Personal Finance: Bargain Basement

CHARTWELL INVESTMENT Management is selling copies of its Carpetbaggers' Guide at pounds 5, offering tips on the insurers and building societies most likely to demutualise or be taken over and pay benefits to members. Send cheques, payable to Chartwell, to 9 Kingsmead Square, Bath, BA1 2AB.

ALLIANCE & LEICESTER is launching a new one-year fixed-rate savings bond paying 7.4 per cent gross interest, paid annually or monthly. Minimum investment is pounds 1,000. Call 0800 412214.

LAMBETH BUILDING Society is launching a mortgage capped at 6.5 per cent until Nov 2002. No redemption penalties apply after the first four years. Call 0800 225221.

SCOTTISH PROVIDENT International, the offshore arm of the Edinburgh- based insurer, is offering Select, a unit-linked whole-of-life insurance policy with various options. Call 01264 681681.