Spotlight: 6% on current and savings accounts

Abbey and Alliance & Leicester (A&L) are offering market-leading high interest current accounts paying 6 per cent on credit balances. They are linked to a regular savings account also paying 6 per cent.

The Abbey Super Fixed Rate Monthly Saver and the A&L Premier Regular Saver are linked to Abbey's Reward Account and Preferred In-Credit Rate Current Account offerings as well as Alliance & Leicester's Premier Direct and Premier 50 Current Accounts. Both the current account and the linked savings account pay interest of 6 per cent which is fixed for 12 months only on balances up to £2,500. Abbey also requires you to pay in at least £1,000 a month. It's worth noting the Abbey Reward and A&L Premier 50 deals carry a £10 monthly fee, while the Premier 50 account is only available to those aged 50 or over.

Existing Abbey or A&L current account customers don't qualify – but in this low-interest rate environment, if you bank elsewhere it's worth considering a switch.