A round-up of other stories in brief.

New 9% fixed rate savings account

Irish Nationwide has introduced a new two-year fixed-rate savings account with a market leading rate of 9 per cent.

The rate is available on balances between €20,000 and €1 million and Irish Nationwide is marketing it at people whose Special Savings Incentive Accounts (SSIAs) are maturing, and others who have a lump sum to invest.

Savers can withdraw up to 25 per cent of their initial investment during the term, providing they maintain a minimum balance of €20,000.

The new product betters existing products on the two-year fixed rate market, including Anglo Irish Bank's offer of 8.8 per cent on sums of €1,000 to €1 million. First Active offers a rate of 8.75 per cent to customers with a minimum of €5,000 to lock away, and AIB has a rate of 8.35 per cent for amounts between €6,000 and €50,000.

Unclaimed prize bond appeal

The Prize Bond Company is urging customers to check their prize bonds to see if they are entitled to some of the €1.2 million built up over the past 50 years in unclaimed prizes. Around 10,000 prizewinners have not claimed their money.

The company said only a very small proportion of the prizes awarded in its weekly draws go unclaimed, but that there would always be a few cases where it was unable to trace winners who had changed address.

In these cases, the money is placed on deposit and earns interest until they are claimed. The prizes are held indefinitely.

Last year more than 145,000 prize bond holders shared a tax-free prize bond fund of €13.8 million.

New guide on borrowing costs

The Irish Mortgage Corporation has published a new booklet offering advice to homeowners who want to reduce their borrowing costs.

The Guide to Financial Fitness includes information on remortgaging, refinancing, debt consolidation and top-up loans.

Copies of the guide are available by emailing info@irishmortgage.ie