Premium Bonds with big prizes

Savers can now hold up to £40,000 of Premium Bonds, instead of the previous maximum of £30,000. However, if you haven't won a prize for some time, or ever, you might want to see how much interest you could earn on your money elsewhere. For example, you can earn up to 5% interest from various current accounts with the bonus of instant access to your cash.TSB's Classic Plus account pays 5% on up to £2,000, providing you pay in at least £500 a month and manage your account online. Meanwhile, Nationwide's FlexDirect account pays 5% on up to £2,500 for a year, although you do have to pay in at least £1,000 a month. (www.home.bt.com)