two years or more. The cut applies from 1 July. Fixed-rate borrowers become eligible when they move on to the variable rate.