Briefly

BRISTOL & WEST is offering discount mortgages of 5.95 per cent off its standard rate for one year or 1.54 per cent a year for three years on loans up to 90 per cent of the property valuation. Two-year fixed rates are also available at 5.75 per cent, three years at 7.99 per cent and four years at 9.45 per cent for 90 per cent valuations. The standard rate is 8.44 per cent.

NEWCASTLE Building Society is offering members with a minimum deposit of £100 a one-stop travel service, with commissions of just 0.5 per cent plus a £2 handling fee for holiday money and travel insurance for the whole year, charging £135 for families, £99.50 for singles and £200 for pensioners.

SUN ALLIANCE is offering capped-rate mortgages with a current rate of 8.49 per cent and a guaranteed maximum of 8.49 per cent until April 1998 or 9.49 per cent until April 2000. Discount mortgages are available at 2 per cent off for two years, plus a £400 cashback or free fees and valuations, or 5 per cent off for one year.